Fata Morgana (mirage)
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A Fata Morgana is a complex form of superior mirage visible in a narrow band right above the horizon. The term Fata Morgana is the Italian translation of "Morgan the Fairy". These mirages are often seen in the Italian Strait of Messina, and were described as fairy castles in the air or false land conjured by her magic.
A Fata Morgana seen over the Baltic Sea, 2016. The mirage consists of multiple upright and inverted images over the original object.
A Fata Morgana of a cargo ship seen off the coast of Oceanside, California
Schematic diagram explaining the Fata Morgana mirage
A sequence of a Fata Morgana of the Farallon Islands as seen from San Francisco
Strait of Messina
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The Strait of Messina is a narrow strait between the eastern tip of Sicily and the western tip of Calabria in Southern Italy. It connects the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north with the Ionian Sea to the south, within the central Mediterranean. At its narrowest point, between Torre Faro and Villa San Giovanni, it is 3.1 km (1.9 mi) wide. At the city of Messina, it is 5.1 km (3.2 mi) wide. The strait's maximum depth is about 250 m (820 ft).
Satellite photo of the Strait of Messina with names. NASA image.
The strait seen from Mount Dinnammare, Peloritani
Strait of Messina and the Messina panorama as viewed from the ferry
The strait seen from the hill of "Pentimele", near Reggio Calabria. In the distance is the snow-covered volcano Mount Etna.