Why is there a phenomenon of ships floating on the sea?

Many times seafarers encounter the phenomenon of giant ships floating in the air, but this is only an optical illusion.

Train "flying" in the air in Thessaloniki, Greece early May.

Recently, tourists and locals alike in Thessaloniki, Greece discovered two ships floating in the air on a sunny day. These giant ships do not seem to touch the water, violating all the laws of physics.

However, observant people may realize that this strange sight is actually a trick of the light. The illusion above, called Fata Morgana, is caused by an inversion between warm and cool air. Fata Morgana is a complex form of transcendental illusion that occurs when light rays are bent as they pass through layers of air of different temperatures.

The Anthem of the Seas cruise ship, which weighs 168,000 tons, looks like it's floating on water.

This phenomenon has also occurred in some other regions of Greece, such as the western part of Samothrace. It is believed to be the origin of the legend of the Flying Dutchman, according to Jonathan Eyers' 2011 book Don't Shoot the Albatross!: Nautical Myths and Superstitions.

Illusions are not limited to the sea. It can be seen on land, in the polar regions or in the desert. Fata Morgana can be the cause of many unusual scenes, including images of floating mountains.

Fata Morgana is the Italian name for Morgan le Fay - the wizard of Arthurian legend, who is said to have used magic to create castles used to lure sailors to donate their bodies.

A ship "flying" in Banff, Aberdeenshire, England in March.

In March, there were many boats that were photographed and videoed floating in the air in Corwall, Devonn and Aberdeeshire, England. In addition, four "flying" ships were also recorded off the island of Cyprus, just east of the city of Limassol.