Some great examples of spectacular mirages over the ocean, including the fata morgana, which occurs when different layers of air refract light so that an image – or multiple images – appear above where the object actually is. Named for Morgana le Fay, because it can make distant islands or ships appear as castles in the air.
The Most Interesting, Spectacular Mirages Aren’t in the Desert
The Wikipedia article on the phenomenon also has some great images, and a diagram of how it works.