Zealandia, a continent lost below the sea, has recently been discovered. This potential eighth continent, mostly submerged underwater, was found in 2017. It is thought to be 95% underwater, Southeast of Australia, which has made it difficult to discover things and map out the area. Although the mapping of Zealandia started in 2017, researchers have only now published the most recent and specific map of Zealandia. Due to the mapping of this lost continent, scientists have uncovered new information on its formation.
Origin and Uncovering Zealandia
Zealandia has been theorized to have formed in the Cretaceous period, 83 million years ago. 100 million years prior, Gondwana, a supercontinent, started to split apart. For a long period of time Zealandia existed as one, and 25 million years ago it sank underwater. The first signs indicating that Zealandia existed were discovered in 2002 using bathymetry, which is the study of the depths of bodies of water. The ocean on top of Zealandia is shallower than the surrounding parts of the ocean around it. This indicates that the area does not have an oceanic tectonic plate, but a continental plate instead. Scientists decided to gather data surrounding rocks from Zealandia and its overall thickness to determine whether or not it is a continent. After this research, it was confirmed as a continent that has been completely submerged for millions of years.
Latest Discovery
One of the latest and biggest studies completed was the mapping of Zealandia. This study began when the submerged continent was rediscovered in 2017, and was recently completed. Because of Zealandia’s mapping it is estimated that its overall landmass is 1.9 million square miles. Scientists mapped the underwater continent using rock samples from seabeds and geophysical mapping methods. This discovery has helped scientists understand how and why it broke apart from Gondwana. Scientists will continue to research Zealandia, in the hopes to discover its resources, environment, and many other things about this once grand continent.
