Zealandia | Earth's Forgotten eighth continent

This is Zealandia - Earth's forgotten an submerged eighth continent. Scientists had long predicted the existence of this bonus southern landmass that remained missing for 375 years, largely because it’s submerged 1-2km under water. An international team of geologists and seismologists have this submerged piece of land and created a new map of Zealandia.

Approximately 83 million years ago, the supercontinent Gondwana was pulled apart resulting in the beginning of the present-day continents. It also resulted in the creation of Zealandia. It is 94% under the sea and the remaining 6% is what we identify as New Zealand and neighboring islands.

In a new effort, the research team sought to refine the existing maps of Zealandia by studying a collection of rocks and sediment samples brought up from the ocean bed. The oldest were the pebbles dating back to Early Cretaceous (around 130-110 million years old), followed by sandstones from Late Cretaceous (around 95 million years old) and relatively young basalts from the Eocene (around 40 million years old). Study of rock patterns showed geologic patterns in West Antarctica that hinted at the possibility of a subduction zone near the Campbell Plateau off the west coast of New Zealand. The newly refined map shows other major geological features as well.

A 2021 study suggested that Zealandia is 1 billion years old, about twice as old as geologists previously thought. By approximately 23 million years ago, the landmass may have completely submerged.

Zealandia is also substantially larger than the Arabian Peninsula, the world’s largest peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent. Due to various geological considerations, such as crustal thickness and density, some geologists from New Zealand and Australia have concluded that Zealandia fulfills all the requirements to be considered as a continent rather than a microcontinent.

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.

[dtbalexofficial]

Little does the human population know that behind the ice walls when they are completely melted is 20+ more continents we’ve never seen or heard of before

[sam-pdzb]

Highlights
🌏 Zealandia is an underwater continent, largely submerged 1 to 2 kilometers underwater.
🗺 A recent study by geologists and seismologists refined maps of Zealandia, revealing its geological history.
🌊 Zealandia is 94% underwater, and only 6% is above sea level, including New Zealand and nearby islands.
📅 New research suggests Zealandia is around 1 billion years old, much older than previously believed.
🌍 Zealandia's size surpasses the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent due to geological factors.
🌴 Some geologists argue that Zealandia should be considered a continent rather than a micro continent.

[BIBI_DOESSTUFF]

Why am I watching this at 12 am the music is giving me the chills

[Amer]

So would we now consider new zealand as part of the 8th continent?... rather than being in Australia or Oceania?

[seancreighton]

So why do we consider it a continent if it lies 2km below sea level? Aren’t there other land masses way below sea level?

[phatmeow]

i predict that when Humanity is on its way to mastering Terraforming, Zealandia would be raised!

[rclrd]

"Continent" seems a bit vague. Why for example are Europe and Asia classed as different continents? From the geological viewpoint I presume this discovery means that New Zealand is part of a large _tectonic plate_ separate from the one that supports Australia. ChatGPT has just given me a list of _eleven_ "major" tectonic plates (ChatGPT's data base is not up to date; Zealandia would increase that estimate to twelve...):
Pacific Plate
North American Plate
South American Plate
Eurasian Plate
African Plate
Antarctic Plate
Indo-Australian Plate
Cocos Plate
Nazca Plate
Arabian Plate
Philippine Sea Plate

[billyLego]

So is it possible to make a Netherlands method to rise it up again? More land, more space. More wildlife.

[hibs]

So Australia is in between 2 sunken continents. Zealandia and Mauritia. Scary to think about. Almost like the planet is saying "you're next".

[whatever-xs]

Actually Zealandia is not the only land that submurged and certainly wont be the last one

[m.duraipandithenmozhi]

Zealandia new New continent very surprised.

[betterist]

how the hell did we miss this shi for 6 thousand years plus

[paultaylor]

but only 1/5th of NZ is useful for shops and amenities a bit like Scotland

[ResetAll-nidp]

The world is always shrinking little by little and the land masses that will continue to do so are decreasing every moment, this is a fact of science.❤❤

[robindahnut]

I keep thinking If all the continents pulled apart, doesnt that mean the whole world is expanding like a balloon.

[Corteum]

Someone said Lemuria used to exist in the southern pacific. Now there's proof.

[Kbiz]

Which means it’s a rich research area..❤ God I love Science

[jamesallan]

Admiral byrd said there was land behond the ice wall at the south pole unfortunately no exploration is allowed under a world treaty only scientists and military personnel and emperor penguins have the right to be there or you can go on a guided tour we can go to the moon and back explore the dead oceans but Antarctica is of limits makes me wonder why

[blessedtrucker]

It wasn’t forgotten, it was swallowed up by the sea.

[nephtalitshitadi]

80 million years ago... Who was there? How did you know it's 80 millions ago? Which technology did you use to exactly predict ot was 80 millions ago?