For centuries, the story of Atlantis captivated imaginations with tales of a sunken civilization lost beneath the waves. While Atlantis remains a myth, the discovery of a submerged continent named Zealandia has brought this age-old fantasy into the realm of reality. In 2017, a groundbreaking expedition provided definitive evidence of Zealandia, a landmass nearly as large as India, lurking beneath the waters surrounding New Zealand. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Earth’s geological history but also holds significant economic implications for the nations surrounding this hidden continent.
A topographical map of Zealandia, with New Zealand showing as the major landform. The east coast of Australia is on the left.
The Discovery and Recognition of Zealandia
Zealandia, unlike other landmasses, isn’t entirely submerged. About six percent of it remains above sea level, forming New Zealand and its outlying islands. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that Zealandia was recognized as a separate continent. Bruce Luyendyk, an American geophysicist, first noticed the distinct geological features of this region while studying the remnants of Gondwana, a fragment of the ancient supercontinent Pangaea. Luyendyk’s research led him to propose that the rock beneath New Zealand constituted a continent in its own right, and he named it Zealandia.
A map of Zealandia, outlining important points. New Caledonia is to the north. The Tasman Sea is to the west.
This submerged landmass, covering almost two million square miles, met all the criteria for a continent: it had a distinct geological composition, was made up of three types of rock (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary), and was raised above the surrounding ocean floor. Despite being underwater, Zealandia was a massive, coherent landmass, far too large to be dismissed as a mere microcontinent.
The Economic and Geological Implications
Ball’s Pyramid, a dramatic reminder of Zealandia’s volcanic-formed landscape.
The official recognition of Zealandia as Earth’s eighth continent in 2017 had profound implications. International law dictates that a country’s rights to offshore resources are determined by the boundaries of its continental shelf. With Zealandia classified as a continent, New Zealand’s potential access to vast underwater resources, including tens of billions of dollars worth of fossil fuels, suddenly became a reality. This could significantly boost the country’s economy and alter the balance of resource control in the region.
Beyond its economic impact, the discovery of Zealandia offers valuable insights into Earth’s geological history. The continent likely separated from Antarctica between 85 and 130 million years ago, and later from Australia between 60 and 85 million years ago. As Zealandia drifted away, its crust thinned and eventually sank to the ocean floor. However, fossils found during a 2017 drilling expedition suggest that Zealandia may have remained closer to the surface for longer than previously thought, allowing for the spread of plants and animals across its now-submerged peaks.
Fossils of tiny shells with a 1 euro coin for comparison.
Mapping the Lost Continent
The 2017 expedition marked the beginning of an ambitious effort to map Zealandia’s boundaries. Led by the University of Queensland and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, researchers spent 28 days surveying over 14,000 square miles of the continent’s northwestern region. This mapping project not only aimed to delineate Zealandia but also contributed data to the Seabed 2030 project, which seeks to map the entire ocean floor by the end of the decade.
As researchers continue to uncover Zealandia’s secrets, they are also grappling with the environmental challenges posed by human activity. The recent expedition revealed that microplastics have infiltrated even the most remote corners of the ocean, with only one of the 100 water samples collected free of these pollutants. The presence of microplastics in Zealandia’s waters is a stark reminder of the widespread impact of pollution on marine ecosystems.
Dr. Gürer and the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, Falkor.
The discovery of Zealandia is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of scientific exploration. This hidden continent, long submerged and forgotten, has now emerged as a focal point of geological study and international interest. As scientists work to unravel Zealandia’s mysteries, they are not only piecing together the history of our planet but also confronting the modern challenges that threaten its future. Zealandia, once lost to the depths, now stands as a symbol of both Earth’s ancient past and its uncertain future.