Explore the Mysterious 8th Continent Submerged Under the Pacific

Zealandia is considered the 8th continent hidden under the Pacific Ocean and is also the smallest continent of the Earth with an area of about 4.9 million km2. This continent used to connect Australia and New Zealand 75 million years ago and is likened to the lost kingdom of Atlantic.

Key Facts About 8th Continent

The continent of Zealandia is in Eastern Australia and only 7% of the area is above sea level, of which the two largest parts are New Zealand and New Caledonia.(Photo: Azaniapost.)

Pyramid Balls of Lord Howe Island Ocean Park, Australia is the remains of a volcano formed 6.4 million years ago. This mountain is a point above the sea level of Zealandia. With a height of 551m, this is the highest sea rock mountain in the world.(Photo: Reddit.)

32 scientists from 12 countries conducted a 2-month expedition in 2017 to learn about this area on the ship JOIDES Resolution.(Photo: Kevin Kurtz.)

Why 8th Continent Matters

Scientists have collected hundreds of fossil species, from terrestrial species to shallow water species. This proves that, 70 million years ago, this buried continent was very different.(Photo: Te Papa.)

Zealandia has been known to scientists since 1919 as Tasmantis Complex. By 1995, this place was changed to Zealandia. In 2014, geologists including Nick Mortimer and Hamish Campbell demonstrated Zealandia achieved four criteria to be considered a continent: higher altitude, greater density than oceanic crust, large enough area., and the presence of three types of rocks (metamorphic rocks, volcanic rocks and sediments).(Photo: Chronicle Day.)

The recognition of the new continent is very important because there are many resources, minerals, fossil fuels and natural gas at the submerged part of Zealandia.(Photo: Travel & Leisure.)

Currently no scientific organization has made a formal decision on the recognition of Zealandia as a continent.(Photo: Inverse.)