A groundbreaking discovery deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean has revealed ancient islands with preserved beaches, cliffs, and sand dunes. These submerged landmasses, located near the Canary Islands, are sparking excitement among scientists and mythologists alike, with some suggesting they could be the inspiration for the legendary lost city of Atlantis.
“This could be the origin of the Atlantis legend,” said Luis Somoza, a researcher involved in the investigation, during an interview with Live Science.
A Hidden World Beneath the Waves
The newly identified islands rest on an underwater mountain named “Los Atlantes,” lying approximately 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) beneath the ocean’s surface, off the coast of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Scientists have named the seamount “Lost Atlantes” in homage to the myth of Atlantis, the advanced civilization said to have been punished and submerged by the gods for its hubris.
According to the research team, Los Atlantes was once a series of islands crowned by three now-extinct volcanoes. These islands emerged between 56 and 34 million years ago. When the volcanic eruptions ceased, the lava solidified and became denser, causing the islands to gradually sink beneath the sea.
Preserved Features of a Vanished World
Despite millions of years underwater, the islands have retained striking geological features. “We have identified beaches, cliffs, and sand dunes at the flat summit of the seamount,” Somoza explained. He added that the sand now covering the volcanic rock likely settled as the islands sank into the depths of the Atlantic.
Some of the ancient beaches lie as shallow as 60 meters (200 feet) below the ocean’s surface. During the last ice age, when sea levels were significantly lower, these submerged volcanoes would have re-emerged as islands, providing a habitat for wildlife. As sea levels rose again at the end of the ice age, the islands disappeared beneath the waves once more.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Past
Somoza and his team are now focused on determining precisely when these islands began to sink. By analyzing volcanic rock samples from the seamount, they hope to unlock further insights into the region’s geological history.
The researchers are also planning an expedition to the underwater volcanoes next year. This mission aims to uncover additional secrets about Los Atlantes and its potential connection to one of the greatest myths in human history.
If these ancient islands did indeed inspire the legend of Atlantis, they represent not only a scientific marvel but also a tantalizing glimpse into how geological phenomena may have shaped human storytelling and cultural memory.