'Zealandia': A Newly Discovered Underwater Continent; Used To Be Part Of 'Gondwana' Super Continent

A continent underwater has been discovered by scientists. This newly proposed continent is named Zealandia.

According to a report, this newly discovered continent that is underwater has the size two-thirds of Australia. It is 1.74 million in size and is 94 percent submerged underwater. Zealandia is believed to be part of Australia but has broken up some 80 million years ago.

This newly discovered land underwater is not to be considered a fragment only but rather it is argued that this mass land is a continent. Zealandia has high elevation and the geological definition of this land meets the requirement of being a continent.

A report indicated that Zealandia was part of the Gondwana super-continent. Scientists believe that the newly discovered continent has the same features of the already six existing continents in the globe. Scientists had been gathering data for two decades to make the case for Zealandia.

Lead author of the study Nick Mortimer shared that Zealandia is the seventh continent and it is known to be the thinnest and the youngest and most submerged continent. This classification for Zealandia as a continent is more than just an extra name on the list.

Meanwhile, Zealandia encompasses New Zealand and New Caledonia of about 1,500 miles to North. This is the measurement when the newly discovered continent is being measured by human landmarks. The measurement goes beyond both the said continents.

Zealandia has written off as continental fragments and slivers for several years. However, the recent study suggests that this underwater land is indeed a new continent that has been hidden after all these years.

It is noted that there is no specific body that recognizes a land as continent. Zealandia can be considered continent if human beings say so. This means that the minority of the population has the authority to call a land a continent if decided.