In a surprising turn of events, scientists have uncovered the existence of a long-hidden continent that has eluded our understanding for centuries. While it took 375 years to reveal its secrets, the eighth continent, Zealandia, had been right in front of us all along. However, even with this groundbreaking revelation, many mysteries surrounding this submerged land mass remain unsolved. Let’s embark on a captivating journey through time and explore the enigmatic world of Zealandia.

Back in 1642, Dutch sailor Abel Tasman embarked on a daring expedition to find a mythical southern continent named Terra Australis. Although Tasman stumbled upon the South Island of New Zealand during his voyage, he never set foot on the newly discovered landmass. Little did he know that he was right all along—the legendary continent did exist, but its presence remained concealed beneath the ocean’s depths.

Fast forward to 2017, when a group of geologists made headlines by unearthing Zealandia. Spanning a staggering 1.89 million square miles (4.9 million square kilometers), this eighth continent is approximately six times the size of Madagascar. However, a remarkable 94% of Zealandia is hidden underwater, with only a few islands, including New Zealand, breaking the surface.

The laborious process of studying Zealandia has revealed intriguing questions yet to be answered. How did this continent come into existence? What creatures roamed its ancient lands? And how long has it remained submerged?

For years, Zealandia remained elusive due to its challenging research conditions. It wasn’t until the 1960s that geologists agreed on a definition of a continent, providing a framework to prove Zealandia’s existence. However, progress was slow until 1995 when American geophysicist Bruce Luyendyk proposed the name Zealandia, sparking exponential discoveries.