Geoscientists have made a remarkable discovery of a continent that has been hidden for nearly 375 years. This landmass, known as Zealandia or Te Riu-a-Māui in the Māori language, has long been a subject of speculation. Zealandia is an enormous landmass spanning 1.89 million square miles and was once part of the supercontinent Gondwana, which existed over 500 million years ago and included Western Antarctica and Eastern Australia.
The first mention of Zealandia dates back to 1642 when Dutch sailor Abel Tasman set out in search of the “Great Southern Continent” but failed to find it. During his journey, he encountered the local Māori people who shared information about a large landmass to the east. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that geologists confirmed the existence of Zealandia, hidden beneath the waters of the ocean.
Scientists believe that Zealandia began to separate from Gondwana due to unknown reasons. Much of the continent is submerged underwater, making it a challenge to uncover. The discovery of Zealandia serves as a reminder of how something so significant can remain hidden for centuries before being brought to light. Despite being a continent, Zealandia only has three territories on it, making it a unique landmass on Earth.