In 2017, geoscientists made an incredible discovery of a continent that had been hiding right in plain sight for nearly 375 years. This continent, known as Zealandia or Te Riu-a-Māui in the Māori language, has long been a subject of speculation. Zealandia is a massive 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. Despite Tasman’s failure to discover Zealandia at the time, his encounter with the Māori people paved the way for future explorations and discoveries.
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. However, advancements in technology and geology have allowed researchers to finally confirm its existence beneath the waters of the ocean in 2017. The discovery of Zealandia serves as a reminder that even something so significant can remain hidden for centuries before being brought to light.
Despite being a continent, Zealandia only has three territories on it – New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Cook Islands – making it a unique landmass on Earth. Its discovery has sparked renewed interest in exploring and understanding this mysterious landmass further.