Researchers on board the exploration ship Nautilus made a breathtaking deep-sea discovery when they discovered a peculiar geological feature on the Pacific Ocean floor that resembles a "yellow brick road." Scientists were amazed by the discovery, which was made in 2022 while on a trip to the Liliʻuokalani Ridge in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM).
 
The area covered by PMNM, one of the largest marine conservation zones in the world, is more than the combined area of all US national parks.  Less than 3% of its seafloor has been investigated, nevertheless.  Nearly 3,000 meters below the ocean's surface, the "road-like" feature was described in the Oceanography field season report for the Ocean Exploration Trust in 2022.

Mysterious Sight Beneath The Waves
A dried-out ancient lake bed with nearly flawless rectangular rock formations was discovered by the Nautilus team while mapping the bottom.  The group began talking excitedly about the unexpected sight, with one researcher saying, "It's the road to Atlantis!"  At first glance, the strangely shaped terrain seemed to have been purposefully built.  A more thorough geological examination, however, quickly provided a natural explanation.
 
Science Behind 'Brick Road'
Geologists concluded that the formation was the result of millions of years of volcanic activity rather than the creation of an ancient civilization.  Lava quickly cooled as it came into touch with water, breaking into shards to create the rock, which is most likely hyaloclastite.  The granite broke into rectangular blocks as a result of thermal stress fractures brought on by prolonged exposure to intense heating and cooling cycles.
 
Other well-known geological formations, such as the Devil's Postpile in california and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, are the result of this phenomenon, which is called columnar jointing.  Repeated lava flows caused the seafloor's 90-degree fractures, which solidified into patterns resembling a brick walkway.

Dry Lake Bed Beneath the Ocean
The lake bed on top of the Nootka Seamount looked abnormally dry for its deep-sea location, which added to the mystery.  Some parts of the surface are peeling away like crumbly rock, giving the surface a "baked crust" appearance, according to researchers.  The history of intense volcanic activity in the area is further highlighted by this phenomena.
 
These cracks were probably brought on severe heating and cooling stress across several eruptions, according to a commentary on a YouTube video that the Ocean Exploration Trust posted.  The "yellow brick road" offers a stunning glimpse into Earth's secret geological processes, despite its appearance as the gateway to a fantasy world.
 
 
 
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SIBY JEYYA

14/03/2025 08:03 AM