Scientists Discovered a HUGE Brick Road at The Bottom of The Pacific Ocean

 

Scientists Discover a ‘Yellow Brick Road’ on the Ocean Floor Near Hawaii

In a remarkable deep-sea expedition, researchers exploring the Liliʻuokalani Ridge within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) stumbled upon an astonishing geological formation in 2022—an area resembling a yellow brick road at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The discovery, made by the exploration vessel Nautilus, immediately sparked curiosity and excitement among scientists, with some playfully referring to it as "the road to Atlantis."



A Window Into the Deep Unknown

The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is one of the largest protected marine areas in the world, covering over 1.5 million square kilometers—larger than all the national parks in the U.S. combined. Despite its immense size, only about 3% of its seafloor has been explored. The Ocean Exploration Trust, the organization behind the Nautilus mission, is working to push the boundaries of deep-sea research, offering scientists and the public an unprecedented look into the mysteries of Earth's ocean depths.

The 3,000-meter-deep underwater world beneath PMNM remains largely uncharted, making each discovery a potential breakthrough in marine geology and biology. This particular find, captured on video and published on YouTube in April 2022, shows a striking formation of volcanic rock that resembles a perfectly structured road, prompting excitement from the researchers observing it live.




"The Road to Atlantis?"

During the live exploration, the astonished voices of researchers operating the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) could be heard reacting to the discovery.

"It's the road to Atlantis!" one scientist exclaimed.

"The yellow brick road?" another responded, referencing the famous pathway in The Wizard of Oz.

"This is bizarre... Are you kidding me? This is crazy!" added another, unable to hide their excitement.

The reactions reflected both the unexpected nature of the discovery and the human tendency to see patterns and familiar shapes in natural formations— a phenomenon known as pareidolia.



A Geological Puzzle Beneath the Waves

Despite its striking resemblance to a paved road, the formation is entirely natural. Scientists believe it to be an ancient dried-out lake bed located on the summit of the Nootka seamount, an underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity. Although it is submerged under approximately 1,000 meters of water, its structure appears remarkably dry in video footage, leading some researchers to describe it as looking like "baked crust."

A particularly unusual feature of this discovery is the way the volcanic rock has fractured into nearly perfect 90-degree angles, creating the illusion of bricks or tiles. This distinctive pattern is believed to be the result of heating and cooling cycles from multiple volcanic eruptions.

As explained in a caption accompanying the YouTube video, the brick-like fractures likely formed due to stress from temperature fluctuations, causing the rock to crack in a distinct, orderly pattern. The researchers noted that while the formation may look artificial, it is an entirely natural product of geological processes at work deep beneath the ocean’s surface.




Why This Discovery Matters

Beyond its striking visual appeal, the discovery of the “yellow brick road” represents an important step toward understanding Earth’s hidden geology. Studying deep-sea volcanic formations like this one can offer insights into plate tectonics, underwater mountain formation, and the geothermal processes that shape our planet.

Deep-sea ridges like Liliʻuokalani Ridge serve as critical research sites, helping scientists understand the role of underwater volcanoes in shaping the ocean floor. These formations could also provide clues about past oceanic conditions and even shed light on whether similar geological features could exist on other planets or moons with subsurface oceans, such as Europa (Jupiter’s moon) or Enceladus (Saturn’s moon).

A Step Closer to New Discoveries

While this underwater "road" may not lead to Atlantis, it is a reminder of how much remains to be discovered beneath Earth’s oceans. With less than 20% of the global seafloor mapped, the ocean remains one of the last unexplored frontiers on our planet.

As exploration technology advances, missions like the one conducted by Nautilus will continue to unveil hidden landscapes, unique ecosystems, and geological mysteries that challenge our understanding of Earth's deep-sea environments.

This discovery is just one of many that highlight how our planet still holds incredible surprises, waiting to be revealed.

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