A team of Spanish scientists may have uncovered the origin of the legendary lost city of Atlantis. Researchers from the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) have identified a submerged mountain near the Canary Islands, off the coast of Lanzarote, as a potential source of the ancient myth. This underwater mountain, named “Los Atlantes,” features three inactive volcanoes lined up below the sea.
The Atlantis legend, which has captivated people for over 2,000 years, was first described by the philosopher Plato in his dialogues. According to the myth, Atlantis was a grand city dedicated to Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, before being swallowed by the ocean along with its inhabitants. While explorers and enthusiasts have long searched for evidence of the lost civilization, scientists are now focusing on natural phenomena that could have inspired the story.
The CSIC researchers made their discovery while studying the seabed near the Canary Islands. The undersea mountain, located approximately two kilometers below the ocean surface, may have once been part of a volcanic archipelago that existed over 30 million years ago. Scientists believe that when the volcanoes went inactive, the solidifying lava caused the islands to gradually collapse into the ocean.
Evidence found at the top of the mountain includes features such as beaches, cliffs, and dunes, which suggest these lands were near the surface during the last Ice Age. Ongoing analysis of the volcanic rocks is expected to help determine when the islands sank, potentially strengthening the idea that Los Atlantes could be linked to the origins of the Atlantis legend.
Researchers hope their findings will shed new light on one of history’s most enduring myths and provide a scientific explanation for the story of a city lost beneath the waves.
[Source: MSN.com]
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