The Lost City Found Under the Ocean

Scientists have revealed one of the most exciting and mysterious discoveries in the history of marine science: the “Lost City”, deep in the ocean, far from human sight and 700 metres below sea level.

Located near the summit of an underwater mountain west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, this city reveals a stunning view of thousands of towers with blue-hued carbonate walls, and an amazing ecological site. After its discovery in 2000, it became known as the most continuous thermal environment in the ocean, and no other like it has been found anywhere else.

It represents a rare land, where deep rocks have been interacting with seawater for more than 120,000 years, releasing a mixture of gases such as hydrogen and methane into the depths of the ocean.

But what is truly amazing is that life thrives here despite the extreme conditions: temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, plumes of sulfur and metal, and the absence of oxygen.

This alien environment is home to rare microbial communities, as well as crustaceans and snails that live in the interior of chimneys, underwater volcanic vents that emit hot gases.

This ecosystem reflects the challenges of life in extreme environments, and scientists have suggested that it could be a possible model for the emergence of life on other planets such as Enceladus and Europa, satellites of Saturn and Jupiter, and perhaps even Mars in the past.

Despite the importance of this unique ecological site, the “Lost City” faces a real threat. Poland has been granted deep-sea mining rights around the city, which could destroy this precious habitat.

Amid these concerns, scientists are calling for the site to be listed as a World Heritage Site to preserve it before it is destroyed forever.

The “Lost City” has stood for thousands of years as a reminder of how life can thrive in the harshest conditions. However, we, humans, may be the first to destroy it.