Atlantis found? Scientists from the University of Durham discover new continent under Iceland, which could be larger than all of Europe

Its extension could cover up to one million square meters, and its crust is more than 40 kilometers thick.

The division of Pangaea millions of years ago formed the continents we know today. We thought we knew everything about the prehistoric supercontinent that existed, and the reasons why it was destroyed and Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania or the Americas were formed. But in recent days, scientists have raised alarms about the possible existence of an ancient continent of which they had no records before.

"A remarkable geological secret," the scientists referred to. And is that Iceland, as we believe, may not belong to Europe, but to this new continent found under the country, which could even be "larger than Europe itself", as defined by Gillian Foulger, emeritus professor of geophysics in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Durham.

Completely covered by the surrounding ocean, this geological formation could reveal the last tangible reminders of Pangaea. According to the team of geologists Foulger worked with, this new continent, which they have named "Icelandia," could cover up to one million square kilometers.

"Existing theories that it is built up and surrounded by oceanic crust are not supported by multiple geological data, for example, the crust beneath Iceland is more than 40 kilometers thick, seven times thicker than normal oceanic crust. This simply cannot be explained," she added.

Both Foulger and her team do not rule out that the same thing could be happening in other places, that is, that there could be a piece of continent - why not, a different one - under some corner of the ones we know today.

The theory is not yet supported by other detractor scientists, but it has legal and political ramifications. Countries around the world are making considerable investments to find subsurface sources of minerals and hydrocarbons. "Icelandia" has been listed as a World Heritage Site, although scientific verifications are still lacking.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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