Diver Accidentally Discovered Japan's Pyramid-Shaped 'Atlantis' In The Sea in 1986 And Then Kept It a Secret
The world is filled with many stunning structures that can mystify anyone. One of these structures is in Japan, stated LADBible. The structure is so mysterious that to date, its background continues to be debated.
Certain rock formations located under the ocean waves surrounding an island named Yonaguni have garnered fame worldwide as 'Japan's Atlantis.' They are labelled as 'Japan's Atlantis' because, like the mythical place, this structure is also underwater. These formations have been named the Yonaguni Monument, after the nearby island. The island is situated at the southwestern tip of the Ryukyu archipelago, and is just 62 miles away from Taiwan.
It was first uncovered in 1986 by diver Kihachiro Aratake, who was in the region for monitoring hammerhead sharks, stated LADBible. "I was very emotional when I found it I realised that this would become a treasure of Yonaguni Island. I kept it a secret, I didn't tell anyone on my staff," diver Aratake shared about the moment when he laid his eyes on the fascinating formations. Examinations indicated that the formations are around 10,000 years old, stated BBC. He then passed on the information and experts were blown away by what they saw.
The rock formations look like an ancient city, say experts. The monument measures 50m long and 20m wide, and contains many steps along with flat surfaces. "The largest structure looks like a complicated, monolithic, stepped pyramid that rises from a depth of 25 meters [82 feet]," marine biologist Masaaki Kimura shared, stated National Geographic.
Explorers have located arched entrances and narrow passageways in the monument, stated BBC. The whole structure is attached to a larger rock mass, according to researchers. Experts think that the different layers in the structure, which give it a look of settlement, have been speculated to be a consequence of earthquakes.
Experts and civilians have not been on the same page regarding this monument's background. Many, like Kimura, believe that it is a man-made structure and that it was created by individuals from a long-lost civilization, stated LADBible. Kimura thinks that the formations are remnants of an ancient continent called Lemuria. Certain researchers in the past have suggested that Lemuria is a long-lost continent that existed 2,000 to 3,000 years ago, during a period when sea levels were lower. Some believe that the civilization behind this monument was Japan’s prehistoric Jomon people who stayed in the area around 12000 B.C., BBC stated.
Another viewpoint that exists is that these formations are a result of natural erosion occurring over centuries, stated LADBible. This erosion was facilitated by strong underwater currents, according to experts. Robert Schoch, a professor at Boston University, supported this theory. He claims that the monument was a result of basic geology and classic stratigraphy. "I'm not convinced that any of the major features or structures are manmade steps or terraces, but that they're all natural," said Schoch, stated National Geographic. "It's basic geology and classic stratigraphy for sandstones, which tend to break along planes and give you these very straight edges, particularly in an area with lots of faults and tectonic activity."