ZEALANDIA

22nd March, 2023 Geography

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Context

Scientists have finally confirmed the existence of a "missing" continent known as Zealandia.

About Zealandia

Zealandia which is approximately 1.89 million square miles in size, was once part of an ancient supercontinent called Gondwana. It also included Western Antarctica and Eastern Australia over 500 million years ago.
However, Zealandia began to "pull away" from Gondwana roughly 105 million years ago.
Basically, the southern part of Zealandia (on the Pacific Plate) began to shift relative to the northern part (on the Indo-Australian Plate). The resulting displacement of approximately 500 km along the Alpine Fault is evident in geological maps.
As it did so, it gradually sank beneath the waves, with over 94% of the landmass remaining underwater for millennia.

Discovery of Zealandia: Some insights

The existence of Zealandia was first recorded in 1642 by Dutch businessman and sailor Abel Tasman.
He was on a mission to find the "great Southern Continent" or Terra Australis.
While Tasman failed to find this new land, he did encounter the local Māori when he landed on the Southern Island of New Zealand.

Note: Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand (Aotearoa).

Despite their hostility towards him, the Māori provided valuable information about the surrounding landmass, including the existence of a large landmass to the east. However, it would take nearly 400 years for scientists to agree on the existence of Zealandia.
In 2017, geologists finally confirmed the existence of Zealandia.
The name and concept for Zealandia was proposed by Bruce Luyendyk in 1995.

Present Status

Zealandia is now recognized as the world's eighth continent.
Every other continent is home to multiple countries, while Zealandia has only three territories.
New Zealand is the largest part of Zealandia that is above sea level, followed by New Caledonia.
The vast majority of this "new" continent is located underwater, lying beneath 6,560 feet (2km) of water.
94% remains submerged beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Zealandia contains gas fields, of which the largest known is the New Zealand Maui gas field, near Taranaki.

Geological Subdivisions

Zealandia is divided into two regions by scientists, North Zealandia (or Western Province) and South Zealandia (or Eastern Province).
These two features are separated by the Alpine Fault and Kermadec Trench and by the wedge-shaped Hikurangi Plateau, and they are moving separately to each other.

Closing Remarks

Despite its underwater location, Zealandia is an important discovery that sheds light on the earth's geological history and the forces that shaped the planet as we know it today.

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Choose the correct answer with reference to the following statements.

A. Zealandia was once part of an ancient supercontinent called Rodinia.

B. 94% of Zealandia remains submerged beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

1) A only

2) B only

3) Both A and B

4) Neither A nor B

Answer: 4