Deep-sea researchers were gobsmacked when they discovered an ancient area of seabed that looks exactly like the yellow brick road.
Usually, finding the yellow brick road might mean that you’re off to see the wizard but when deep-sea researchers discovered one on the seabed in the Pacific Ocean in 2022, they knew it was very real.
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Scientists from the Ocean Exploration Trust were on an expedition to the Liliʻuokalani Ridge in Papahānaumokuakea Marine National Monument. They were exploring an area that had never been surveyed before when they discovered the astonishing geological formation.
As the researchers manoeuvred their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) along the summit of Nootka Seamount at more than 1,000 metres deep, they saw what looked like a dried lake bed, its sediment fractured like cracked skin.
“It’s crazy how dry it looks and it’s at the bottom of the ocean,” remarked one scientist in the Nautilus Live video.
Panning the camera around revealed a section of the seabed with a more regular pattern. The cracks intersected at 90 degrees and appeared split the path into regular rectangles, as if it was made up of paving stones. “It’s like bricks,” said one of the team.
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With the seabed splintering at right angles, its similarity to fictional footpaths were undeniable. “That’s the road to Atlantis,” joked one researcher. “This is the yellow brick road,” added another.
This distinctive section of seafloor was created by ancient volcanic activity. The scientists later confirmed that it was a “fractured flow of hyaloclastite rock”. This means that the rock formed when volcanic lava erupted into the ocean, hitting the cold water and cooling rapidly (the temperature at this depth is around four degrees Celsius). Changing from molten lava to solid rock so quickly makes it shatter like glass.
The pavement-like structure likely formed because several eruptions caused the area to quickly heat and cool over and over.
“That’s a really unique feature,” said one scientist as they prepared to leave the exceptional geological site. “That was really something.”
Studying the ocean (including the seabed in deep waters like these and making new discoveries on expeditions is important because the marine ecosystem helps to regulate the climate, supports billions of people around the world and can even inspire healthcare solutions.
By visiting the Liliʻuokalani Ridge, the scientists are learning more about life in the deep sea: all the way down to the microbes found on these ancient seamounts. Learning what lives in these waters is an important first step in protecting them.
Papahānaumokuakea Marine National Monument where the ‘yellow brick road’ was found is one of the world’s largest marine conservation areas. Here, explorers have found strange creatures including the adorable Dumbo octopus(named after the cartoon character for its huge ear-like fins) and lots of marine species that had never been seen before.
