Zealanda: Earth’s hidden and smallest continent discovered

Eleven Geologist claims to have discovered a new continent to the east of Australia called Zealandia with 4.9 million square kilometres of land mass, 94 per cent of which is under water, which makes it world’s smallest continent. They presented their finding in the study of “Zealandia: Earth’s hidden continent” in Geological Society of America, making case for Zealandia to be recognised as the world’s eighth continent in its own right.

Their study reveals the land mass comprises all the four attributes needed to be considered a continent including the present of different rock types and high elevation floored by oceanic crust.

A six-year study by the GNS science research institute in New Zealand has revealed that there could be tens of billions of dollars, worth of fossil fuels located off-shore in the region.

According to the study, the 94 per cent of Zealandia currently submerged broke away from Australia and sank 85 million years ago.