Huge underwater mountain TWICE the size of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is discovered off the coast of Guatemala
Scientists mapping the seabed off the coast of Guatemala were in for a surprise when they discovered a huge underwater mountain.
The mountain, or seamount, is 1,600 meters high, making it twice as high as the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
Experts from the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered it using a multibeam echosounder on board the Falkor research vessel.
“On every expedition, those aboard Falkor have discovered the unexpected, the awe-inspiring, the new,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder and president of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
“While there is so much we have come to understand as discoveries accelerate, so much remains unknown in our ocean – and we are excited to continue exploring.”
Scientists mapping the seabed off the coast of Guatemala were in for a surprise when they discovered a huge underwater mountain
The mountain, or seamount, is 1,600 meters high, making it twice as high as the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world
The seamount covers 14 square kilometers and is 2,400 meters below sea level.
The team discovered it by chance during a six-day crossing this summer from Puntarenas, Costa Rica, towards the East Pacific Rise.
“A seamount more than 1.5 kilometers high that has remained hidden beneath the waves until now shows how much we still have to discover,” said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
‘A complete seafloor map is a fundamental part of understanding our ocean, so it’s exciting to live in an age where technology allows us to map and see these amazing parts of our planet for the first time!’
Besides being enormous, seamounts are also known as biodiversity hotspots.
They provide surfaces for a range of creatures ranging from deep-sea corals to sponges, as well as a host of invertebrates.
And the team thinks this new seamount could be one of many.
Recent satellite-based estimates indicate that there may be more than 100,000 undiscovered seamounts larger than 1,000 meters, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Since 2013, the research institute has mapped 44 million square kilometers of the ocean floor, discovering more than 20 underwater features. Despite only being launched in March, Falkor itself was responsible for nine discoveries
The Schmidt Ocean Institute is a partner of the Seabed 2030 initiative, which has the ambitious goal of mapping the entire seabed by the end of this decade
Since 2013, the research institute has mapped 44 million square kilometers of the ocean floor, discovering more than 20 underwater features.
Despite only being launched in March, Falkor itself was responsible for nine discoveries.
This includes two unknown seamounts in the Galapagos Islands Marine Reserve, three new hydrothermal vents, a new ecosystem under hydrothermal vents and two pristine cold-water coral reefs.
The Schmidt Ocean Institute is a partner of the Seabed 2030 initiative, which has the ambitious goal of mapping the entire seabed by the end of this decade.
This will not only shed light on the incredible topography of our oceans, but will also help ships navigate more safely, according to the experts.
“The lack of detailed underwater topography, or bathymetric data, hinders the ability to safely navigate ships at sea, sustainably manage marine resources, and protect coastal communities,” the Schmidt Ocean Institute added in a statement.