• Source:JND
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In a stunning deep-sea discovery, researchers aboard the exploration vessel Nautilus stumbled upon an unusual geological formation on the Pacific Ocean floor resembling a "yellow brick road." The find, made in 2022 during an expedition to the Liliʻuokalani Ridge within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), left scientists in awe.

PMNM, one of the world’s largest marine conservation areas, spans a territory larger than all US national parks combined. However, less than 3 percent of its seafloor has been explored. The "road-like" formation, located nearly 3,000 meters below the ocean's surface, was documented as part of the 2022 Ocean Exploration Trust field season report in Oceanography.

Mysterious Sight Beneath The Waves

As the Nautilus team mapped the seafloor, they encountered a dried-out ancient lake bed with near-perfect rectangular rock formations. The unusual sight led to excited chatter among the crew, with one researcher exclaiming, “It’s the road to Atlantis!” The eerily structured terrain, at first glance, appeared as though it had been deliberately constructed. However, a deeper geological analysis soon revealed a natural explanation.

Science Behind 'Brick Road'

Geologists determined that the formation was not the work of an ancient civilization but a product of volcanic activity spanning millions of years. The rock, likely hyaloclastite, was formed when lava rapidly cooled upon contacting water, shattering into fragments. Over time, exposure to extreme heating and cooling cycles caused thermal stress fractures, breaking the rock into rectangular blocks.

This process, known as columnar jointing, is responsible for other famous geological formations like the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland and Devils Postpile in California. The 90-degree fractures in the seafloor were a direct result of repeated lava flows, solidifying into patterns reminiscent of a brick pathway.

Dry Lake Bed Beneath the Ocean

Adding to the intrigue, the lake bed atop the Nootka Seamount appeared unusually dry despite its deep-sea location. Researchers described the surface as having a "baked crust" appearance, with some sections peeling away like brittle rock. This phenomenon further emphasises the region’s history of extreme volcanic activity.

A caption on a YouTube video released by the Ocean Exploration Trust explained that these fractures were likely caused by heating and cooling stress over multiple eruptions. While it may seem like an entrance to a fantastical world, the "yellow brick road" serves as a remarkable insight into Earth's hidden geological processes.