Underwater cities concepts that could save humanity

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

As the latest achievements of mankind show, life under water is possible. You should not look at Mars or other celestial bodies, dreaming of creating cities of the future there. It is better to take a closer look at the underwater space of the ocean, it is nevertheless closer and dearer. As it turned out, there are already amazing projects of underwater cities, the developers of which are convincing that it is they who will save humanity from natural disasters and disasters. Who knows, maybe not in such a distant future we will be able to choose our own home between land or sea and be glad that we still have such an opportunity.

As you know, the Earth is 71% water, and this is a great chance to provide the next generation with first-class real estate. Naturally, life underwater creates many problems such as freezing, enormous pressure, and most importantly, lack of oxygen. Not to mention the fact that life on the seabed and aquatic environment can wreak havoc on the human body. Nevertheless, the underwater world has promising and even fantastic horizons that will help solve housing problems and ensure a comfortable life for humanity. After all, scientific achievements have been developed to such an extent that amazing underwater hotels and restaurants have already been created that perfectly resist all the negative effects of the deep environment. More recently, the authors of Novate.ru have already talked about these innovative projects and the processes of their creation.

1. Underwater cities are not a new idea

Underwater life, although not as studied from the point of view of human habitat as some space exploration, has been attracting the attention of not only science fiction writers, but scientists, inventors and even architects since the beginning of the last century.

The farthest advanced in this direction was the famous ocean explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who made this fantastic idea a reality by implementing it in the early 60s of the last century. Recall that Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997) was a French oceanographer (as he liked to call himself), explorer of the oceans, director and inventor, thanks to whom the interest of people in the depths of the sea increased and there was hope and opportunity for the creation of underwater cities.

Cousteau was so keen on exploring the bottomless abyss of the ocean that, after several years of constant experimentation and research, he created three projects of underwater inhabited research stations Conshelf I, II, III.

These fantastic underwater houses made it possible for his crew members to live under water, starting from 10 meters deep, without rising above the water and without going out on land for a whole week.

The first house "Precontinent I" or Diogenes' barrel was a steel cylinder 5 meters long and 2.5 meters in diameter, it had everything necessary for scientific research and a comfortable life: equipment, bed, TV, radio communication and even a library.

Subsequent underwater laboratory houses were improved and could take more than six people into their apartments, placing them at a depth of 100 meters, and oceanologists lived in them for almost a month.

2. The depth of the location of the underwater city affects everything

The depth of the location of the underwater city plays a dominant role.

Empirically, the maximum depth of placement was determined - no more than 100 meters.

Due to the enormous pressure that is created in the aquatic environment, the walls of buildings in an underwater city must be very thick and reliably protect people from an excessive decompression period.

To ensure safety and comfort on the ocean floor, it is necessary to use the latest developments.

Also, do not forget that at such depths people need to take additional measures to ensure the correct ratio of oxygen and other gases in the air, as well as optimal humidity. As it turned out, not only on land, but also under water, live plants and artificial lighting can successfully combat this problem.

3. Organization of food in the underwater city

Underwater hunting in the depths of the ocean will be able to feed the inhabitants of the settlements.

It will be impossible to die of hunger in an underwater city. After all, life at the bottom of the ocean provides people with wide access to seafood that can be found in the water column, from algae and shellfish to gourmet delicacies.

As the experience of living in underwater capsules created according to the project of Jacques-Yves Cousteau has shown, oceanologists ate through spearfishing, combining a diet with canned and dried vegetables and fruits.

Moreover, in order to provide oxygen and fresh water, you will still have to create special pipelines or tunnels that can be used to transport both more familiar food products and ready-made food from the surface.

4. Opportunity to continually explore the ocean

Constant observation and exploration of the ocean will help explore the possibilities of its depths.

Considering that life underwater worries scientists all over the world, including marine biologists, archaeologists and even architects and designers, life in such cities will help fill a huge knowledge gap (the underwater world has only been studied by 5%!). After all, there is nothing better than observing the habitat from the inside.

Research and development of minerals on the ocean floor can improve the quality of life of earthlings.

5. The project of the underwater city-future "Ocean Spiral" (Japan)

The Japanese company "Shimizu Corporation" has prepared a very ambitious innovative project of an underwater city, which promises to be implemented already in 2030! The government has already allocated $ 26 billion for its implementation.

Shimizu Corporation plans to build an Ocean Spiral from plastic using a 3D printer (Japan).

In their underwater floating city with a diameter of 500 meters, the developers have placed not only comfortable residential buildings, research laboratories, schools and business centers, but also all related structures that can organize both the life of the townspeople and entertainment in their free time.

Model of the underwater city "Ocean Spiral" by Japanese developers.

All in all, this unique city will be able to accommodate 5,000 people and provide them with a safe and comfortable stay. This is quite important for a country located in a seismically dangerous zone of the planet.

6. Underwater housing estates and restaurants already exist

Great underwater hotels and restaurants already exist.

Right now, humans have the ability to create underwater settlements that can support the safe livelihoods of over 100 people. As Stanford University biology professor Jan Koblik said: “There are no technological barriers. If you have the money and needs, you could do it today … Because all the necessary technological developments, building materials and heavy-duty modular structures have already been tested and can provide not only comfort, but also environmental control of air and humidity supply, as well as safe emergency evacuation.

The following selection of photographs clearly shows that the desire and financial capabilities made it possible to create unique underwater structures. These fantastic objects have already brought unforgettable sensations to those lucky ones who managed to visit them.

The Poseidon Underwater Complex has 25 rooms (Fiji).

The Manta Resort, located on Pemba Island in Zanzibar, has an underwater suite.

Underwater Villa Muraka in Conrad Maldives Rangali (Maldives).

The luxurious Atlantis hotel has an underwater room "Palm" (Dubai).

7. Underwater cities can help save humanity

I would like to believe in the prudence of people that things will not come to a nuclear war, but underwater cities will be able to save humanity even after such an apocalyptic event. Not to mention global warming, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires, hurricanes and any other disasters that can pose a clear threat to life on land.

Further, there are several fantastic projects that will nevertheless come true and will really bring everyone's benefit and joy.

The Gyre is a floating underwater skyscraper reaching a depth of 400 meters (designed by Zigloo).

Scientists joke that earthlings know more about the far side of the moon than about the secrets of the ocean depths. Indeed, this is so, even the most distant distances of the Galaxy are studied better, and this industry is developing like no other.