TOP-10 underwater cities of the Earth, which scientists are researching

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

Scientists note that the level of the oceans is rising and many cities located on the coast are in danger. When it comes to sunken cities, Atlantis comes to mind, which, according to legends, was a rich city with many beautiful temples, rich vegetation and magnificent statues of the gods. Perhaps this is just a myth. However, there have been real cities in history that have sunk. Below we will talk about them.

Dunwich

In the 11th century, Dunwich was one of the largest cities in England. However, storms in the XIII and XIV centuries led to the destruction of the coastline, and now the city is under water.

For decades, the Dunwich coastline has been eroded by storms. Locals built defenses to contain water and protect the city from flooding.

However, they could not hold back the onset of water. Dunwich was undoubtedly a fairly large city.

Divers found the remains of four churches, outposts, as well as numerous houses and even the remains of a ship that later wrecked over the city.

Bailly

The sunken city of Baia was located 16 km from Naples. It was an ancient Roman city with thermal springs, where all the Roman nobility gathered.

It was a wonderful city to live in, rich in vegetation and a pleasant climate.

It is believed that this was the city of the rich, which is why many pleasant surprises can be expected at the bottom of the divers. The city, however, was located in a place of seismic activity, which led to its death.

Archaeological excavations have been conducted here since 1941. The water in this area is clear, which allows divers to explore the area well.

Heraklion

According to legend, this port city was located at the mouth of the Nile and was called the gateway of Egypt. For a long time, the fact of its existence was questioned. But, as it turned out, its ruins had been lying for more than 3 thousand years at the bottom of the Abukir Bay, just 3 km from Alexandria.

The city is rich in treasures, as many rich people lived in it. It is believed that it began to sink due to the too heavy weight of the buildings. It finally sank by the 8th century.

During the research, numerous statues of Greek and Egyptian gods, gold coins, sarcophagi were found here, which contain mummified animals that were sacrificed to the gods.

In addition, archaeologists have found the remains of ships wrecked, since Heraklion was an important port and trade hub.

Ravenser Odd

Ravenser Odd was a medieval pirate town in Yorkshire, England. Ships from Scandinavia arrived there, and the inhabitants of the city were mainly engaged in robbery and piracy.

The inhabitants of the city were exempted from paying taxes, and the city itself enjoyed autonomy - with its own mayor, judges, and a prison.

In addition, the city had the right to impose any tax on any ship that arrived at its port.

However, the sea began to attack the city, destroying the coastline. Walls began to plunge into the eroding earth, more and more buildings found themselves under water. The population gradually left the city.

The final flooding occurred in January 1362 as a result of a violent storm, which buried the remains of Ravenser Odda under water.

Kekova

Kekova is a Turkish island that sank as a result of an earthquake in the 2nd century. On the northern side of the island was the city of Dolicheste, founded by the Lycians.

It was an advanced civilization. The city had two- and even three-story houses, baths, cisterns for collecting water, sewerage. During the time of Alexander the Great, the inhabitants of Dolicheste supported the young king.

Archaeologists have established that at first only military men lived on the island and in the city. After all, Dolikhiste was a fortified port.

The families of the garrison lived on the neighboring island. The first cataclysm happened in the 2nd century AD.

The city was significantly damaged, and part of the island went under water. But life has not stopped here, although the times of prosperity have passed.

A new earthquake, even more powerful, completely destroyed Dolihiste. The inhabitants fled in fear and never returned to their homes.

Atlit Yam

Atlit Yam is located just 1 km off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea.

It has survived intact; even human skeletons have been found here. The main mystery of the Atlit-Yam ruins is the reason for their flooding.

Many researchers are inclined to the version that the village gradually went under water due to the melting of glaciers and the expansion of the boundaries of the World Ocean, while others are inclined to the version of a sudden tsunami.

At the bottom of the sea, divers found stone buildings with stone floors, fireplaces and even intact walls.

Since the underwater artifacts are very ancient, they are not available from the sea, as the air environment can lead to their destruction.

Shichen

Shicheng City is located in Zhejiang Province, China. The reason for the flooding of the city was the construction of a hydroelectric power station.

A dam was built here, and at the bottom of the planned lake was the city of Shichen and other cities in the area. In total, about 300 thousand people were forced to leave their home towns and villages.

The city of Shichen was founded over 1300 years ago. The city was located between five mountains, which were called the Lion Mountains. Accordingly, the city received a second name - the city of Leo.

There are 6 streets here that connect every corner of the city. The area of the city is estimated at 60 football fields.

Now the city is located at a depth of 30-40 m. All buildings of the city are still in their places, nothing has been touched.

Plus, the water of the lake is crystal clear, which allows you to explore the city without any difficulties.

Neapolis

The ancient Roman city of Neapolis was partially destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century AD.

In 2017, it was discovered by archaeologists off the coast of modern Tunisia.

The city of Neapolis was founded by the Greeks in the 5th century BC. It was located on the Cape Bon Peninsula in the northeast of modern Tunisia.

Later, the city was part of the possession of Carthage, and during the Punic Wars it was conquered by the Romans. Now, on the site of ancient Neapolis, the city of Nabeul is located.

On July 21, 365 AD, an earthquake struck the Mediterranean Sea near Crete.

Modern geologists estimate the magnitude of an earthquake to be at least 8 points. It destroyed almost all cities in Crete, settlements in South and Central Greece, Sicily, and Cyprus.

The earthquake was followed by a tsunami that reached the northeastern coast of Africa.

City in the Bay of Cambay

In December 2000, an ancient flooded city was discovered at the bottom of the Arabian Sea off the coast of India. Its area was more than 17 sq. km, with thousands of houses.

And not far from this place, another city, smaller in size, was found. The finds were made in the Gulf of Cambay, which juts deep into the land. Today, on its shores is Mumbai, one of the largest cities in the world.

However, ancient settlements are located almost 300 km north of Bombay. Indian experts have been excavating here since 2001, although it is very difficult, because the depths in the search area are 30-40 m.

Scientists believe that these cities are more than 9 thousand years old.

The cities were discovered by accident when scientists were conducting research on pollution. At the bottom, fragments of walls, sculptures and human remains were found.

Olus

Olus especially flourished, according to various sources, during the Minoan period (3000-900 BC). The ruins of the ancient city can still be seen at the bottom of the Poros Canal.

Numerous artifacts have been found here, including writing from the 3rd century BC. BC e., from which one can draw a conclusion about the close ties between Olus, Lato and Knossos.

Olus was inhabited by about 30 thousand people. They extracted fresh water from springs that exist here to this day.

It is not known when and by whom exactly the city was destroyed, but, most likely, this happened in the most disastrous time for all of Crete.

Various researchers agree that Olus existed even under the Greeks, Romans and in the first Byzantine period (824 BC).

The city could sink both as a result of a volcanic eruption and as a result of natural soil erosion and subsequent flooding.