The belief that humanity has explored every inch of Earth is mistaken. Even in the 21st century, scientists continue to make numerous revolutionary discoveries.
Depths of the Krubera Cave
The Krubera-Voronya Cave in Abkhazia was initially discovered in 1960, with explorations reaching only 95 meters deep. As exploration continued, by 2007, scientists had descended to a depth of 1,710 meters.
Until 2017, Krubera-Voronya was regarded as the deepest cave on Earth, surpassed by Verevkina Cave, also situated in proximity. Presently, owing to karstologists’ endeavors, scientists have reached the cave’s maximum depth of 2,197 meters.
Filming the Pacific Ocean Floor
In 2010, American oceanographers employed echolocation technology for an in-depth survey of the Pacific Ocean’s seabed, with a focus on the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the world’s oceans. The expedition revealed that four towering mountain ranges traverse the Mariana Trench, each rising to a height of 2.5 kilometers.
Subglacial Lake Vostok
The scientific community confirmed the existence of Lake Vostok in 2012, situated beneath a layer of Antarctic ice. It is the largest among Antarctica’s 145 subglacial lakes. While the presence of Lake Vostok was suspected for a long time, it was only recently verified. Concealed under a four-kilometer-thick ice layer for about 15 million years, Lake Vostok serves as a unique “time capsule” that could harbor microorganisms unknown to contemporary science.
The discovery of subglacial lakes bolsters the possibility of life existing under similar conditions on other planets. As of 2023, scientists have secured the initial water samples from these lakes, but the confirmation of bacterial presence remains pending.
The largest volcano on the planet
In 2013, American scientists identified the Earth’s largest volcano in the Shatsky Rise region of the Pacific Ocean, east of Japan. It was revealed that extensive lava deposits, once thought to originate from various sources, were in fact from a single colossal shield volcano.
This volcano’s size is akin to that of Olympus Mons on Mars, the largest volcano in the solar system, which has been dormant for a considerable time.
The Grand Canyon of Greenland
In 2013, scientists from Italy, England, and Canada discovered Earth’s largest canyon beneath the Greenland ice sheet. It extends for 750 kilometers, measures up to 10 kilometers wide, and reaches depths of 800 meters.
The canyon begins in the island’s central region and extends to the northern tip. It is twice the size of the renowned Grand Canyon in the USA.
New Island on Novaya Zemlya
In 2020, a new island was identified near the northern region of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, discovered by Russian schoolchildren while analyzing satellite images.
Studies indicate that the island measures 200 by 410 meters, reaches up to 27 meters in height, and spans approximately 5.6 hectares. It is believed to have formed from the collapse of an ice bridge between the melting Vilkitsky South Glacier and Severny Island. Monitoring this island could enhance our comprehension of the Arctic’s dynamics.
Earth’s magnetic pole found
In 2020, Russian scientists pinpointed the precise location of Earth’s magnetic poles, which are mobile unlike the fixed geographic poles. They found that the North Magnetic Pole has shifted 3,000 km away from the geographic South Pole, nearing the edge of Antarctica.
This discovery is crucial for compass users like sailors or polar explorers, as it enables more precise navigation.
Karst “sinkhole” in China
In 2022, a massive karst void was discovered in the village of Ping’e, located in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Measuring 306 meters in length, 150 meters in width, and reaching a depth of 192 meters, the void’s volume surpassed 5,000,000 cubic meters. Within this remarkable formation, which encompasses three caves, lies an ancient forest, home to fig trees and thorny vines that soar up to 40 meters tall.
Exploring the Subglacial Antarctic Alps
The subglacial Antarctic Alps were discovered in 1958, yet it wasn’t until 2020 that they were thoroughly examined. The Gamburtsev Ridge, concealed beneath Antarctic ice, was not well-researched due to the challenges of conducting studies in such conditions. However, advancements in technology during the 21st century enabled an international team of scientists to produce detailed maps of the mountain range.
Through aerial photography and radio sounding, researchers have discovered that the mountains in this region can rise up to 3,000 meters, with the disparity between peaks and valleys surpassing one kilometer. Beneath the glacier, there exist rivers and lakes containing liquid water that remains unfrozen, even when external temperatures drop below -30°C.
The Antarctic Alps are significantly older than their European equivalents, with an age exceeding a billion years. Over such an extensive timespan, one would anticipate the mountain relief to become rounded and smooth due to erosion. Yet, their current relief remains remarkably sharp and well-defined. Taking the Gamburtsev Ridge as a case study, scientists have deduced that the Antarctic Alps were formed through multiple stages. This insight has provided researchers with a fresh perspective on the formation processes of mountain systems worldwide.