Next News Network

This is a fun story. It may be similar to the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz, but it’s not it’s even more mysterious. Watch more on the Next News Network below.

Scientists say that the rock formation is actually evidence of ancient volcanic activity on the ocean floor near Hawaii. The rock feature that resembles a road paved in cobblestones was seen near Papahānaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean. It’s one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world and researchers have been able to track 3% of its sea floor.

The rock formation was found when the crew of Exploration Vessel Nautilus research ship got footage of the “brick road” and the “road to Atlantis.”

Watch the footage below.

The video shows two Marine researchers on radio talking to each other.

“It’s the road to Atlantis,” one researcher said.

“The yellow brick road?” another added.

In a statement the team says, “What may look like “yellow brick road” to the mythical city of Atlantis is an example of volcanic geology.

“Our Corps of Exploration have witnessed incredibly unique and fascinating geological formations while diving on the Lili*uokalani Ridge within Papah*naumokuakea Marine National Monument.”

“At the summit of Nootka Seamount, the team spotted a “dried lake bed” formation, now IDed as a fractured flow of hyaloclastite rock (a volcanic rock formed in high-energy eruptions where many rock fragments settle to the seabed),” the statement continued.

“The unique 90-degree fractures are likely related to heating and cooling stress from multiple eruptions at this baked margin.”

‘Throughout the seamount chain, the team also sampled basalts coated with ferromanganese (iron-manganese) crusts from across different depths and oxygen saturations as well as an interesting-looking pumice rock that almost resembled a sponge.”

The voyage is being operated by the non-profit Ocean Exploration Trust. They generally live stream it’s vehicles diving in the deep.

Many have made reference to the lost city of Atlantis when viewing the pics, but it’s actually way more ancient. It’s important to support these sorts of explorations because our oceans are almost less explored than our own solar system. Be sure to watch their live streams here.