In 2021, the earth's "seven continents, four oceans" have changed, and have shifted to "seven continents, five oceans", because the US "National Geographic" magazine recognizes the "Southern Ocean" as the world's "fifth ocean". Therefore, the pattern of the world's oceans is changing again. Of course, the specific application needs to wait for the approval of the relevant international institutions before the Southern Ocean can be "called" the five oceans of the world with the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Oceans.
However, the change of the earth's plate pattern may mean that it has not stopped, and it may change into "eight continents and five oceans" in the future. Many scientists are already calling for the name of the "eighth continent of the earth". However, there is still a lot of unsolved mystery about the "eighth continent" of the earth, and in the period to end in 2021, everyone is discussing the issue of the "eighth continent", so the change of the pattern of the earth continent by human beings is still under discussion.
The eighth continent of the Earth
In fact, the existence of the eighth continent of the earth has been discussed, and scientists have evidence to point out the existence of the eighth continent of the earth, but to be defined by science, this needs to continue to be explored. Where is the eighth continent of this earth? That's near New Zealand. In 2017, a number of geologists announced that they had discovered the "eighth continent" of the earth, also known as Zealandia, which is "Te Riua Māui" in Maori.
At the time of the announcement, it triggered a lot of heated discussions. Because at the time of this so-called "Eighth Continent", there was also a region that was also named "The Eighth Continent of the Earth". That's what we call the Great Rift Valley.
In 2020, scientific researchers have found that the continent is undergoing a "split," and it is expected that in about 5 million to 10 million years, a tectonic geological fault will form in eastern Africa, separating a new continent.
They also called the region "East Africa", and through monitoring, they found that the division of the region was accelerating, and a crack appeared in 2005 and was about 56 kilometers long in 2020. Therefore, they believe that in the future, East Africa will be formed, that is, the "eighth continent" of the earth.
So, in fact, there is a controversy about the eighth continent of the earth, some people say that "East Africa" will be the eighth continent in the future, and some people say that the continent near New Zealand is the eighth continent.
It's just that there is a slight difference between the two. "East Africa" is a natural formation. The "eighth continent" near New Zealand is a natural existence, but a large area is underwater. So who is recognized first, this needs to be defined. Of course, here we are mainly talking about the continents near New Zealand.
After the five oceans are determined! The eighth continent of the earth is about to be fixed?
As we said above, although a group of geologists have announced the discovery of Zealandia, the eighth continent we call, the mystery of this continent is still not completely solved at the end of 2021. This continent is very different. According to the introduction, 94% of the continent is underwater, and only a few islands such as New Zealand emerge from the depths of the sea, so it has been hidden underwater.
For this eighth continent to be recognized, ironclad evidence and underwater confirmation are needed. According to the report, the new continent broke away from Gondwana a hundred million years ago, covering an area of 4.9 million square kilometers, about six times that of Madagascar, and sank into the sea 85 million years ago without rising again. Geologists define it as a new continent, where they mainly discover things with the basic characteristics of the continent.
For example, the type of rock found, although it is thin, underwater, the seabed is more composed of woody such as basalt, while the continental crust is composed more of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks such as granite, slate and limestone. Therefore, it does have the characteristics of the mainland. But whether it can be recognized, this may continue to wait, especially the need for National Geographic magazine to recognize is the most critical link.
Just like determining the five oceans, it must first be recognized. Including in 2021, 11 scientists called for the world's eighth continent to be recognized, and the GNS Scientific Institute from New Zealand, after six years of research, also found that although the "eighth continent" exists on the seabed, it has tens of billions of dollars worth of fossil fuel energy, and if this continent one day surfaces again, then the earth's energy will be "highlighted" again.
So, in every way, this continent is a very good area. And from the survey data, it is indeed more in line with the characteristics of the continent, although this continent is not as good as the other seven continents of the earth, belongs to the world's smallest, thinnest and youngest continent, but it can also be regarded as having its own characteristics.
Therefore, how long it can be determined to designate it as the eighth continent depends on how the scientific community judges, which year can determine the eighth continent of the earth, and the textbook may change.
If confirmed, who might belong to the Eighth Continent?
It is true that the continent may be another matter of controversy when it comes to attribution, but from a rational point of view, the continent may still belong to New Zealand. Because the important point that scientists have found is that only a few islands such as New Zealand emerge from the depths of the sea, which means that the main body is in New Zealand. So, if confirmed, the eighth continent could be owned by New Zealand.
However, as a resource-rich region, countries around the world may also compete for it, or may use it as a "global common development zone". So, geographically speaking, it may be New Zealand. However, whether this is the case or not, it is not easy to determine. It may also be necessary to wait for confirmation before discussing this issue. After all, the continent has not yet been recognized, and that is the general situation.