Revolutionary Study Reveals: Earth Could Have Only Six Continents – A New Perspective on Our World Map!

Earth’s continents may not be what you think. Instead of the familiar seven—Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America—new research suggests a different view.

A recent study in Gondwana Research led by Dr. Jordan Phethean from the University of Derby is turning heads. It challenges long-held beliefs about the separation of North America and Europe. Most people think the Atlantic Ocean keeps these continents apart, but Dr. Phethean’s team argues otherwise.

They claim that the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are not fully separated, as previously thought to have happened 52 million years ago. Instead, they are slowly drifting apart, indicating a possible ongoing connection between these landmasses.

At the center of this debate is Iceland, a volcanic island formed along the mid-Atlantic ridge. Scientists once believed it was created by geological forces millions of years ago. However, this new research suggests that Iceland shows signs of an ongoing connection rather than a past division.

If true, this could redefine how we understand continents. The conventional map of Earth might be more fluid than we ever imagined. Phethean and his team propose that Iceland and nearby regions, like the Greenland Iceland Faroes Ridge, are actually parts of a larger continental structure—one that they have dubbed the "Rifted Oceanic Magmatic Plateau" (ROMP).

Phethean describes this discovery as revolutionary, akin to finding the lost city of Atlantis. He mentions, "We’ve uncovered pieces of a submerged continent under the sea."

Interestingly, researchers have found similarities between Iceland and Africa’s volcanic Afar region. This connection supports the idea that Europe and North America may still be linked. Phethean admits that his findings are controversial but rooted in detailed research.

Further studies aim to cement these claims. The team plans to analyze volcanic rocks from Iceland and use computer models to understand the ROMP better. Their work builds on Phethean’s earlier discovery of a hidden "proto-microcontinent" between Canada and Greenland, showing that the formation of continents is an ongoing process.

According to Phethean, “Rifting and microcontinent formation are active phenomena." Such insights can help scientists predict future geological changes and locate valuable resources.

This research prompts us to rethink what we know about Earth’s continents. As scientists dig deeper, the world map we once thought was fixed could soon look very different.

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