In 2022, an amazing discovery was made during an expedition north of the Hawaiian Islands. Researchers found what appeared to be a dried-up lake bed with a strange, yellow-brick-like surface. This unexpected find was uncovered by the exploration vessel Nautilus while it was surveying the Liliʻuokalani Ridge within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM).
PMNM is a massive marine conservation area, larger than all U.S. national parks combined. Surprisingly, only about 3% of its seafloor has been explored so far. Researchers from the Ocean Exploration Trust are diving into this underwater wilderness that lies more than 3,000 meters beneath the waves. The best part? Everyone can tune in and watch the exploration live.
A highlight reel of the expedition shows the moment when the team operating the deep-sea vehicle stumbled upon this striking “road.” Excitement echoed over the radio as team members reacted to the find. One exclaimed, “It’s the road to Atlantis,” while another joked, “The yellow brick road?” They found it so bizarre that they couldn’t help but react with disbelief.
Interestingly, even though this lake bed is about 1,000 meters underwater, it looks remarkably dry. The team commented that the ground resembled “baked crust” that might peel off. In one area, the volcanic rock cracked in a way that looked like bricks, creating the illusion of a path.
The unique fractures are thought to be connected to the heating and cooling from past volcanic eruptions. While it might resemble a magical path to a hidden world, it’s actually a clue about our planet’s geology. Following this “brick road” could lead to exciting discoveries about Earth’s hidden secrets.
For more details about the 2022 E/V Nautilus expedition, you can read here.
