WebUrbanist » Underwater Cities, Ruins and Other Urban Archeology: 7 Submerged Wonders of the World

Underwater Cities, Ruins and Other Urban Archeology: 7 Submerged Wonders of the World

A wealth of human history lies submerged in ancient cities at the bottoms of lakes, seas and oceans of the world. Some of these were sent into the water via earthquakes, tsunamis or other disasters thousands of years ago. Many have just recently been rediscovered, by accident or through emergent technological innovations. Some have even caused scientists to question the history of human civilization.

Alexandria, Egypt: Off the shores of Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great, lie what are believed to be the ruins of the royal quarters of Cleopatra. It is believed that earthquakes over 1,500 years ago were responsible for casting this into the sea, along with artifacts, statues and other parts of Cleopatra’s palace. The city of Alexandria even plans to offer underwater tours of this wonder.

Bay of Cambay, India: A few years back discovered the remains of a vast 9,500 year old city. This submerged ruin has intact architecture and human remains. More significantly, this find predates all finds in the area by over 5,000 years, forcing historians to reevaluate their understanding of the history of civilazation in the region. The find has been termed Dwarka, or the ‘Golden City,’ after an ancient city-in-the sea said to belong to the Hindu god Krishna.

Kwan Phayao, Thailand: In itself perhaps not unusual, a 500 year old Thai temple sits at the bottom of lake Phayao. What makes this case strange is that the lake was actually made intentionally about 70 years ago, and that there has been recent discussion of potentially restoring the temple at the cost of billions of dollars. However, the ruins serve as a habitat for fish that many have argued should remain untouched.

Yonaguni-Jima, Japan: Discovered by a dive tour guide some twenty years ago, controversies have arisen around a mysterious pyramids found off the coast of Japan. These structures seem to have been carved right out of bedrock in a teraforming process using tools previously thought unavailable to ancient cultures of the region.

Havana, Cuba: A team of scientists continues to explore megalithic ruins found in the Yucatan Channel near Cuba. They have found evidence of an extensive urban environment stretching for miles along the ocean shore. Some believe that the civilization that inhabited these predates all known ancient American cultures. So far, only computer models of this mysterious underwater city exist.

North Sea

North Sea, Europe: A lost natural landscape was found recently under the North Sea, once occupied by human hunter-gatherers over 10,000 years ago. What were once rivers, lakes and oceans are now all at the bottom of the sea, only made known through digital mapping. Scientists theorize that this amazingly well-preserved landscape was at the heart of an ancient civilization spread across Europe.

Atlantis

Atlantis, Antarctica? Over a hundred years ago, a museum curator in Istanbul made a remarkable discovery. Examining an ancient map on gazelle skin, he found a location marking a mountain chain where Antarctica is today. This map is, amazingly, one of many pieces of evidence people have used to try and claim that, in fact, Antarctica is the fabled lost continent of Atlantis. Other evidence includes the recent discovery (via sonar technology) of land under Antarctica as well as the mapping systems used by ancient cartographers, which suggest Atlantis might have been located far from the Mediterranean Sea.

Enjoy this collection? Be sure to check out 7 Abandoned Wonders of the Postmodern World and 7 More Deserted Wonders of the World. Interested in abandonments? See this article on urban exploration.

Want More? Check Out These Great Related Articles:

Posted by Urbanist September 12th, 2007
7 Wonders, Architecture, Urban, Urban Images, Various
Comments: 86

Comments

Comment from John Lampard
Time: September 12, 2007, 6:00 am

I always thought Atlantis was situated at a more tropical latitude according to legend! Mind you an article I saw in New Scientist suggested Greenland once used to be rainforests and lush vegetation… a long time ago.

Comment from goran stoun
Time: September 12, 2007, 7:54 am

ameyzing

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 12, 2007, 7:55 am

waaauuuuuuuuu

Comment from Halil
Time: September 12, 2007, 8:29 am

Awesome post again. I enjoy every of your posts.

Comment from Adrian Keys
Time: September 12, 2007, 10:33 am

There is a famous saying that we are a species with amnesia…the more I read this kind of stuff, the more I believe.

There is just one scary thought…if whole continents have been lost before, it will certainly happen again. Not a very comforting thought at all.

Comment from djbarney
Time: September 12, 2007, 3:18 pm

“Atlantis” seems to be a myth, a legend about not one place, but many that were “lost” below the waves. Were they all lost at the same time ? Because of Earthquakes ? Rising sea levels ?

DJ Barney

Comment from subcorpus
Time: September 12, 2007, 4:52 pm

interesting stuff … thanks …

Comment from Bojan
Time: September 12, 2007, 6:24 pm

Amazing!

Comment from Brian
Time: September 12, 2007, 6:36 pm

Check your local library (or mega book emporium) for the book “1421″ by Gavin Menzies - it covers the origins of a lot of those ancient maps. PBS did a special on it. Turns out it was the Chinese who launched a huge map-the-world campaign with 4 vast fleets. One sailed across the Atlantic face of Antarctica. Not many records exist of it because the imperial palace burnt down shortly thereafter. However, much of the world is littered with shipwrecks built of teak with ming era porcelain & currency, Chinese DNA in native populations, and Asiatic fowl (just to name a few). Although the author has a rather self-congratulatory style, the detail and thoroughness alone make it a very compelling read.

There’s also a website (1421.tv), but it’s not put together very well.

Comment from John
Time: September 12, 2007, 7:18 pm

Most of your stories are actually controversial and the only site that’s taken as an actual FACT is the Alexandria. The others have not been confirmed. You seem to be perpetuating controversial hypothesis as fact. I think you should check your information.

Comment from Michael
Time: September 12, 2007, 8:56 pm

> I always thought Atlantis was situated at a more tropical latitude according to legend!

It may have indeed been in a tropical latitude at one time. There is the potential that a large planetary body struck this planet at one time and altered not only the planetary tilt, but also the location of the continents in relation to the equator. This would also explain the forests on greenland, just the same. Read a book called “Catastrophobia” by Barbara Hand Clow, it would really shine some light on these locations, as they were part of what she refers to as the “pre-diluvial” period in history. This would also explain how an advanced global seafaring superpower disappeared without much of a trace..

John
> the only site that’s taken as an actual FACT is the Alexandria

Really?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_gAV8CskA4

I think YOU need to check your FACTS

Comment from Michael
Time: September 12, 2007, 9:10 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KQJCFPsOLE

Here is a much more concise video. I didnt realize the other wasnt in english (speakers were muted). There was a really good one on google video that had a lot of interview footage with the diver who discovered it. Cant find that one at the moment.. but its a really good video and shows underwater footage of them diving there.

Comment from Ibod Catooga
Time: September 12, 2007, 11:19 pm

I like to poop on cats.

Comment from ZWanichamokifpaRa
Time: September 13, 2007, 2:06 am

Before the Tsunami in 2005, there were a lot of sculptures and temples and even full fledged cities that were poking out of the ocean near India. But after the tsunami they’ve all been buried under more water. But there still exists places where the top of a temple can be seen, and the upper part of the inner sanctum is visible giving a very creepy feeling.

Comment from Matt Arnold
Time: September 13, 2007, 6:21 am

Wow, that is so amazing! Some amazing pictures, thanks for sharing them with us :)

Comment from jayven
Time: September 13, 2007, 6:36 am

reg. indian underwater site, the Archaelogical Survey of India has denied any such findings.. the whole story was concocted by some right wing parties to exploit religious sentiments….
i even suspect the veracity of the rest of the findings too. i think you should state you sources for all these.

Comment from KodeMizer
Time: September 13, 2007, 8:58 am

Land under Antartica? wow! :-)

Comment from Michael
Time: September 13, 2007, 9:06 am

Yonaguni-Jima has been conclusively shown to be a geological formation. Similar processes can be seen on the coastline in the immediate area where the ocean is wearing away the rock still to create the same formations as seen underwater.

The only people who push the notion of the Yonaguni-Jima underwater formations being man made are nationalistic Japanese that want their own ancient civilization and pseudo scientific archaeologists that want to create a name for themselves. All the geologists that have looked over the site have identified the natural process that are still ongoing that created the right angle steps, smooth surfaces and round holes that people keep pointing at as evidence of human construction.

Furthermore, that accompanying picture is purely fictional. Nothing like that has ever been found at Yonaguni-Jima.

Comment from giL
Time: September 13, 2007, 12:20 pm

You continue to rock Derami! Atlantis was always on my mind ever since I was a child. keep on doing the great work.

Comment from Al Ebaster
Time: September 13, 2007, 1:03 pm

Fascinating article, and a fair bit of controversy to boot!

Comment from AP
Time: September 13, 2007, 5:04 pm

So does all of this mean Global Warming has been going on for hundreds and thousands of years? I thought Al Gore Invented it

Comment from Jon
Time: September 14, 2007, 6:06 am

You cannot create something out of nothing… so what is the logical conclusion?

Comment from javad
Time: September 14, 2007, 6:57 pm

FANTASTIC

Comment from m mm
Time: September 15, 2007, 3:18 am

Comment from محمد رضا
Time: September 15, 2007, 12:19 pm

WOW..VERY AMAZING .
THX.

Comment from mahan
Time: September 16, 2007, 12:57 am

wanderful !

Comment from CHESSNOID
Time: September 17, 2007, 4:24 pm

Atlantis is a very interesting legend. Reminds me of a book about Shangri La. I also thought like other readers that Atlantis was in warmer waters. Good post.

Comment from Dillon Hayes
Time: September 23, 2007, 6:09 am

Your images are haunting and beautiful at the same time.

Comment from Milander
Time: September 24, 2007, 3:02 pm

The photos and archaeology are fantastic and, yes, a lot of it is still under the water. People tend to congregate near water for protection and drinking. sea levels change etc. But I have to say the funniest thing is reading all the comments…. with few exceptions YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF ILL INFORMED FUCK WITS I especially liked the comment about the india cities being buried under the water because of the recent tsunami. WATER DOES NOT GET THICKER AFTER A TSUNAMI OR ANY OTHER EVENT. I give up on you all, get an education.

Loved the post, hated the “conspiracy/it’s all aliens/legends/end of world” idiots.

Comment from marksy
Time: October 1, 2007, 2:35 am

I thought that Antarctica was land? How can you have land under land?

I’m pretty sure the Arctic doesnt have land, but am also pretty sure that Antarctica has land…

Comment from pouya
Time: October 2, 2007, 1:15 am

POUYA YAZDANI

Comment from moh
Time: October 5, 2007, 5:54 pm

salam

Comment from Barbie radny
Time: October 6, 2007, 9:44 am

AWSOME! please send me some more information.

Comment from Siddhu
Time: October 15, 2007, 5:24 am

Don,t you think the cities above can be related to Atlantis.
Eatrth,s tectonic plates were quite joined together.

Comment from nive
Time: October 15, 2007, 6:34 am

this page helped me in doing my school project

Comment from sulic josefina m
Time: October 24, 2007, 2:51 am

very interesting-wonderful photos- the atlantis existed before changes on earth- poles in different positions- will happen again- due to polution- warm etc.

Comment from L Willard
Time: November 8, 2007, 12:47 am

The pictures re the Japanese Pyramids look a bit dodgy, in fact the pyramid one I have seen before somewhere.

Comment from Brandon - Call Center Consultant
Time: November 8, 2007, 2:08 pm

Amazing, I don’t know where you find this stuff, but thanks for doing it!

Comment from elie tawa
Time: November 16, 2007, 12:52 pm

this my ftrstexperience with hotmail

Comment from cholmes
Time: December 19, 2007, 4:14 pm

Give me a break. The fact that Antarctica is a land mass (not a big chunk of ice floating around) is not a recent discovery. If the only evidence of some “megalithic city” is a poorly rendered computer model, chances are you’ve been duped. There are a huge number of claims made here that seem to have materialized out of thin air; I feel like I’m reading headlines from the Enquirer or something. If that’s the niche you’re trying to fill, congratulations, you’ve done it. Otherwise, do some research.

Comment from Rachael
Time: December 19, 2007, 5:28 pm

When you consider the evidence presented by scientists that all the continents were connected at one point in time (Pangaea) then eventually broke and drifted apart to what we see today, it would make sense that Antarctica could very well have been Atlantis. I would love to read the research about it.

Comment from kevin
Time: January 1, 2008, 1:46 pm

i believe the noah time the global flood has taken all and destroy all the cities during the flood that how i see it fit .

Comment from prashantha venkataswamy
Time: January 6, 2008, 10:33 pm

it was awesome and so great…..

pls put more about atlantis and reasearch and development on this for futher more light on this

Comment from Skeptic
Time: February 1, 2008, 5:48 pm

Atlantis? Really?

Even ice age peoples traded far and wide, leaving evidence of their existence all over the ancient worlds (e.g. sea shell necklaces thousands of miles from the sea).

So, where are the Atlantis artifacts? Where is the list of kings? Where are the contemporaneous references to it in other cultures? Where are the Atlantean coins? Where are the sunken Atlantean ships? Where are the clay tablets, scrolls or papyri with Atlantean alphabetic characters all over it? Where is the Atantean art? The Atlantean Sculpture? The Atlantean-inspired architecture? What are the atlantean root words in modern languages?

Oh, gee…there is none.

So, fabled Atlantis was a HUGE secret to all other contemporary civilizations (but somehow known centuries later?), exchanged no ideas with its neighbors, had no commercial ties, purchased nothing, sailed nowhere (no artifacts found anywhere) had no artistic or architectural influence, had no spoken language and was apparently illiterate, and left absolutely no evidence that it ever existed.

Seems like ironclad evidence to me.

Comment from order mucomyst
Time: February 6, 2008, 6:37 am

good article

Comment from Matt
Time: February 9, 2008, 8:51 am

Man, you’ve got to provide high defenition pictures:S

Comment from Matt
Time: February 9, 2008, 8:55 am

Also may i add that i wouldnt even afford buying new clothes so why the hell would buy any of your amazon books? :D
(aint knowledge be for ALL and everyone?)
(sorry to disturb your common)

Comment from buy allegra d
Time: February 12, 2008, 2:44 pm

This is best comment

Comment from Order allegra d
Time: February 12, 2008, 2:53 pm

Man, you’ve got to provide high defenition pictures:S

Comment from master peen
Time: February 12, 2008, 7:35 pm

i hope stupid people become extinct

Comment from zil
Time: March 14, 2008, 3:23 am

Amazing

Comment from Marko
Time: March 14, 2008, 6:23 am

Oh my, if only Al Gore and the rest of the warmers had been there in the past to save these sites from Global Warming an drising sea levels!

Beautiful pics tho.

Comment from MarkoII
Time: March 14, 2008, 6:24 am