• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Massive underwater mountain twice the size of world's tallest building has been discovered

Home> News> World News

Published 19:34 24 Nov 2023 GMT

Massive underwater mountain twice the size of world's tallest building has been discovered

The seamount was discovered by chance in Guatemala

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

Scientists are still discovering magical, never-before seen phenomena hidden within the realms of planet Earth on an almost-daily basis.

Earlier this week, experts revealed there's a brand new super continent forming that is to be uninhabitable for humans - and the week before that, scientists uncovered ancient lost landscape under Antarctica dating back millions of years.

There's seemingly no end to the mysteries we're yet to solve when it comes to the ins and outs of our world.

And speaking of shedding light on the unknown, this week a group of scientists mapping the seafloor off the coast of Guatemala made another extremely startling discovery.

Advert

The group had, in fact, stumbled across an colossal underwater mountain, which reached a height of 5,249ft (1,600m).

This makes the summit of the underwater peak TWICE the height of the Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the word - in Dubai.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute had made their discovery by using a 'multi-beam echosounder' on the Falkor research vessel.

Scientists made the discovery this week.
Schmidt Ocean Institute

Advert

Wendy Schmidt - co-founder and president of the institute - told press after news of the mountainous find began to spread: "While there is so much we've come to understand as discoveries tumble ever faster into view, so much remains unknown in our ocean - and we are thrilled to continue exploring."

The seamount sits 7,874ft (2,400m) below sea level, and covers an area of around a staggering 5.4 square miles (14 square kilometres).

And even more dumbfounding, is that the group made the discovery entirely by chance!

Dr Jyotika Virmani, executive director of the institute, has now explained: "A seamount over 1.5km tall which has, until now, been hidden under the waves, really highlights how much we have yet to discover.

Advert

The mountain is twice the height of the Burj Khalifa.
Getty/Frazer Hall

"A complete seafloor map is a fundamental element of understanding our ocean, so it's exciting to be living in an era where technology allows us to map and see these amazing parts of our planet for the first time."

These underwater mountain ecosystems are recognised as hotspots for biodiversity, as they provide surfaces for vast array of creatures - everything from deep-sea corals to sponges.

These also provide homes for a host of invertebrates.

Advert

And even more exciting is that the team of scientists believe this newly discovered seamount could be one of plenty, with recent satellite-based estimates indicating there could actually be more than 100,000 unexplored seamounts.

And according to the institute, these will all likely be taller than 3,280ft (1,000m).

Featured Image Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute/Fraser Hall/Getty Images

Topics: Science, Travel, World News

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

X

@rhiannaBjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Social Security bosses send terrifying warning about exact date America will run out of cash

    A new report has detailed a bleak-looking future unless Congress steps in

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Diddy’s former assistant alleges disturbing ‘loyalty’ test he did to ‘prove’ himself to the rapper

    Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant, took to the stand on Friday

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Netflix star Sara Burack found dead aged 40 as police launch manhunt for suspect on the run

    The famous realtor was reportedly killed on the highway

    Celebrity
  • 5 hours ago

    US Air Force reveals truth behind 'doomsday plane' and why it made 'highly unusual flight' after terrifying warning

    The so-called 'doomsday plane' took an unexpected flight earlier this week

    News
  • List of the best airlines in the world in 2025 has been revealed and some might surprise you
  • Scientists discovered bizarre radio signal from 13,000,000,000 years ago and it could answer how the universe started
  • World's tallest woman and world's shortest woman meet for the first time
  • Mind-blowing journey of man who has spent 27 years walking around the world using no transport