Earth holds many secrets, including Zealandia, a hidden continent in the South Pacific, confirmed in 2017. Often called "the eighth continent," this mostly submerged landmass was hiding in plain sight. A study in *Tectonics* solidified its status, offering a new perspective on Earth's geography.
The search for Zealandia began nearly 400 years ago. In 1642, Dutch captain Abel Tasman sought a Southern Continent. Geologists officially recognized Zealandia nearly 375 years after Tasman's voyage, with the name originating from American geophysicist Bruce Luyendyk's suggestion in 1995.
Researchers from GNS Science of New Zealand, led by Nick Mortimer, analyzed dredged rock samples from the Fairway Ridge to the Coral Sea. They unearthed sandstone, mudstone, limestone, and basaltic lava, dating back 95 to 130 million years. Spanning 4.9 million square kilometers, Zealandia is mostly submerged, with only New Zealand and New Caledonia remaining above water. Its stretched, thin crust distinguishes it as the smallest, thinnest, and youngest continent.