Scientists have confirmed the location of Zealandia, Earth's eighth continent, which has remained largely hidden beneath the South Pacific. Recent studies in 2025 have provided unprecedented detail about this submerged landmass, which spans approximately 5 million square kilometers.
Geologists have identified a massive land area that has stayed mostly hidden below the surface. Experts call this sunken stretch of terrain Zealandia, and only about five percent of it breaks the ocean's surface in places like New Zealand. Researchers suggest that it split from larger landmasses many millions of years ago, making it the planet's newest candidate for a fully fledged continent.
Zealandia was once part of Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent. Tectonic activity caused it to rift and sink, leaving only its peaks visible as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Researchers used geochronology to determine rock ages and magnetic anomalies, mapping major geological units across North Zealandia. These findings confirm Zealandia's continental status, offering insights into plate tectonics and continental formation.