Recent discoveries have brought new insights into the legend of Atlantis, particularly with findings off the coast of the Canary Islands in 2024. A significant underwater geological feature, known as Mount Los Atlantes, was discovered during an expedition by Spanish researchers.
This seamount, which contains three inactive volcanoes, was part of a system of islands that existed millions of years ago and has since submerged beneath the ocean.
The discovery has led some scientists to speculate that this area might have inspired the ancient legend of Atlantis, as described by Plato.
Mount Los Atlantes was found about 50 kilometers (31.07 miles) in diameter, with its base located over 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) below the ocean surface.
The researchers found remnants of beaches, cliffs, and sand dunes on the summit of this seamount, indicating that these islands once existed above sea level before gradually sinking, possibly inspiring the myth of a sunken, advanced civilization.
This discovery aligns with Plato’s account of Atlantis, which was supposedly located beyond the “Pillars of Hercules” (the Strait of Gibraltar).
Although the timeline suggested by this finding places these islands in a much earlier era (the Eocene), the geological features and their eventual submergence might have contributed to the stories that reached Plato.
The Eocene is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma).
While this doesn’t conclusively prove the existence of Atlantis as a historical fact, it adds a dimension to the ongoing exploration of ancient myths and their possible real-world origins (livescience.com, The Independent).
