One thing about planet Earth is that it will keep secrets for centuries, but thanks to technology, we are slowly discovering some things. A first-of-its-kind close to America, said to be a lost continent, has been discovered by researchers. The Daily Galaxy describes it as a “Frozen in Time Island.” This discovery has sent shockwaves into the global community, as many wonder why it took so long to discover it. Additionally, there have been debates surrounding territorial claim and dominance, but we will delve into that later.
Found on the coastline of Southern America’s country, Brazil is an Island (lost continent) called Rio Grande Rise (RGR). According to En AS, the island is as big as Spain. After a decade of research and studying, this island marks a significant moment in the world of science and geology. A group of researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP, Brazil) who have analysed this island state that it came about due to a volcanic eruption.
Discovering a submerged world: How researchers discovered the secret continent
As usual, scientists are always doing deep sea explorations for various reasons; this could be to detect tectonic shifts or to see if there are natural resources that could be used for renewable energy generation; the list is endless, and in performing those duties, they found the “lost continent.” At first, it was assumed to be an underwater volcano. But, after close analysis, experts discovered it was a rocky crust resembling land.
En AS states that the formation of this continent was triggered by seismic activity and climate-induced sea level changes and is the remains of the Pangaea, the supercontinent known to have split into what we call the world today with seven different continents. It is not the first time geologists and experts have discovered this; in 2018, the rise was identified; however, it was not yet understood until now.
Questioned sovereignty—The struggle to reclaim the lost continent
Brazil, located in South America, has requested for the island to be perceived as part of their country. Now, this request comes after Brazil learnt how rich in minerals this island is. However, reports state that Rio Grande Rise is located in an area of international waters and is under the careful watch of the United Nations International Seabed Authority, claims En AS. Therefore, this is a debate between these two regions.
Additionally, the island is around 1,200 km off the coast of Brazil. The reason why Brazil hopes to take sovereignty is because it will be in charge of the valuable minerals and will have the legal rights to extract them, which will boost its economy in some way. But, before we get too excited, the question is, will Brazil win this case and take control of the newly discovered, rich-in-minerals island called Rio Grande Rise?
It gets even more interesting. Other nations, such as the United States, Canada, and France, are interested in claiming the emerging island. Unfortunately for these nations, claiming this island is not and will not be simple because it is owned and governed by the International Seabed Authority. They monitor and regulate seabed exploration, mining and international waters.
The emerging of the Rio Grande’s economic potential
Beyond the political debate and tension, the island is not just a basic region. Additionally, it is not just significant in its geological nature and the minerals it contains. There are economic aspects not to miss. Tellurium, nickel, cobalt, and lithium are some of its rich minerals, and lithium, to be specific, can be utilised to produce sustainable technologies such as batteries for cars (EVs) and smartphones. Lithium will contribute to the world wanting to move away from fossil dependence. However, experts have to see how extracting these will impact the island.