Lying submerged beneath lakes, oceans, and seas across the world, submerged cities hold mysteries and secrets, along with incredible clues that provide new insight into human history. While many of these lost civilizations have been known to scientists for decades, others are only now being revealed. Let’s take a look at ten of the most amazing underwater cities found to date – some of which you can see for yourself.
Alexandria, Egypt
Possibly the most famous, if not the most storied of all underwater cities, Alexandria was the city of Alexander the Great. Probably lost during earthquakes more than 1,600 years ago, this huge city contains ruins which are believed to have been Cleopatra’s private quarters. Some of the most exciting finds include red granite columns bearing Greek inscriptions, a well-preserved shipwreck thought to be Cleopatra’s sunboat, and two statues, which were lifted out of the water for study, then returned to their resting places. One of these is the goddess Isis, while the other is a sphinx which is said to represent King Ptolemy XII, Cleopatra’s father. In addition, the ruins of the Alexandria Lighthouse, which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world is here, and in strange juxtaposition to the ruins, so is an aircraft wreck dating back to WWII.
Divers can view these ruins with ease as local dive operators run tours regularly. In all, experts believe there are some 7,000 sunken monuments and other treasures which can be seen in underwater Alexandria.
Kwan Phayao, Thailand
Unlike many other underwater cities, the ruins at Kwan Phayao have only been submerged since 1939, when the Tam River was dammed to create a lake in order to improve irrigation for local rice farmers. The ruins here are about 500 years old, and include a temple called Wat Tilok Aram. Dating back to the reign of King Tiokarat, the temple compound is marked with a platform that bears a huge statue of the Buddha, and is badly collapsed and overgrown with seaweed. With an average depth of only 1.7 meters, this shallow lake is home to 22 species of fish and 47 species of birds. Ecologists are hoping that possible plans to raise the lost city will be scrapped, as it provides a valuable habitat for the fish. You can snorkel or dive the site if you wish, or you can take a boat ride out to the site at sunset, when worshipers from near and far bring offerings of incense to the floating Buddha.
Yonaguni-Jima, Japan
What is Yonaguni? Take a dive trip to the site, and see for yourself, if you like. This incredible site, which features massive steps and appears to be man-made, was discovered by Kihachirou Aratake in 1986. Sitting beneath 60-100 feet of water, and sometimes swarming with hammerhead sharks, these underwater pyramids feature rocky blocks, a huge semicircular structure which resembles a large seating area, and even a huge head adorned with a carved headdress. In some areas, big holes appear to have been used to support wooden poles. Thought to date back to as long as 8 to 12 thousand years ago, when the area around Yonaguni formed a land bridge with Taiwan, the area is thought to be part of the lost continent of Lemuria, or Mu. Besides the structures and what appears to be a submerged road, the area has yielded stone tools. Experienced divers can visit the site on regularly scheduled tours – be prepared for strong currents and rough surface conditions.
Pavlopetri: Greek Ruins Off Neapolis
Pavolpetri is a sunken settlement dating back to approximately 5,000 years ago. Carbon dating has revealed that remains from the site date back to as far as 2,800 BCE, even before the time of Homer’s heroes. While some sunken cities are older, archaeologists have yet to find a planned city older than this one, which covers 30,000 square meters of ocean floor off southern Peloponnese. Oceanographers believe that the site has been underwater since about 1,000 BCE.
With buildings, courtyards, tombs and religious structures, and neatly laid out streets, the city is littered with pottery that dates back to the stone age. One of the most exciting discoveries is a huge rectangular megaron, or hall, which is thought to have been used by rulers or an elite class. Frozen in time, and thought to have been lost during an earthquake or sea level change, Pavlopetri is situated beneath just 3 to 4 meters of water and predates Plato’s tale of the sunken continent of Atlantis. Archaeologists have a permit which lasts until 2014. Diving and snorkeling on the site is possible, however there is a strict no touch policy in place.
Helike
The sunken city of Helike has been submerged since an earthquake that happened on December 26, 1861, and it has been the subject of intense research ever since. Often written about by scholars, and searched for to no avail, the site was finally discovered in 1979 by Alexis Papadopoulos, who found the city, complete with fallen walls, crumbled rooftops, and many artifacts, at depths between 25 and 45 meters beneath the Gulf of Corinth. Adjacent to this site is an onshore archaeological dig site. An earthquake in about 373 BCE is thought to have caused the initial collapse of this ancient society, and as work continues, more amazing finds are being discovered.
Field work is ongoing at the Helike site, and interested divers, students, and others can easily join with researchers. Recent finds include coinage struck at Helike, pottery, and grave sites, along with many structures including a huge Roman building.
Bay of Cambay, India
Predating all other finds by about 5,000 years, the sunken city at India’s Bay of Cambay or Bay of Khambhat is also referred to as Dwarka or the Golden City. Archaeologists estimate that the city could be as much as 9,000 years old. Lying beneath 36 meters of water, the city is vast – about 5 miles long, and 2 miles wide. It was discovered via sidescan sonar while India’s National Institute of Ocean Technology was conducting a pollution survey in 2000. Artifacts retrieved so far include sections of wall and construction material, sculptures, beads, and human remains. So far, a granary, bath houses, dwelling structures, drainage systems, and a citadel have been discovered. Most finds have been discovered via sonar and dredging, as conditions are rough and tend to be unsuitable for diving. Study is ongoing at the site.
Underwater Ruins off Havana, Cuba
Megalithic ruins have been mapped by sonar about a mile beneath the Yucatan Channel off Cabo de San Antonio. Thought to date back to about 12,000 years ago, the eight square mile site was discovered by oceanographer Paulina Zelitsky in 2001. Deep sea video cameras have captured photographs, while sonar has revealed pyramids that resemble those built by the Incas, along with some huge stone structures that resemble the faces of Easter Island, plus several other rectangular structures which remain unidentified. Several computer models have been generated and research is ongoing. Due to depth, diving is impossible.
Baiae and Portus Julius at Pozzuoli Bay, Italy
Once overlooking the bay of Naples, Baiae was the seaside playground of ancient Roman emperors, and was connected to Portus Julius, one of the Roman Empire’s largest naval bases. Built in 36-37 BCE, and home to the Classis Misenensis, the area was built on the Plegraean Fields, a tract of volcanic land that is prone to seismic activity. With Roman villas and other structures including everything from temples to thermal spas, this site is easy to access and is located in shallow water. Glass bottom boat trips, dive trips, and snorkel trips are scheduled daily. There are many wonderful artifacts throughout the site – feel free to photograph them, but taking anything is against the law.
Caesarea Maritima
A city and port built by King Herod around 25-13 BCE, Caesarea Maritima is also known as Caesarea Palaestina. Erected quickly and quickly weakened by seismic activity and subsequent tsunamis, the site was abandoned around the sixth century CE. Eventually it was completely submerged. It was rediscovered in 1960, and in 2006, more than 1,400 years after its demise, the site was reopened as an underwater museum. Today, visitors to Israel can dive or snorkel in clear, shallow water, among ancient structures where underwater trails lead to a total of 28 points of interest.
Dunwich, England
After centuries of coastal erosion, the ancient city of Dunwich was lost. Located on the coast of East Anglia in England, the city was destroyed during storms that took place in 1328 and 1348. In all, more than four hundred houses, several churches and priories, and a windmill sank into the sea. Archaeologists are still working to uncover much of the city’s remains, and acoustic imaging technology is assisting them in their efforts. Sometimes called “Britain’s Atlantis”, the city rivaled London in its grandeur and today, visitors can find it easily by exploring the onshore ruins of Greyfriar’s Abbey. While diving is possible, conditions are extremely challenging, with strong currents and very poor visibility.
There are probably hundreds or thousands of sunken cities still waiting to be revealed; each holding pieces of the great puzzle that is our human history, and of the many which have already been located, these are only a few. As technology advances, we’re sure to learn even more.