With reference to Zealandia, consider the following statements: It was...
Zealandia:
Zealandia is a geological continent that is mostly submerged beneath the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is often referred to as the "eighth continent" due to its distinct geological and geographical features. Zealandia encompasses New Zealand and New Caledonia, as well as various submerged regions surrounding these landmasses.
Statement 1: It was part of the ancient supercontinent called Gondwana.
Gondwana was a supercontinent that existed around 180 million years ago and included present-day Africa, South America, India, Australia, Antarctica, and Zealandia. Zealandia was originally connected to the eastern edge of Gondwana before it started to break apart around 85 million years ago.
This statement is correct as Zealandia was indeed part of the ancient supercontinent called Gondwana.
Statement 2: It is situated along the boundary of the Indo-Australian Plate.
The Indo-Australian Plate is a tectonic plate that includes the Indian subcontinent, much of the Indian Ocean, and parts of Australia. Zealandia is not situated along the boundary of the Indo-Australian Plate. Instead, it is a separate microcontinent that lies to the east of the Australian Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate.
This statement is incorrect as Zealandia is not situated along the boundary of the Indo-Australian Plate.
Conclusion:
Based on the above analysis, we can conclude that both statements 1 and 2 are correct. Zealandia was indeed part of the ancient supercontinent called Gondwana, but it is not situated along the boundary of the Indo-Australian Plate.
With reference to Zealandia, consider the following statements: It was...
Geoscientists recently discovered a continent known as Zealandia that had been hiding in plain sight for almost 375 years.
About Zealandia:
- It is a long, narrow microcontinent that is mostly submerged in the South Pacific Ocean.
- Location: It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, primarily to the east of Australia and to the south of New Caledonia. It encompasses the region that includes New Zealand and New Caledonia.
- Formation:
- Zealandia or Te Riu-a-Māui in the Māori language was formally one of the constituent continents of the ancient supercontinent called Gondwana, which also included Western Antarctica and Eastern Australia over 500 million years ago.
- It began to "pull away" from Gondwana roughly 105 million years ago.
- As Zealandia started pulling away, it began to sink beneath the waves, with over 94 percent remaining underwater for millennia.
- It is approximately 1.89 million square miles (4.9 million square km) in size, about half the size of Australia.
- The vast majority of this new continent lies beneath 6,560 feet (2km) of water.
- The part of Zealandia which is above water forms the foundation of New Zealand's north and south islands as well as the island of New Caledonia.
- Tectonic Plate Boundaries: Zealandia is situated along the boundary of several tectonic plates, including the Australian Plate, Pacific Plate, and Indo-Australian Plate.
- The existence of Zealandia was first recorded in 1642 by Dutch businessman and sailor Abel Tasman, who was on a mission to find the "great Southern Continent," or Terra Australis.
Hence both statements are correct.