CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -In a major breakthrough, scientists have discovered a hidden continent that is submerged beneath the southwest Pacific. It has been named as Zealandia.

Detailed explanation-2: -Zealandia is a long, narrow microcontinent that is mostly submerged in the South Pacific Ocean. A microcontinent is a landmass that has broken off from a main continent. Zealandia broke off from Antarctica about 100 million years ago, and then from Australia about 80 million years ago.

Detailed explanation-3: -Zealandia becomes the world’s largest current microcontinent.

Detailed explanation-4: -Its isolation from Australia and large area support its definition as a continent-Zealandia. Zealandia was formerly part of Gondwana. Today it is 94% submerged, mainly as a result of widespread Late Cretaceous crustal thinning preceding supercontinent breakup and consequent isostatic balance.

Detailed explanation-5: -Despite being thin and submerged, geologists know that Zealandia is a continent because of the kinds of rocks found there.