View source for Earth:Zealandia

{{Short description|Mostly submerged continental crust area in Oceania}}
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[[File:Zealandia topography.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|'''[[Earth:Topography|Topography]] of Zealandia''', outlined in pink.  The linear ridges running north-northeast (Colville to the west and Kermadec to the east, separated by the Havre Trough and Lau Basin) and southwest (the Resolution Ridge System) away from New Zealand are not considered part of Zealandia, nor are {{wipe|Australia}} (left), Vanuatu, or Fiji (top centre).<ref name="map">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/ser1997/html/figures/figure8.1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050118085745/http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/ser1997/html/figures/figure8.1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 January 2005|title=Figure 8.1: New Zealand in relation to the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates|work=The State of New Zealand's Environment 1997|year=1997|access-date=20 April 2007}}</ref>]]

'''Zealandia''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|z|iː|ˈ|l|æ|n|d|i|ə}}), also known as {{lang|mi|'''Te Riu-a-Māui'''}} (Māori)<ref name="GNS">{{cite web |title=The origin and meaning of the name Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia |url=https://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/News-and-Events/What-s-new/The-origin-and-meaning-of-the-name-Te-Riu-a-Maui-Zealandia |website=www.gns.cri.nz |publisher=[[Earth:GNS Science|GNS Science]] |access-date=11 August 2020 |date=2 May 2019}}</ref> or '''Tasmantis''' (from Tasman Sea),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Flannery |first1=Tim |title=The Future Eaters: An Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People |year=2002 |publisher=Grove Press |isbn=978-0-8021-3943-6 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eIW5aktgo0IC&pg=PA42 |access-date=26 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Danver |first= Steven L. |date= 22 December 2010 |title=Popular Controversies in World History: Investigating History's Intriguing Questions |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=slVobUjdzGMC&q=%22Zealandia%22+%22Tasmantis%22&pg=PA187 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=187 |isbn=978-1-59884-078-0 |quote= Zealandia or Tasmantis, with its 3.5&nbsp;million square&nbsp;km territory being larger than Greenland,&nbsp;... |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160805230513/https://books.google.com.tw/books?id=slVobUjdzGMC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=%22Zealandia%22+%22Tasmantis%22&source=bl&ots=FHEvzkPyk9&sig=QdDerZW6Atj9I3Z7GZq0vSrwTGc&hl=zh-TW&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwif1qGc5szNAhWCKZQKHQCADa8Q6AEIVjAI#v=onepage&q=%22Zealandia%22%20%22Tasmantis%22&f=false |archive-date=5 August 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> is an almost entirely submerged mass of [[Earth:Continental crust|continental crust]] in [[Earth:Oceania|Oceania]] that subsided after breaking away from [[Earth:Gondwana|Gondwana]] 83–79 million years ago.<ref name=Gurnis>Gurnis, M., Hall, C.E., and Lavier, L.L., 2004, Evolving force balance during incipient subduction: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 5, Q07001, https://doi.org/10.01029/02003GC000681</ref> It has been described variously as a [[Earth:Submerged continent|submerged continent]], [[Earth:Continental fragment|continental fragment]], and microcontinent.<ref name=mortimer /> The name and concept for Zealandia was proposed by [[Biography:Bruce P. Luyendyk|Bruce Luyendyk]] in 1995,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Luyendyk |first=Bruce P. |date=April 1995 |title=Hypothesis for Cretaceous rifting of east Gondwana caused by subducted slab capture |journal=Geology |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=373–376 |doi=10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0373:HFCROE>2.3.CO;2|bibcode=1995Geo....23..373L }}</ref> and satellite imagery shows it to be almost the size of Australia.<ref name="BBC-Gorv">{{cite web |last1=Gorvett |first1=Zaria |title=The missing continent it took 375 years to find |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210205-the-last-secrets-of-the-worlds-lost-continent |publisher=BBC |access-date=9 February 2021 |date=8 February 2021}}</ref> A 2021 study suggests Zealandia is 1 billion years old, about twice as old as geologists previously thought.<ref>{{cite web |title=A fragment of a mysterious 8th continent is hiding under New Zealand - and it's twice as old as scientists thought |website=Business Insider |date=14 Aug 2021|author=Aylin Woodward |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/hidden-continent-zealandia-under-new-zealand-age-map-2021-7}}</ref>

By approximately 23 million years ago, the landmass may have been completely submerged.<ref>{{cite news|title=Searching for the lost continent of Zealandia|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/31306/Searching-for-the-lost-continent-of-Zealandia|work=The Dominion Post |date=29 September 2007 |access-date=9 October 2007 |quote=We cannot categorically say that there has always been land here. The geological evidence at present is too weak, so we are logically forced to consider the possibility that the whole of Zealandia may have sunk.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=In Search of Ancient New Zealand |last=Campbell |first=Hamish |author2=Gerard Hutching |year=2007 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=North Shore, New Zealand |isbn=978-0-14-302088-2 |pages=166–167}}</ref> Today, most of the landmass (94%) remains submerged beneath the [[Earth:Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]].<ref name="UNCLOS">{{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Ray |first2=Vaughan |last2=Stagpoole |first3=Ian |last3=Wright |first4=Bryan |last4=Davy |first5=Phil |last5=Barnes |title=New Zealand's Continental Shelf and UNCLOS Article 76 |url=http://www.gns.cri.nz/research/marine/images/unclosbook_print.pdf |access-date=22 February 2007 |series=Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences series 56 |id=NIWA technical report 123 |year=2003 |department=Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited |publisher=National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research |location=Wellington, New Zealand |page=16 |quote=The continuous rifted basement structure, thickness of the crust, and lack of seafloor spreading anomalies are evidence of prolongation of the New Zealand land mass to Gilbert Seamount. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221051420/http://www.gns.cri.nz/research/marine/images/unclosbook_print.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Earth:New Zealand|New Zealand]] is the largest part of Zealandia that is above sea level, followed by [[Earth:New Caledonia|New Caledonia]].

Mapping of Zealandia concluded in 2023.<ref name="pm">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Popular Mechanics |language=en-US |title=Earth's Hidden Eighth Continent Is No Longer Lost |department=Science > Our Planet |last=Newcomb |first=Tim |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a45226285/eighth-continent-zealandia-mapped/ |issn=0032-4558}}</ref> With a total area of approximately {{convert|4900000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}},<ref name=mortimer /> Zealandia is substantially larger than any features termed microcontinents and continental fragments. If classified as a microcontinent, Zealandia would be the world's largest microcontinent. Its area is six times the area of {{wipe|Madagascar}}, the next-largest microcontinent in the world,<ref name=mortimer /> and more than half the area of the [[Earth:Australia (continent)|Australian continent]]. Zealandia is more than twice the size of the largest intraoceanic [[Earth:Large igneous province|large igneous province]] (LIP) in the world, the [[Earth:Ontong Java Plateau|Ontong Java Plateau]] (approximately {{cvt|1900000|km2|mi2|disp=or}}), and the world's largest island, [[Place:Greenland|Greenland]] ({{cvt|2166086|km2|mi2|disp=or}}). Zealandia is also substantially larger than the [[Place:Arabian Peninsula|Arabian Peninsula]] ({{cvt|3237500|km2|mi2|disp=or}}), the world's largest [[Earth:Peninsula|peninsula]], and the [[Earth:Indian subcontinent|Indian subcontinent]] ({{cvt|4300000|km2|mi2|disp=or}}). Due to these and other geological considerations, such as crustal thickness and density,<ref name=MortimerCampbell2014/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39000936 |title=Zealandia: Is there an eighth continent under New Zealand? |date=2017-02-17 |work=BBC News |access-date=2017-03-26 |language=en-GB |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328203049/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39000936 |archive-date=28 March 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> some geologists from New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Australia have concluded that Zealandia fulfills all the requirements to be considered a continent rather than a microcontinent or continental fragment.<ref name=mortimer /> Geologist {{ill|Nick Mortimer|de}} commented that if it were not for the ocean level, it would have been recognised as such long ago.<ref name="sum17">{{cite web |title=Is Zealandia a continent? |first=Thomas |last=Sumner |date=2017-03-13 |work=Science News for Students |publisher=Society for Science and the Public |url=https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/zealandia-continent |access-date=2021-12-22 }}</ref>

Zealandia supports substantial inshore fisheries and contains gas fields, of which the largest known is the New Zealand [[Earth:Maui gas field|Maui gas field]], near Taranaki. Permits for oil exploration in the [[Earth:Great South Basin|Great South Basin]] were issued in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crownminerals.govt.nz/cms/about/media-centre/great-south-basin-media-pack-1/great-south-basin-questions-and-answers|title=Great South Basin – Questions and Answers |date=11 July 2007 |access-date=18 April 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014080132/http://www.crownminerals.govt.nz/cms/about/media-centre/great-south-basin-media-pack-1/great-south-basin-questions-and-answers |archive-date=14 October 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Offshore mineral resources include [[Chemistry:Ironsand|ironsand]]s, [[Earth:Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit|volcanic massive sulfides]] and [[Earth:Ferromanganese nodules|ferromanganese nodule]] deposits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crownminerals.govt.nz/cms/news/2006/new-survey-published-on-nz-mineral-deposits |title=New survey published on NZ mineral deposits |date=30 May 2007 |access-date=18 April 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016202631/http://www.crownminerals.govt.nz/cms/news/2006/new-survey-published-on-nz-mineral-deposits |archive-date=16 October 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[Earth:GNS Science|GNS Science]] recognises two names for the landmass. In English, the most common name is ''Zealandia'', a latinate name for New Zealand; the name was coined in the mid-1990s and became established through common use. In the Māori language, the landmass is named {{lang|mi|Te Riu-a-Māui}}, meaning 'the hills, valleys, and plains of Māui'.<ref name="GNS"/>

== Geology ==
{{trim|{{#section-h:Geology of Zealandia|Geology}}}}
{{Clear}}
== Biogeography ==
New Caledonia is at the northern end of the ancient continent, while New Zealand rises at the plate boundary that bisects it. These land masses constitute two outposts of the Antarctic flora, featuring [[Biology:Araucaria|araucaria]]s and podocarps. At Curio Bay, logs of a [[Biology:Fossil|fossil]]ized [[Earth:Forest|forest]] closely related to modern Kauri and Norfolk pine can be seen that grew on Zealandia approximately 180 million years ago during the [[Earth:Jurassic|Jurassic]] period, before it split from Gondwana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=35598 |title=Fossil forest: Features of Curio Bay/Porpoise Bay |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017015051/http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=35598 |archive-date=17 October 2008 |access-date=6 November 2007}}</ref> The trees growing in these forests were buried by volcanic mud flows and gradually replaced by [[Chemistry:Silica|silica]] to produce the fossils now exposed by the sea.

As sea levels drop during glacial periods, more of Zealandia becomes a [[Earth:Ecoregion#Terrestrial|terrestrial]] environment rather than a marine environment. Originally, it was thought that Zealandia had no native land [[Biology:Mammal|mammal]] fauna, but the discovery in 2006 of a fossil mammal jaw from the Miocene in the Otago region demonstrates otherwise.<ref>{{cite book |title=In Search of Ancient New Zealand |last1=Campbell |first1=Hamish |author2=Gerard Hutching |year=2007 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=North Shore, New Zealand |isbn=978-0-14-302088-2 |pages=183–184}}</ref>

== Political divisions ==

[[File:Zealandia EEZs.tif|thumb|[[Earth:Exclusive economic zone|Exclusive economic zone]] of New Zealand and continental shelf boundaries for much of Zealandia]]

The total land area (including [[Earth:Internal waters|inland water bodies]]) of Zealandia is {{convert|286,660.25|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. Of this, [[Earth:New Zealand|New Zealand]] comprises the overwhelming majority, at {{convert|267,988|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=x| (}}, or 93.49%) that includes the mainland (North Island and South Island), nearby islands, and most outlying islands, including the [[Earth:Chatham Islands|Chatham Islands]], the [[Earth:New Zealand Subantarctic Islands|New Zealand Subantarctic Islands]], the [[Earth:Solander Islands|Solander Islands]], and the Three Kings Islands (but not the Kermadec Islands or Macquarie Island ({{wipe|Australia}}), which are part of the rift).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The Lost Continent of Zealandia|url=https://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/maps/zealandia.shtml#:~:text=Zealandia,%20The%20Hidden%20Continent&text=This%20opens%20in%20a%20new,sq%20mi%20or%2093%25).|access-date=2020-12-15|website=www.virtualoceania.net}}</ref>

[[Earth:New Caledonia|New Caledonia]] and the islands surrounding it comprise some {{convert|18,576|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=x| (}} or 6.48%) and the remainder is made up of various territories of {{wipe|Australia}} including the [[Earth:Lord Howe Island|Lord Howe Island Group]] (New South Wales) at {{convert|56|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=x| (}} or 0.02%), [[Earth:Norfolk Island|Norfolk Island]] at {{convert|35|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=x| (}} or 0.01%), as well as the Cato, Elizabeth, and Middleton reefs (Coral Sea Islands Territory) with {{convert|5.25|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://data.gns.cri.nz/tez/index.html?map=TRAMZ-Bathymetric Detailed map of Zealandia]</ref>

== Population ==
{{As of|2024|post=,}} the total human population of Zealandia is approximately 5.4 million people. The largest city is [[Place:Auckland|Auckland]] with about 1.7 million people; roughly one-third of the total population of the continent.

* {{Country|New Zealand}} – 5,112,300<ref>{{Cite web|title=Population {{!}} Stats NZ|url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/population|access-date=2021-04-21|website=www.stats.govt.nz}}</ref>
* {{Country|New Caledonia|local}} ({{wipe|France}}) – 268,767<ref name=censuspop>{{cite web |url=http://www.isee.nc/population/recensement/structure-de-la-population-et-evolutions |title=268 767 habitants en 2014. |publisher=ISEE |access-date=2014-11-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113142325/http://www.isee.nc/population/recensement/structure-de-la-population-et-evolutions |archive-date=13 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* {{Country|Norfolk Island}} ({{wipe|Australia}}) – 1,748<ref>{{Cite web|title=2016 Census QuickStats: Norfolk Island|url=https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC90004?opendocument|access-date=2021-04-21|website=quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507211725/https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC90004?opendocument|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{Country|Lord Howe Island}} ({{wipe|Australia}}) – 382<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS |id=SSC12387 |name=Lord Howe Island (State Suburb) |access-date=7 July 2017 |quick=on}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|Coral Sea Islands}} Cato Reef ({{wipe|Australia}}) – 0
* {{Flagicon|Coral Sea Islands}} Elizabeth Reef ({{wipe|Australia}}) – 0
* {{Flagicon|Coral Sea Islands}} Middleton Reef ({{wipe|Australia}}) – 0


== See also ==

* [[Earth:Australia (continent)|Australia (continent)]]
* Exclusive economic zone of New Zealand
* [[Earth:New Zealand Subantarctic Islands|New Zealand Subantarctic Islands]]

== References ==
{{reflist|25em}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web |url=https://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/27/3/article/GSATG321A.1.htm |title=Zealandia: Earth's Hidden Continent |website=GSA Today}}
* {{cite web |url=https://data.gns.cri.nz/tez/index.html?content=/mapservice/Content/Zealandia/Home.html |title=E Tūhura - Explore Zealandia A portal for geoscience webmaps and information on the Te Riu-a-Māui / Zealandia region |website=GNS NZ}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/OceanStudyAndConservation/SeaFloorGeology/1/en |title=Zealandia: the New Zealand (drowned) Continent |website=Te Ara}}
* [https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/zealandia/ Zealandia] (National Geographic Encyclopedia)
* [https://www.snexplores.org/article/zealandia-continent Is Zealandia a continent?]
*[https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210205-the-last-secrets-of-the-worlds-lost-continent The missing continent that took 375 years to find], By Zaria Gorvett, 7th February 2021, BBC website.
*[https://www.livescience.com/57927-new-zealand-part-of-eighth-continent.html Earth Has a Hidden 8th Continent], By Tia Ghose published February 17, 2017, livescience website. 


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[[Category:Zealandia| ]]
[[Category:Continents]]

{{Sourceattribution|Zealandia}}