Mysterious Rectangles on the Ocean Floor: What Was Actually Found on Google Maps.

According to ТСН: Google Maps users discovered large rectangular shapes on the floor of the Pacific Ocean near Costa Rica that resemble tunnels or underwater structures. This finding sparked active discussions, and one of the authors of a social media post speculated that these geometric forms could be created by humans.

Experts' Clarification

However, experts quickly explained that these so-called 'buildings' are actually artifacts obtained during the collection of ocean depth data. A large portion of the ocean floor is still not mapped in detail: only certain areas have been surveyed using sonar rather than satellite imagery.

As a result, sections surveyed by multibeam sonars appear differently on the map, forming level and clear bands since towed sonars move in straight trajectories. In this case, the data was likely collected in 2010 by the research vessel Melville.

New Data on the Ocean Floor

Scientists note that recently, the ocean floor mapping database was expanded by another 5.4 million km², which is approximately twice the area of Argentina. In total, about 24.9% of the world’s ocean floor is currently mapped.

Such studies reveal the complex topography of the underwater world — from mountains and valleys to vast plains. Bathymetric map data is key to studying the development of the ocean, currents, marine archaeology, and ecosystems, including deep-sea coral reefs.

Additionally, in Wales, near the runway of Cardiff Airport, archaeologists made a sensational discovery that may change the understanding of life in the early Middle Ages. In the territory of Fonmon Castle, researchers discovered an ancient burial site where predominantly women were buried in the 6th-7th centuries.

These findings underscore how crucial modern technologies are in studying the oceans and the ocean floor. This not only expands our knowledge of the underwater world but also offers new insights into the understanding of history and archaeology. The prospects for further exploration of these topics look very promising.