How was the legend of Atlantis born? This mythical island is mentioned by Plato as having housed an advanced, powerful and prosperous civilization, disappeared under the waves in a single day and a night, punished by the gods. Since antiquity, it has supplied speculations, between mythological legend and archaeological quest. In 2024, scientists from the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC) of the National Spanish Research Council discovered the existence of a mountain submarine housing three inactive volcanoes several kilometers deep off the Canary Islands. Would they have discovered the remains of this legendary city?
Called Mont Los Atlantes, the relief is located off the coast of Lanzarote, an island in the Canary Archipelago. The mountain is immense since it extends over a diameter of 50 kilometers wide, and its base is submerged 2.3 kilometers deep. Mount would originally be a series of islands, formerly emerged, which would have slowly been engulfed.
Daily Galaxy magazine reports that these islands would have been formed millions of years ago by multiple volcanic eruptions. The mass of projected lava, by solidifying, would have formed these reliefs of volcanic rocks so large and dense that they took the head of the water. Under its weight, Mount would then have gradually sank into the ocean, before re -emerging during the last ice age, when the sea level was much lower. Today, Mount Los Atlantes is completely immersed again.
From myth to reality
For Luis Somoza, geologist member of the team behind the discovery, the study of these geological processes offers a precious overview of the history of the earth. But it also makes it possible to envisage a new perspective on the oldest mythologies. Somoza himself addresses the question: “This could be the origin of the legend of Atlantis.”
Plato, describing an advanced company punished for his decadence, would he draw his inspiration from Mount Los Atlantes? Luis Somoza sees clear similarities in any case. In the same way as Atlantis, these very habitable islands ended up flowing. Their geographic location could also correspond to the coordinates mentioned by the Greek philosopher who placed Atlantis beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Research around Mount Los Atlantes is far from over. The team of researchers plans to analyze the volcanic rocks that compose it to date the birth of the islands and understand when they have sunk into the Atlantic.
