Researchers discover new underwater continent, 'Zealandia'

Another week, another newly discovered continent.

Researchers determined a piece of land just east of Australia qualifies as a continent called, "Zealandia." The news comes days after scientists unearthed evidence of an ancient lost continent, "Mauritia."

The boot-shaped region, about the size of greater India, contains New Zealand and New Caledonia, an island to the north. Most of Zealandia, about 94% of it, is submerged underwater, according to the findings published earlier this week by The Geological Society of America.

A team of New Zealand-based researchers made the discovery, which they described as a "gradual realization" based on reassessing years of data. The researchers tested Zealandia's attributes against four characteristics common to continents. They concluded Zealandia "is not a collection of partly submerged continental fragments" but rather, is a "coherent" continent.

More: Forget Atlantis: 'Lost continent' found under Mauritius

The discovery is significant not only because it's evidence of a new continent, but it will allow scientists to delve further into the break-up of the continental crust. Zealandia was once part of the supercontinent Gondwana, before separating in the Late Cretaceous period.

The research stated "Zealandia illustrates that the large and the obvious in natural science can be overlooked."

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