Bimini Road: Fact or myth? Scientists investigate Bahamas underwater mystery
IFL Science brought attention to this exceptional geological structure found roughly 20 feet underwater off the coast of North Bimini, in the Bahamas. The structure, reminiscent of a submerged pathway, consists of elongated rocks reaching approximately 13 feet in length. The "Bimini Road" was first noticed in 1968 by an American amateur aviator. In the same year, underwater archaeologists Joseph Manson Valentine, Jacques Mayol, and Robert Angov explored the site.
5:36 PM EST, January 10, 2024
The discovery provoked significant intrigue. The seemingly rectangular shape of the rocks forming the underwater "pathway" ignited theories suggesting the rocks were manipulated by humans in the past, with their sharp edges rounded over time due to natural erosion. Some hypothesized it could be part of the mythical Atlantis, purportedly situated on an island in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the online PWN Encyclopedia, the mythical Atlantis was situated across from the Pillars of Hercules. This is the ancient Greek name for the Rock of Gibraltar and the mountain range on the opposite side of the Strait of Gibraltar. Legend has it that Atlantis was destroyed by an earthquake and swallowed by water around 12,000 years ago. For centuries, scholars have debated whether Atlantis is a mere myth or if such a state truly existed at one point.
The underwater "Bimini Road" piqued further interest due to its associations with Atlantis. In this instance, however, researchers concur it is most likely a naturally formed limestone formation, or beachrock, which likely developed 2.3-3.5 thousand years ago. This was substantiated by the Department of Geology at the University of Miami through rock composition studies and radiocarbon dating undertaken in 1978.
Even though the theory connecting the road to the legendary Atlantis has been debunked, the location continues to captivate divers who are drawn to appreciate this natural formation.
