Eighth Wonder of the World rediscovered in New Zealand after 130 years, was damaged by volcanic eruption

Like an Indiana Jones adventure, Scientists have asserted that they rediscovered the whereabouts of the lost “Eight Wonder of the World” in New Zealand. In earlier times, the silica terraces on Lake Rotomahana drew thousands of tourists to New Zealand’s North Island. It was damaged by the volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 but now the researchers might have finally rediscovered it under layers of ash and mud.

The terraces were created by geothermal springs (hot springs and geysers). In 2011, a team including researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Waikato University, GNS Science and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory had unearthed a part of the Pink Terraces.

However, in 2016, their whole work was published in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, they withdrew from earlier assertions and reported the terraces were likely ruined.

Now, two researchers said that they have isolated the area where the terraces may lie preserved 10-15 meters (32-49ft) below the surface.

According to The Guardian, Rex Bunn, one of the researchers told that “They became the greatest tourist attraction in the southern hemisphere and the British empire, and shiploads of tourists made the dangerous visit down from the UK, Europe, and America to see them.”

Bunn further added: “But they were never surveyed by the government of the time, so there was no record of their latitude or longitude.”

Both the researchers have utilised the field diaries of the German-Austrian geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter. Interestingly, these diaries describe vividly the location of the terraces before the eruption of 1886.

Discussing the research, Bunn said: “Our research relied on the only survey ever made of that part of New Zealand and therefore we are confident the cartography is sound. Hochstetter was a very competent cartographer.”