Scientists may have found the eighth wonder of the world

A handwritten journal from a 19th century explorer has garnered great interest from researchers in New Zealand, who believe it may reveal the location of a lost world wonder.

Researchers Rex Bunn and Sascha Nolden claim in a study, recently published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, that they have found the location of pink and white terraces, previously thought lost.

The terraces, once considered the eighth wonder of the world, were a bright white and pink array of cascading rocks situated on Lake Rotomahana.

Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Nearby Mount Tarawera erupted on 10 June 1886, spewing volcanic ash onto the lake and covering the terraces with dirt and mud.

Using underwater sonar, surveys and photography, a five-year-study came to the conclusion in 2016 that the terraces had been destroyed in the blast.

However, Bunn and Nolden say this conclusion was based off 130 years of incorrect cartographical information, claiming the terraces have not been pushed to the bottom of the lake or destroyed.

Using the 1859 field diary of Ferdinand von Hochstetter, who is considered the "father of New Zealand cartography", they believe they have found the location of the terraces, around 30 to 50 feet below the lakes shore.

Bunn told The Guardian:

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.

Nolden and Bunn dismissed the previous years research:

It is ironic GNS Science concluded the terraces were largely destroyed, just as we gained the first evidence the pink and white terrace locations survived.

HT National Geographic

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