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One of the most astonishing structures
is Yonaguni. A weird
underwater ziggurat type of construction, about 30 meters
beneath
the water surface. Yonaguni is a Japanese island near Okinawa
and Taiwan.
In the
mid-nineties the structure was discovered by diver Kihachiro Aratake in
the
clear but wild waters not far from the shore of Yonaguni.
It is a 5 layer platform hewn out of the bedrock, having straight
planes and
precisely defined sharp angles. It is about 200 meter
wide and 30
meter high. Since it is 30
meters
below sea level it is at
least 10000
years old since in that time the
sea level
was - because of the melting of the icecaps at the end of the ice age -
at a
lower level than now.
This means that the structure is one of the oldest buildings in the
world -
together with the Sphinx in Egypt
and Tihuanacu in Bolivia.
What its purpose was, is yet unknown.
Imagine that the structure is at the shore of ancient Japan,
long
ago. With its distinguished platforms, the weird shape and the enormous
size,
it must have impressed any visitor.
The site is difficult to investigate because of the strong ocean
currents.
Therefore still a lot of questions wait for underwater archaeology to
be
answered.
More information in Ref.
H1
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