Bathymetric map of Zealandia (2020)

This bathymetric map of Zealandia was published by the New Zealand institution GNS Science in 2020.

Bathymetric maps are used to represent the depth of different lands below sea level. In this case, a range of colours is used to highlight land masses that are close to the surface:

• All territories above sea level are shown in dark orange, red, and white.
• The orange to yellow range shows what is found between 0 and 1,000 metres deep.
• The range from yellow to green goes from 1,000 metres to 2,000 metres.
• The range from green to light blue goes from 2,000 metres to 4,000 metres.
• The rest of the blue range shows everything below 4,000 metres.

As can be seen, relatively close to the surface there is a large land mass that extends far beyond New Zealand. This submerged continent is known as Zealandia or Te Riu-a-Māui (in Maori). The map also shows a series of underground mountain ranges stretching from the North Island of New Zealand to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.

The map also includes black lines that serve to identify the exact location of the coasts. Another series of lines, shown in white, indicates the extent of each country's economic exclusion zones.

Sources

• GNS – E Tūhura – Explore Zealandia