The lost continent of Atlantis to be found in near future

Results of a previous research conducted in the area not far from Cyprus were classified as secret immediately

Several large international expeditions set off for different parts of the world last year to find vestiges of legendary Atlantis, which is still considered the exciting mysteries in the history of human civilization. According to the legend, the continent was flooded ten thousand years before Christ. Scientists still find ancient maps showing now-defunct islands and continents. British researcher Colin Wilson believes that the mystery of the lost continent will be unveiled very soon. The scientist decided to take part in the epoch-making event and joined another expedition devoted to Atlantis. Colin Wilson was inspired with recent explorations of mysterious and fathomless depth of the Mediterranean Sea – the cradle of the European civilization.

Explorers pay major attention to the part of the seafloor south off Cyprus, spreading to the coast of Syria. Scientists determined that the territory had been flooded, when the waters of the Atlantic Ocean broke through the dam between Gibraltar and North Africa and rushed into the Mediterranean lowland. A monstrous flood destroyed populated and fertile lands. Vestiges of fantastic ancient civilizations can be found on Cyprus, Crete, Malta, Corsica – the remains of the erstwhile Mediterranean lowland. Scientists believe that the area was populated with several nations, who shared their rich knowledge with ancient Egyptians, whose priests passed the legend of Atlantis across generations.

The destruction of the whole civilization was ascribed to gods' anger, who decided to punish Atlanteans for their moral degradation and sinful lifestyle. The story about the destroyed super-civilization exists for over 2,000 years, after it was first told by Plato, the Greek historian and philosopher. US Congressman Ignatius Donnelly wrote a book about Atlanteans in the 19th century. The congressman wrote in his work that they used to be first humans, who invented gun-powder, paper, studied astronomy and learned how to smelt metals. Egypt, Donnelly wrote, was their colony, where they tried to civilize wild tribes. Ignatius Donnelly thinks that the Great Sphinx of Egypt is a lot older that people think it is – it was built by those, who survived the cataclysm. It was proved as a result of scientific researches that the erosion of the sphinx's stone had been caused with hard rains, not with sand storms. It is supposed that the sphinx was built about 7,000 years B.C.

The mysterious Greek island of Santorini, situated not far from Crete, attracted a lot of attention in the 1960s. An enormous volcanic eruption destroyed the civilization that used to exist on the island, and Santorini turned to a huge sea crater. Archaeologists and historians added the island on their lists of 'candidacies' for the title of the lost continent, although it did not fit Plato's description. The events described in the legend of Atlantis took place a lot earlier than the destructive eruption and earthquake rocked the island.

Some scientists think that the Mediterranean Sea is rather young – it was supposedly formed after the end of the ice age, when the global warming commenced. Waters started changing continents' outlines, leading to monstrous floods. A low mountainous chain used to separate the Mediterranean lowland from the Atlantic Ocean.

Atlantis might have been the cradle of early Mideastern civilizations too. Colin Wilson believes that scientists will soon obtain sensational information about the flooded country. Specialists plan to photograph the bottom of the sea, where they expect to find ancient buildings. The results of the previous research conducted in the area were classified as secret immediately. This may bring up a question of which country may own the territory of Atlantis with priceless treasures and archaeological findings. Syria and Lebanon have already set forth their claims for a part of the lost continent. Turkey has recently evinced interest too. Naval forces of several states will most likely watch and control the route of the research vessel. The US Navy has reportedly scanned the areas of the seafloor, where the ancient city is presumably situated.