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Five new Apostles found off Victoria coast | Five new Apostles found off Victoria coast |
(6 months later) | |
Five drowned “Apostles” have been discovered under the water near Victoria’s world-famous 12 Apostles tourist attraction. | Five drowned “Apostles” have been discovered under the water near Victoria’s world-famous 12 Apostles tourist attraction. |
The find has amazed geomorphologists because it’s the first time such submerged limestone stacks have been seen anywhere in the world. | The find has amazed geomorphologists because it’s the first time such submerged limestone stacks have been seen anywhere in the world. |
The five columns, around six kilometres offshore from the Apostles, have an average height of almost five metres compared with the visible stacks which average 45m. | The five columns, around six kilometres offshore from the Apostles, have an average height of almost five metres compared with the visible stacks which average 45m. |
Divers have already examined the top of the drowned stacks – which are 50m below sea level – and collected rocks for analysis. | Divers have already examined the top of the drowned stacks – which are 50m below sea level – and collected rocks for analysis. |
Experts next hope to explore the stacks with underwater cameras. | Experts next hope to explore the stacks with underwater cameras. |
Melbourne University geomorphologist David Kennedy says the columns were likely preserved because the sea rose so quickly after the last ice age. | Melbourne University geomorphologist David Kennedy says the columns were likely preserved because the sea rose so quickly after the last ice age. |
“It probably ran straight across the top of these things without managing to erode them away and knock them over,” Kennedy told AAP. | “It probably ran straight across the top of these things without managing to erode them away and knock them over,” Kennedy told AAP. |
The stacks were also slightly protected by an old sea cliff at the same water depth. | The stacks were also slightly protected by an old sea cliff at the same water depth. |
Stacks only occur where rock is soft enough to erode from a cliff, but at the same time hard enough to support a pillar. | Stacks only occur where rock is soft enough to erode from a cliff, but at the same time hard enough to support a pillar. |
Like the so-called 12 Apostles – which actually now number eight – the newly discovered underwater stacks were once part of a larger limestone sea cliff dating back 60,000 years. | Like the so-called 12 Apostles – which actually now number eight – the newly discovered underwater stacks were once part of a larger limestone sea cliff dating back 60,000 years. |
The discovery was made by Kennedy, PhD student Rhiannon Bezore and Deakin University’s Daniel Ierodiaconou during sonar mapping of the reef, which supports commercial fisheries. | The discovery was made by Kennedy, PhD student Rhiannon Bezore and Deakin University’s Daniel Ierodiaconou during sonar mapping of the reef, which supports commercial fisheries. |
The findings have been published in the US-based Journal of Coastal Research. | The findings have been published in the US-based Journal of Coastal Research. |
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