Vanished Islands and Hidden Continents of the Pacific

Patrick D. Nunn

Patrick D. Nunn

Vanished Islands and Hidden Continents of the Pacific

University of Hawaii Press | 2008

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780824865443

Overview
Contents

About this book

Islands—as well as entire continents—are reputed to have disappeared in many parts of the world. Yet there is little information on this subject concerning its largest ocean, the Pacific. Over the years, geologists have amassed data that point to the undeniable fact of islands having disappeared in the Pacific, a phenomenon that the oral traditions of many groups of Pacific Islanders also highlight. There are even a few instances where fragments of Pacific continents have disappeared, becoming hidden from view rather than being submerged. In this scientifically rigorous yet readily comprehensible account of the fascinating subject of vanished islands and hidden continents in the Pacific, the author ranges far and wide, from explanations of the region’s ancient history to the meanings of island myths. Using both original and up-to-date information, he shows that there is real value in bringing together myths and the geological understanding of land movements.

A description of the Pacific Basin and the "ups and downs" of the land within its vast ocean is followed by chapters explaining how—long before humans arrived in this part of the world—islands and continents that no longer exist were once present. A succinct account is given of human settlement of the region and the establishment of cultural contexts for the observation of occasional catastrophic earth-surface changes and their encryption in folklore. The author also addresses the persistent myths of a "sunken continent" in the Pacific, which became widespread after European arrival and were subsequently incorporated into new age and pseudoscience explanations of our planet and its inhabitants. Finally, he presents original data and research on island disappearances witnessed by humans, recorded in oral and written traditions, and judged by geoscience to be authentic. Examples are drawn from throughout the Pacific, showing that not only have islands collapsed, and even vanished, within the past few hundred years, but that they are also liable to do so in the future.

Reviews

This delightful book examines the nature of vanished and vanishing islands of the vast Pacific Ocean. . . . The writing is engaging and personal, and the science is clear and accessible. Its 11 chapters include black-and-white photographs, maps, and figures, as well as copious notes, several appendixes, and about 575 references. . . . This is truly a fine, engaging read.

Frontmatter Free access PDF PDF	i
Contents Free access PDF PDF	ix
Acknowledgments Free access PDF PDF	xi
1. Introduction: A Personal Odyssey Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	1
2. The Earth’s Dynamic Third: The Pacific Basin Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	7
3. Islands That Vanished Long Ago Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	35
4. Ancient Continents Hidden by Time Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	62
5. The Coming of Humans to the Pacific Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	71
6. Mythical Islands in Pacific Islander Traditions Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	86
7. Mythical Continents of the Pacific Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	108
8. Vanishing Islands: Processes of Island Disappearance Witnessed by Humans Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	130
9. Recently Vanished Islands in the Pacific Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	147
10. Vanished Islands of the Future Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	182
11. Vanished Islands and Hidden Continents in the World’s Oceans: Last Thoughts Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	195
Appendix 1 Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	201
Appendix 2 Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	205
Notes Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	209
References Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	241
Index Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	265

Vanished Islands and Hidden Continents of the Pacific

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