Scientists from the Australian research agency CSIRO discovered an ancient underwater volcano during an expedition in the Indian Ocean south of Christmas Island.
The volcano is located more than 3 km below sea level, about 280 km southeast of Christmas Island. Analyzing the images taken by the device, the scientists noticed a giant oval caldera measuring 6.2 by 4.8 km. The depression was surrounded by a “hoop” of stones. In the center was a cone-shaped peak 300 meters high. Peculiarities of the relief reminded the geologists of the schoolboy. The unusual shape of the volcano has inspired scientists to call it the “Eye of Sauron”. It is a symbol used by orcs and other Mordor servants on their weapons and armor in JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
The team also discovered two more underwater mountains south of the Eye of Sauron. They gave them names associated with the Lord of the Rings universe. For example, a small mountain south of the Eye of Sauron, covered with volcanic cones, became the “Dark Fortress” (Barad-dur), and a large elevation with a flat top was called “Ash Mountains” (Ered Litui).
Scientists explain that all three discovered objects are part of a group of underwater mountain Karma, whose age, according to geologists, is at least 100 million years.