New Zealand scientists who have discovered a previously unknown, submerged continent want it to be called "Zealandia." The group of scientists who are seeking recognition for the region below the seas are members of GNS Science, an official New Zealand research organization.

Studies have shown that New Zealand is actually the most visible part of the almost five million square kilometers (1.9 million square miles) in the South Pacific that separated from the massive Gondwana landmass which once encompassed Australia. It disappeared under the sea about a million years ago, according to DW.

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 "The scientific value of classifying Zealandia as a continent is much more than just an extra name on a list," the scientists wrote in a research paper they recently published on the Zealandia continent. "That a continent can be so submerged yet unfragmented makes it (useful)... in exploring the cohesion and breakup of continental crust," they added.

Nick Mortimer, a New Zealand geologist who co-authored the paper wrote: "Zealandia is rising out of the sea today - as the Southern Alps and the North Island volcanoes." During an online question-and-answer session, Mortimer explained that 30 million years ago, Zealandia was at its most submerged but since then has risen out of the ocean "based on rock record."

According to the study, 94 percent of the landmass is actually under water. It is interesting to note that the landmass covers not only New Zealand but also New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, the Lord Howe Island group and Elizabeth and Middleton reefs.

And because most of the continent is under water, the researchers faced a lot of difficulties in gathering data for the study. It has been almost 20 years since the scientists started their quests to uncover the mystery of the sunken region, reported the Independent.

"If we could pull the plug on the oceans, it would be clear to everybody that we have mountain chains and a big, high-standing continent," Mortimer told New Zealand TV station TVNZ. He explained that having the Zelandia continent recognized would be an important but unofficial step towards giving recognition to the land mass that wants to keep itself a secret.