Hope dies last. Proverb. Only one thing can finally solve the problem of the existence of Atlantis: the discovery of what was left on the seabed. If this event will take place, most likely it will radically change all ideas of mankind about their own history.

Could this happen in the foreseeable or the vast future?

The chances of detection

Most likely sunken Atlantis can be found on the summit of a submarine mountain or on the underwater plateau. However, the presence anywhere underwater mountains is not yet proof of the existence there of the remnants of an ancient civilization.

To receive information on the seabed scientists can in several ways: personally, having been at the bottom of the aqualung (not deeper than 100 metres), armored suit (up to 160 meters) or managed sub (500 metres), with the help of underground pipes, or drag the research vessel, underwater photography or television.

the aqualung is the Most convenient for the archaeologist, however, is good only for a small depths, and the study of the seabed by aqualung takes a long time.

the suit is Inconvenient, because at great depths severely limits the freedom of action and freedom of movement of the diver.

the sub - Convenient for searching, but does not have freedom of action.

underground tube can Not give representation about subjects that are on the bottom, describe only a small part of the bottom, do not apply to hard rock (or the buildings and roads).

Draghi or dredging, - Not give an idea about the position of objects on the bottom, and on the rests of architectural structures.

underwater photography or television is the Most promising for the search of sunken Atlantis.

Using the above methods, scientists are exploring the World ocean. Many times they did valuable archaeological finds, however, for all this time there was not found anything that would prove the existence of a sunken continent. Rates of underwater research all time increase, so from a technical point of view the hope for the opening of any objects in the ocean is.

The chances of saving

For the last 4'000 years from the surface of the Egyptian pyramids disappeared layer thickness of more than one meter! And it happened just 4'000, not 12'000 years, and not under water and on land. Dissolved oxygen in the water very much, so scuba weathering is, in essence, the process of oxidation. All connections ferrous iron eventually turn into the connections of trivalent iron. On limestone and all limestone rocks also operates carbon dioxide.

In ancient times, the building material served as limestone (marble), igneous rocks (granite, basalt, granodiorite, peridotit and sandstones. For 11'500 years in sea water is completely dissolved if the wall is built of basalt or tuff. In pure limestone small porosity, for example, marble, sea water affects not so much, and porous limestone or breeds with high content of silt can be completely destroyed within a very short period of time.

The speed of underwater erosion and destruction of rocks is affected by three factors: the cover sediments, biological processes and mechanical destruction.

Cover precipitation

If the building or structure is covered with sediment, it is out of the corrosive effects of water and can be stored for much longer. But, on the other hand, this reduces the chance discovery of archaeological remains many times.

Biological processes

In shallow seas built of limestone are exposed to shellfish, which easily make it your moves. Some species of shellfish drill rock mechanical, other pickle it using allocated acid. Smerlada shellfish are usually found in shallow water, no deeper than 55 meters. In the course of several centuries limestone block can be drilled so that a weak movement of water he will break up into small pieces.

Mechanical destruction

At depths of up to 10 meters strong vibrations can relatively quickly destroy any building of Atlantis.

By analogy with the Greek cities, we can conclude that in the place of death of Atlantis should be concentrated in a large number of metal objects, ceramic and wood.

Metals

In fresh water chances of preserving all metals, but in salty water, their chances where delusive, because metals influence of salt. Salt has on metals corrosive, in addition, the process of decomposition is accelerated under the influence of galvanic currents. Sea water acts as the electrolyte, metals - as anodes and cathodes. Already over 200 years iron becomes hydrated oxide. Pure copper (if the subject thin) and copper alloys [bronze, brass (OREALC?)] disappear in 200 to 400 years. However, if the thickness of the copper items are considerable, on the surface may form a layer of carbonates, which protects the subject. Provided that it has a sufficiently high standard, stable gold. Some metals can be saved if they will quickly be covered with algae or corals. But in this case, the discovery of these items is almost unbelievable.

Tree

Disappears in 100 - 200 years.

Ceramics

If the product surface is carefully polished and not damaged, they can withstand and several thousand years. Fired bricks are destroyed through several centuries, and unfired after 10 to 30 years.

Thus, the preservation of many objects depends on how long they are in contact with sea water and quickly whether covered by sediment.

The rate of sedimentation depends on the distance from sources of sediment and undercurrents. In some places, for example in the English channel or in the Aegean sea, this process takes place at depths of more than 200 m, but usually at great depths the rate of formation of precipitation is insignificant. In shallow water (up to 10 meters) items at the bottom, the hulls of ships and buildings can then filling, then to strip naked. In the bays and coastal parts of the shelf of the rate of accumulation of sediments may amount to 50-200 cm per 100 years, near Delta - several times more. At greater depths, in the middle of the shelf or in the upper parts of the continental slope layer sediments with thickness of 20 cm accumulates 1'000 years, which is 2 m for 11'500 years. In deep-sea areas, at the depth of 300 meters to several kilometers, 10'000 years gained would be only a few inches of precipitation. However, we are unlikely to find the remains of Atlantis. Most likely it would be discovered on the tops of underground mountains or mountain ranges, where underwater currents often carry silt and sand.

Now, if some ruins stayed on the seabed 11'500 years, from them the little that was left. And if they are from destruction were saved by a thick layer of sediment, their detection would be many times more difficult.