Nan Madol is one of the truly inexplicable mysteries of the world. The abandoned city is located near Pohnpei Island (just above New Guinea in the middle of the South Pacific). It is considered one of the greatest engineering and archaeological wonders of the world, and even experts are bewildered by the mysteries of the construction of its palaces, buildings and tombs.
Nan Madol is the only known ancient city that was built on top of a coral reef. Scholars believe that its construction began between the 13th and 15th centuries, when the Saudeler dynasty ruled. The mysterious lagoon city is made up of a series (92) of small artificial islands spread over an area of 80 hectares and connected by a network of strange canals.
It is believed that abandoned stone structures inspired science fiction writer Lovecraft to create a similar sunken city, in which the monster Cthulhu lived.
Construction feature
The mystery of Nan Madol begins with the fact that the construction of its megalithic structures defies explanation. The total weight of the building material is estimated at 750,000 tons. Basalt "logs" that make up the high walls weigh up to 50 tons each. Even more mysterious, the Saudeler dynasty, which built the stone city, did not have the right equipment for this.
Promotional video:
Legends of a Lost Civilization
Nan Madol means "between spaces" and it justifies the name. He seems to be between truth and myth. Legend has it that the ruins of the ancient city abound in unexplored corridors. These channels connect artificial islets and contain tombs containing the remains of giants and spirit kings. Locals believe that the builders used magic to transport stones to the island.
All local myths tell about basalt blocks emerging from another place, because there is no source of volcanic rocks near Nan Madol, except from the opposite side of the island.
All local myths tell about basalt blocks emerging from another place, because there is no source of volcanic rocks near Nan Madol, except from the opposite side of the island.
Scientific theory suggests that the monoliths were delivered from the mainland by water using bamboo rafts. However, in 1995, when creating a documentary for the Discovery Channel, all attempts to carry stones weighing more than a ton on rafts failed - they went under water.
Curse of Nan Madol
At the beginning of the 20th century, when the Germans ruled the island, Governor Viktor Berg dared to ignore the ban. He entered the sealed tomb and opened the coffin of the ancient rulers. In it, he found the remains of giants ranging in size from two to three meters. Lightning flashed in the sky that night, and torrential rains hit the city. In the morning, the life of the governor ended in a strange way. The German doctor was unable to determine the cause of death, but the natives were convinced that it was the curse of the Gods for his blatant disrespect.
Scientists' versions
Why would anyone build a city on coral reefs, which rises only 1.5-2 meters above the water? What is the purpose of building Nan Madol? These questions have puzzled scientists for centuries.
There is a very interesting theory that can answer many questions about the mysterious Nan Madol and the purpose of its existence. The city is located between the Hawaiian Islands and the Philippines. Strong storms and typhoons start here. This occurs when cold air contacts the warm waters of the Caroline Islands. Research shows that many stormy winds come from Nan Madol. Perhaps this is no coincidence. Because this area creates "bad weather," the typhoons themselves rarely touch it. This makes the city the safest place in the Pacific.
Legends, myths, magic, truth and theories all surround Nan Madol, giving us a choice. Research on artificial islands in Micronesia continues to this day. Perhaps in the coming years we will learn more about this mysterious place.