Detecting many ancient craters under Ly Son sea bottom

After a long period of research, underwater archaeologists have discovered many ancient craters and interesting ecosystems around the Ly Son (Quang Ngai) pre-island district.

In the morning of September 8, Quang Ngai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a meeting with experts to discuss emergency conservation measures of geological heritage in Ly Son island district.

After many years of survey, research, experts say, the waters of Ly Son Island - Binh Chau are the convergence of many geological heritage values - rare world geomorphology . This is a form of non-renewable geological resources that needs to be sustainably preserved for future generations and spread to attract domestic and international tourists.

Master Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert in underwater archeology, said that Ly Son island district could be considered as a "museum" of volcanic eruptions , where many cultural values ​​and formations of left-shell tectonics are integrated. land, once existed human civilization from millions of years ago.

Traces of ancient craters dating back millions of years in the region near the coast of Quang Ngai.(Photo: Minh Hoang).

"In addition to the two large craters on Thoi Loi and Gieng Tien peaks on the island, scientists have also discovered about 6 undersea craters and rich ecosystems within 40km of the island district. In particular, underground crater with the largest diameter is about 7 nautical miles from Be Ly Son island , " Lam said.

Previously, experts also discovered the ancient crater about 30 m wide lying close to the shore in Ba Lang An area (Binh Chau commune, Binh Son district). Here, the ecological topography spreads out to the surrounding area with many basalt lands, balad stone columns look quite unique.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang, an expert at the National Institute of Science and Technology (Japan), said that volcanic activities in Ly Son island district occurred in two main phases. The earliest phase about 11 million years ago (related to the separation of the East Asian East Sea 109) and the nearest about 3,000 to 1 million years of the formation of the earth's crust, human civilization (coinciding with the same time) space with volcanic activities in the coastal areas of Binh Chau and Ba Lang An communes).

Ly Son island prefecture district has volcanic terrain accounting for 70% of the area. Many monuments were created from volcanic lava eruption activities such as double craters on the peaks of Thoi Loi, Gieng Tien, Hang Cau, Hang Pagoda, Dam Pagoda, Archway on the shore and under the sea . In addition, prolonged volcanic sediment cliffs along Ly Son island and coastal area of ​​Binh Chau commune (Binh Son district) are of great value for tourism.

Volcanic lava rock arch is 6m from the water surface in the coastal waters of Be Ly Son Island.(Photo: A.Lam).

"This can be considered a natural museum of rare volcanic activity in the world, worthy of being recognized as a global geopark" , Mr. Hoang affirmed.

In October 2014, a group of divers and some archaeologists also discovered volcanic lava arches about 6 meters from the water surface near the coast of Be Ly Son island. The locals liken this stone arch to the "underwater archway" with many beautiful corals that live in parasites, arch and curve about 20 meters. Experts said that this is a mark of lava from volcanic eruption when sea water froze, creating this spectacular stone arch.

At present, experts continue to help Quang Ngai complete records of ancient shipwreck relics in Binh Chau sea, submit to Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to rank national relics, and set up documents to be recognized as parks. global geology.