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A vast subterranean chamber
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hidden for centuries.
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A legendary lost treasure
buried in an ancient mine.
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And a town
in the Australian Outback
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that is located
entirely underground.
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For as long as humans
have walked the Earth's surface,
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we've also wondered about
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what lies beneath our feet
deep underground.
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Are there profound secrets
about our planet
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buried beneath layers of rock,
or hidden in vast caves?
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What can the subterranean world
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tell us about humanity's past,
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and perhaps even its future?
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Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.
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Human beings
have a strong desire to learn
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everything we can about
the planet that we live on.
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After all, we've launched
satellites into outer space
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that have photographed
every inch of the Earth's surface,
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and we've used
deep-sea submarines
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to journey to the
bottom of the ocean.
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However, there is one
final frontier in our world
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that remains almost
totally shrouded in mystery.
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For we have yet to fully explore
the vast underground depths
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of our planet Earth.
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It's really uncommon for someone
to know how deep the Earth is.
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Very smart people often
guess, "hundreds of miles?"
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When in fact, it's 4,000 miles
to the center of the planet.
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L.A. to New York is
just a fraction of that,
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with the 2,700 miles.
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The mass of the Earth is great.
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And when you think
about the amount of rock
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that's piled on rock, on rock,
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that pressure is incredible and
prevents us from going deeper.
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So, what's beneath our feet?
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We don't know.
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Mankind's relationship
with the underground
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stems from our innate curiosity,
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and the ground beneath our
feet is open season for that.
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Today, scientists
and explorers are compelled
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to investigate the
subterranean world,
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in hopes of shedding new light
in the darkness of its depths.
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But these efforts are
just the latest chapter
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in humanity's long
quest to learn more
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about all that we
cannot see beneath us.
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In fact, our fascination with
the secrets of the underground
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stretches back
thousands of years.
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Going back 3,500 years, we
find drawings and paintings
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underground where
it's completely dark.
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So, we can see how
our early ancestors
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connected mythology
to the underground,
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in terms of their
relationship to the Earth.
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These explorations and forays
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meant something
on a spiritual level.
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They were pushing
as far as they could go
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with the technology
that they had.
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The
underground has always been important
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in human history,
and it's tantalizing
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but it's also kind
of frightening.
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For instance, we can look
to Hades in Greek mythology,
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this underworld
which is a metaphor
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for not being blessed by
the light of the heavens.
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Also, we can look to Dante
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going into the seven
circles of Hell in an Inferno.
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All of these point to
an underground space
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that you'll go into and
never come out from.
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While often
described as a place of danger,
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darkness and doom in
the legends and folklore
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of cultures around the world,
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it was during the
18th and 19th century
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that the perception of
an underground world
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became less mythological
and more scientific.
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This evolution in thinking
is perhaps best illustrated
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in author Jules
Verne's seminal novel
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Journey to the
Center of the Earth,
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which was published in 1864.
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Jules Verne's
Journey to the Center of the Earth
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is the story of a professor,
his nephew and their guide
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going into the
center of the Earth
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through a volcanic
crater in Iceland...
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making their way through
these subterranean passages
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and finding
prehistoric plant life
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and creatures and
maybe even a suggestion
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of some sort of
humanlike creature
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that they glimpse
but don't interact with.
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Jules Verne was
a well-read author,
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he was up on the
science of the day,
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and he made a
really scientific effort
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at describing an entire
subterranean world.
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It's a fictional book,
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but it really resonated
with people's imaginations.
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Journey to
the Center of the Earth
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had a profound effect not
just on science fiction readers
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but also on actual scientists,
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who were inspired to explore
deeper than ever before.
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By the 20th century,
modern drilling technology
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gave scientists a
new tool for satisfying
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our ongoing curiosity
about what lies underground.
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The most famous effort to drill
into the planet started in 1970,
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when the Soviet Union
embarked on an ambitious attempt
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to reach as deep as
possible into the Earth.
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The project, which was conducted
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on the Kola Peninsula in Russia,
lasted for more than 20 years,
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and resulted in
what is referred to
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as the Kola Superdeep Borehole.
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The hole, which
is nine inches wide,
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reaches an astounding
7.6 miles into the Earth.
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The Kola Superdeep Borehole
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is just a really
thin, narrow hole
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straight down into the Earth.
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One of the reasons why
they made the hole that shape
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is that the wider the space
it is that you're drilling,
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the more resistance
that you run into.
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One of the biggest obstacles
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to digging that hole was
the temperature increases
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about 60 degrees Fahrenheit
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for every kilometer
that you go down.
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These teams found, when
they were drilling down,
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that the rock started
to behave like plastic.
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And that the solid rock
was actually gumming up
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the works of-of their drills.
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There's so much pressure there,
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there's so much
heat there, eventually,
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they could drill no deeper
and they had to abandon it.
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And since then,
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there has been no project
that has gotten deeper.
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It's actually the deepest
hole that has ever been drilled
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to this day by humans.
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While the
Kola Superdeep Borehole
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is an inspiring
feat of engineering,
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at 7.6 miles in depth,
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it only reaches less
than one percent
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down to the center of the Earth.
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And in fact, many
experts believe that instead
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of using drills to dig
into the underground,
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we should instead listen
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to subtle vibrations
in the earth
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that are called seismic waves.
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By studying seismic waves,
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scientists detected
two giant structures
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deep inside of
the Earth's mantle.
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These formations
are so oddly shaped
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that they are commonly
referred to as "Earth blobs,"
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and according to experts,
Earth blobs pose a dire threat
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to the survival of humanity.
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These blobs are massive.
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Hundreds of miles tall,
the size of continents,
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very irregular in shape,
and they're very hot.
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The temperature of
the surface of the Sun
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is the temperature
of these things.
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There's the possibility
that over time,
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these blobs might rise
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and come to the
surface and would result
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in crazy intense
volcanic eruptions.
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The gigantic energy
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from a volcano comes
from underground,
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underground from the
core of the Earth itself,
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creating a catastrophe
beyond human comprehension.
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And so, when it comes to
what's underneath our feet,
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we have to watch out.
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It's staggering to think
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that we've only managed to drill
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less than one percent
into the Earth's crust.
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But even so, archaeologists
continue to make
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shocking underground
discoveries all the time,
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such as a baffling man-made
cave system in China
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that was carved
thousands of years ago
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by a mysterious
unknown civilization.
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In a small village,
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a group of farmers begin
draining several ponds
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to create space for
new planting fields.
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But as the waters recede,
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they make a
remarkable discovery.
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The villagers saw
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the water was slowly going down
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and there were steps going down.
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So, they got very
excited that this was
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some kind of, you know,
archaeological discovery.
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And when they went inside,
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they found that
they were in a group
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of underground man-made caverns.
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Once the water
was completely drained,
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the villagers discovered a
series of astonishing chambers
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that had been carved
underground centuries earlier.
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Further excavations
revealed the existence
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of 24 massive caverns.
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Each cavern covers
an area of approximately
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11,000 square feet,
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or roughly the size
of two mansions.
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Archaeologists have also
noted that the walls, pillars
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and ceilings of the caverns
were all precisely carved
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to have an unusually smooth
and symmetrical appearance.
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All told, the massive
underground complex
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measures 320,000 square feet,
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which is the size of more
than five football fields.
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These incredible
man-made structures
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are collectively referred
to as the Longyou Caves.
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The discovery of
the Longyou Caves
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is very fascinating
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because there was
absolutely nothing to suggest
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that there were these
carved, beautiful caves
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actually beneath the water.
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And so, when the actual
caves were discovered,
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everybody was absolutely amazed
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because there was no
indication that they existed.
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They have these
pillars inside them
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which are anything
up to 100 feet in height.
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And there are long corridors.
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There's some beautiful
relief carvings on the walls
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of animals and dragons
and things like this
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that are of immense
sophistication
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in their design and the
manner that they were carved.
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When you look at the
carvings, the chisel marks are so uniform,
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there's very detailed
shaping of some of the stones.
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To the untrained eye, it
looks like something created
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00:12:22,083 --> 00:12:24,792
in the last 20 or 30 years.
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Some people suggest the caves
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are one of the Wonders
of the Ancient World,
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but they weren't
discovered until 1992.
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So this raises so
many questions.
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Based on
the carvings on the walls
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and artifacts recovered
in the chambers,
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00:12:41,958 --> 00:12:46,000
archaeologists estimate that
the extraordinary Longyou Caves
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are roughly 2,000 years old.
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While there are similar
ancient underground structures
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throughout China,
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the size and sophistication of
the Longyou Caves is unique.
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00:12:58,042 --> 00:13:02,292
But just who exactly carved
these enormous caverns
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00:13:02,375 --> 00:13:04,958
and why remains a mystery,
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because there is no
mention of this site
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in the historical record.
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How is it possible that
the existence of 24 caves
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can go unrecorded?
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00:13:19,083 --> 00:13:22,458
This is very strange
because the Chinese
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00:13:22,542 --> 00:13:25,042
have always been very meticulous
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00:13:25,125 --> 00:13:29,375
in the way that they've
recorded provincial data.
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And yet, there was
absolutely nothing,
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00:13:31,458 --> 00:13:35,083
no mention whatsoever
of these caves.
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00:13:35,167 --> 00:13:38,667
The caves
themselves are so massive,
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00:13:38,708 --> 00:13:40,417
such a huge undertaking.
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00:13:40,500 --> 00:13:42,460
It's not something that
a bunch of local villagers
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00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:43,832
might have done for a hobby.
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We can estimate that
it would have taken
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a thousand people,
working 24 hours a day,
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00:13:50,708 --> 00:13:55,375
six years to carve
out these caverns.
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00:13:55,458 --> 00:13:58,333
There ought to be some
kind of geographical feature,
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00:13:58,417 --> 00:14:00,377
some kind of odd-looking
hill or an infield valley
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00:14:00,458 --> 00:14:03,917
or something where all
that sandstone has gone,
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00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,374
but we don't know where that is.
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00:14:05,375 --> 00:14:07,167
In recent years,
250
00:14:07,292 --> 00:14:10,208
some historians have
suggested that the Longyou Caves
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00:14:10,292 --> 00:14:12,957
disappeared from history
because they were intended
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00:14:12,958 --> 00:14:15,000
to be secret caverns
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that were never
meant to be found.
254
00:14:18,708 --> 00:14:21,333
We do not know
who built the caves.
255
00:14:21,375 --> 00:14:24,125
But we can guess,
considering the fact
256
00:14:24,208 --> 00:14:26,167
that they're 2,000 years old,
257
00:14:26,250 --> 00:14:29,750
that they were built in a
period called the Warring States.
258
00:14:29,875 --> 00:14:32,292
And at the time,
China was a patchwork
259
00:14:32,375 --> 00:14:34,792
of different kingdoms
all fighting each other.
260
00:14:34,875 --> 00:14:40,291
And the fact that they are not
mentioned in ancient documents
261
00:14:40,292 --> 00:14:43,000
could well be a
factor of their use
262
00:14:43,042 --> 00:14:45,750
for some kind of
strategic purpose.
263
00:14:45,833 --> 00:14:46,708
So, "We're not
gonna tell the enemy
264
00:14:46,792 --> 00:14:48,208
"where our secret bunkers are.
265
00:14:48,333 --> 00:14:50,351
We're not gonna tell them
where our secret supplies are."
266
00:14:50,375 --> 00:14:53,042
Could the Longyou
Caves have been a subterranean place
267
00:14:53,125 --> 00:14:55,958
to hide critical supplies
268
00:14:56,042 --> 00:15:00,958
or even people from
encroaching enemy forces?
269
00:15:01,042 --> 00:15:04,000
Or could their purpose
be tied to the deep waters
270
00:15:04,083 --> 00:15:06,875
that shrouded their location?
271
00:15:08,125 --> 00:15:10,667
What's interesting
about the Longyou Caves
272
00:15:10,750 --> 00:15:13,625
is it seems that
when they flooded,
273
00:15:13,708 --> 00:15:17,208
the water helped maintain
the structural integrity.
274
00:15:17,292 --> 00:15:20,833
Somehow, it took the
load off some of the beams,
275
00:15:20,958 --> 00:15:23,167
for example,
holding up the roofs.
276
00:15:23,250 --> 00:15:25,292
Now that the caves
have been drained,
277
00:15:25,375 --> 00:15:27,958
the Chinese have
been obliged to add
278
00:15:28,042 --> 00:15:30,000
extra buttressing
to hold them up.
279
00:15:30,042 --> 00:15:32,833
And so, I think they were
280
00:15:32,917 --> 00:15:35,042
a storage facility,
um, and I think,
281
00:15:35,125 --> 00:15:37,708
certainly, many of them
were intended for water.
282
00:15:37,792 --> 00:15:40,083
The area is drought-prone,
283
00:15:40,167 --> 00:15:43,667
so in the event of some
kind of military crisis,
284
00:15:43,708 --> 00:15:48,042
it would have been very
handy to have a secret base
285
00:15:48,125 --> 00:15:51,417
with enough water for
them to live on for years.
286
00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:56,000
Were the Longyou Caves
hidden beneath a pond for centuries
287
00:15:56,042 --> 00:15:59,375
because they were built to
be a secret water reservoir?
288
00:15:59,458 --> 00:16:02,332
Or could they have
had another purpose,
289
00:16:02,333 --> 00:16:04,500
that has yet to be unearthed?
290
00:16:04,542 --> 00:16:08,458
For now, the answer
remains lost to history.
291
00:16:10,542 --> 00:16:13,583
But in modern times,
the caves have become
292
00:16:13,708 --> 00:16:17,708
an important source of pride
for the people of Longyou,
293
00:16:17,792 --> 00:16:21,917
who regularly hold festivals in
this ancient underground space
294
00:16:22,042 --> 00:16:25,208
to commemorate their heritage.
295
00:16:25,333 --> 00:16:28,833
The story of the Longyou
Caves is actually very fascinating
296
00:16:28,875 --> 00:16:32,000
because it would
seem that by looking
297
00:16:32,083 --> 00:16:34,083
beneath the earth itself,
298
00:16:34,208 --> 00:16:38,208
we're obviously going to
discover many, many caverns,
299
00:16:38,292 --> 00:16:42,457
underground
chambers or even cities
300
00:16:42,458 --> 00:16:46,250
done by human hands that
have been completely lost,
301
00:16:46,375 --> 00:16:50,083
and that's a very
exciting prospect.
302
00:16:52,167 --> 00:16:56,250
Archaeologists are
conducting ongoing excavations
303
00:16:56,375 --> 00:16:58,958
in an attempt to
unravel the mystery
304
00:16:59,042 --> 00:17:02,000
of who built the incredible
Longyou cave system.
305
00:17:02,083 --> 00:17:04,833
But some experts believe
the best way to solve
306
00:17:04,917 --> 00:17:07,500
an underground
mystery is not by digging,
307
00:17:07,542 --> 00:17:11,375
but rather by researching
historical texts.
308
00:17:11,458 --> 00:17:14,292
For instance,
there's a copper mine
309
00:17:14,375 --> 00:17:17,375
in southern Israel that,
according to the Bible,
310
00:17:17,458 --> 00:17:22,250
may have been the hiding
place of King Solomon's treasure.
311
00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,208
In the
deserts of southern Israel
312
00:17:28,292 --> 00:17:32,917
lies a mountainous region
that is called the Timna Valley.
313
00:17:33,042 --> 00:17:34,583
Today, this area is known
314
00:17:34,667 --> 00:17:38,500
for its uniquely
shaped sandstone cliffs.
315
00:17:38,583 --> 00:17:44,833
But more than 3,000 years
ago, the Timna Valley was the site
316
00:17:44,917 --> 00:17:47,625
of a vast network
of copper mines.
317
00:17:49,750 --> 00:17:53,750
In the Timna
Valley, mining activity took place
318
00:17:53,833 --> 00:17:54,917
for a long, long time,
319
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,667
and most of the
mining operations
320
00:17:56,708 --> 00:17:58,375
took place underground.
321
00:17:58,458 --> 00:18:02,125
The deepest is about 115 feet.
322
00:18:02,250 --> 00:18:06,292
They would hew in the
ground circular shafts,
323
00:18:06,375 --> 00:18:09,667
and going down that shaft,
324
00:18:09,708 --> 00:18:15,292
they would cut steps
into the side of the shaft.
325
00:18:15,375 --> 00:18:18,458
And they would tunnel
along horizontally,
326
00:18:18,542 --> 00:18:21,333
where they would
extract the copper
327
00:18:21,417 --> 00:18:23,833
and take it back
up to the surface.
328
00:18:23,875 --> 00:18:27,500
In recent years, the
Timna mines have attracted attention
329
00:18:27,542 --> 00:18:29,667
because there are
those who believe
330
00:18:29,708 --> 00:18:33,375
that buried underground
in one of these deep tunnels
331
00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:38,750
is the legendary lost treasure
of the biblical King Solomon.
332
00:18:40,958 --> 00:18:42,958
In the Old Testament
of the Bible,
333
00:18:43,042 --> 00:18:45,333
King Solomon is
described as a noble
334
00:18:45,458 --> 00:18:49,000
and wise ruler of Israel.
335
00:18:49,167 --> 00:18:52,417
Historians believe that
Solomon was a real person
336
00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:56,417
who lived in the
10th century BC.
337
00:18:56,542 --> 00:18:58,417
King Solomon is
an intriguing figure
338
00:18:58,542 --> 00:19:02,042
because the Bible makes
so many claims about him
339
00:19:02,125 --> 00:19:05,333
controlling vast
amounts of territory.
340
00:19:05,375 --> 00:19:07,667
According to the Bible,
341
00:19:07,750 --> 00:19:12,208
Solomon expanded
ancient Israel considerably,
342
00:19:12,292 --> 00:19:14,167
from the Euphrates
river in the north
343
00:19:14,292 --> 00:19:18,208
all the way to the
River of Egypt,
344
00:19:18,333 --> 00:19:21,833
and so, a much more
expansive territory.
345
00:19:21,958 --> 00:19:24,125
The Bible also describes
346
00:19:24,208 --> 00:19:29,458
Solomon controlling
vast amounts of wealth.
347
00:19:29,542 --> 00:19:34,416
Solomon decides to build
a temple, in Jerusalem.
348
00:19:34,417 --> 00:19:38,000
The temple becomes
the home of God,
349
00:19:38,042 --> 00:19:41,875
and he spares no expense.
350
00:19:41,958 --> 00:19:43,750
And he was so committed
351
00:19:43,833 --> 00:19:47,750
to having the best
temple in the region
352
00:19:47,833 --> 00:19:51,041
that he actually imports
the finest materials
353
00:19:51,042 --> 00:19:54,042
to build this temple.
354
00:19:54,125 --> 00:19:57,208
According to the
Bible, Solomon's temple was built
355
00:19:57,333 --> 00:20:00,749
from the best limestone
and cedarwood.
356
00:20:00,750 --> 00:20:05,666
Inside, the walls were
overlaid with pure gold,
357
00:20:05,667 --> 00:20:09,750
and Solomon adorned the temple
with objects made out of copper,
358
00:20:09,833 --> 00:20:13,708
which was also a
precious metal at the time.
359
00:20:16,708 --> 00:20:18,833
King Solomon ruled
Israel for 40 years
360
00:20:18,958 --> 00:20:22,375
before dying in 931 BC.
361
00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:25,750
Upon his death, Solomon
reportedly left behind
362
00:20:25,833 --> 00:20:29,000
an enormous amount
of gold and other riches
363
00:20:29,083 --> 00:20:33,041
in his magnificent temple.
364
00:20:33,042 --> 00:20:37,458
But then, in 586 BC,
365
00:20:37,542 --> 00:20:40,500
the Babylonians
invaded Jerusalem
366
00:20:40,583 --> 00:20:44,333
and sacked Solomon's temple.
367
00:20:44,417 --> 00:20:49,333
When the Temple of Solomon
was destroyed in 586 BCE,
368
00:20:49,417 --> 00:20:53,250
all the temple treasures
were lost to history.
369
00:20:53,333 --> 00:20:57,708
An ancient legend says
that Solomon's treasures
370
00:20:57,833 --> 00:21:01,750
were taken out of
Jerusalem and buried.
371
00:21:03,833 --> 00:21:07,208
There are those who
believe that the treasures
372
00:21:07,333 --> 00:21:09,667
are, to this day, still hidden.
373
00:21:09,708 --> 00:21:13,833
For centuries, the
legend of King Solomon's lost treasure
374
00:21:13,958 --> 00:21:18,625
has been a source of
fascination and mystery.
375
00:21:18,708 --> 00:21:21,708
In 1885, the story was
exposed to a wider audience
376
00:21:21,833 --> 00:21:25,083
when author H. R. Haggard
wrote his famous novel
377
00:21:25,167 --> 00:21:27,583
King Solomon's Mines,
378
00:21:27,667 --> 00:21:30,667
which speculated that
Solomon's treasures
379
00:21:30,750 --> 00:21:35,375
were hidden deep in an
underground mine shaft.
380
00:21:35,458 --> 00:21:39,333
But if there is some
truth to this legend,
381
00:21:39,458 --> 00:21:45,000
then where is King
Solomon's treasure buried?
382
00:21:45,083 --> 00:21:50,417
For some, the most likely
location is the Timna mines.
383
00:21:50,542 --> 00:21:52,708
The Timna Valley is located
384
00:21:52,792 --> 00:21:56,167
not more than 150
miles from Jerusalem.
385
00:21:56,208 --> 00:21:59,625
So we're talking
about close proximity.
386
00:21:59,708 --> 00:22:04,791
At Timna, there are 10,000
mine shafts, maybe more,
387
00:22:04,792 --> 00:22:09,917
and so, it's easy for
people to kind of say,
388
00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:11,625
"There must be a connection."
389
00:22:11,708 --> 00:22:13,667
In the last several decades,
390
00:22:13,750 --> 00:22:16,375
numerous researchers have
tried to prove that the Timna mines
391
00:22:16,458 --> 00:22:19,542
are, in fact, the hiding place
392
00:22:19,625 --> 00:22:23,667
of King Solomon's
lost treasures.
393
00:22:23,708 --> 00:22:25,833
Some of the first evidence
in support of this theory
394
00:22:25,917 --> 00:22:29,333
was found by an archaeologist
named Nelson Glueck,
395
00:22:29,417 --> 00:22:32,333
who conducted a series
of excavations at Timna
396
00:22:32,375 --> 00:22:35,083
in the 1930s.
397
00:22:35,208 --> 00:22:36,417
Nelson Glueck
398
00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:39,750
made a huge study of
the-the copper mines,
399
00:22:39,875 --> 00:22:41,500
the smelting works,
400
00:22:41,625 --> 00:22:44,542
and also, the camps
of those that were there.
401
00:22:44,625 --> 00:22:50,750
And what he found under
the ground was pottery
402
00:22:50,833 --> 00:22:56,083
dating from the 9th
to 10th century BC.
403
00:22:56,208 --> 00:22:59,167
And this was the
exact time frame
404
00:22:59,250 --> 00:23:03,000
of the reign of King Solomon.
405
00:23:03,083 --> 00:23:05,792
And so, for Nelson Glueck,
406
00:23:05,875 --> 00:23:12,250
he felt that he had discovered
evidence of Solomon's mines.
407
00:23:12,333 --> 00:23:14,750
Nelson Glueck's discoveries
408
00:23:14,833 --> 00:23:18,625
made sensational
headlines around the world.
409
00:23:18,708 --> 00:23:21,417
However, despite
years of searching,
410
00:23:21,542 --> 00:23:25,583
Glueck was unable to
locate the fabled treasure,
411
00:23:25,667 --> 00:23:29,667
and some experts began to
think that Glueck was wrong
412
00:23:29,792 --> 00:23:34,167
to associate the Timna
mines with King Solomon.
413
00:23:34,250 --> 00:23:38,542
But then, in 2019,
414
00:23:38,625 --> 00:23:42,667
a team of archaeologists led
by Professor Erez Ben-Yosef
415
00:23:42,750 --> 00:23:46,708
of Tel Aviv University,
made a remarkable discovery.
416
00:23:46,792 --> 00:23:50,417
While excavating an ancient
mining worksite at Timna
417
00:23:50,500 --> 00:23:52,667
that is referred
to as Slaves' Hill,
418
00:23:52,792 --> 00:23:55,750
they found more evidence
that links this location
419
00:23:55,833 --> 00:23:57,667
to King Solomon.
420
00:24:36,250 --> 00:24:38,583
When you take
the totality of this,
421
00:24:38,667 --> 00:24:42,625
the Bible and what it
says about King Solomon,
422
00:24:42,708 --> 00:24:47,500
the presence of these copper
mines in the deserts of Israel,
423
00:24:47,583 --> 00:24:51,167
and put all these
elements together,
424
00:24:51,250 --> 00:24:52,583
for people of faith,
425
00:24:52,667 --> 00:24:54,750
it gives them a
greater assurance
426
00:24:54,833 --> 00:24:57,042
of the truthfulness
of the Bible,
427
00:24:57,125 --> 00:25:00,624
that it involves real people
428
00:25:00,625 --> 00:25:03,583
in real places in a real time.
429
00:25:05,667 --> 00:25:08,000
Is the treasure of King Solomon
430
00:25:08,083 --> 00:25:10,500
hidden somewhere in
the Timna copper mines?
431
00:25:10,583 --> 00:25:14,583
Experts continue to search
for clues deep underground
432
00:25:14,667 --> 00:25:18,417
in hopes of answering
that long-standing question.
433
00:25:18,542 --> 00:25:21,708
Not unlike another
subterranean mystery
434
00:25:21,792 --> 00:25:24,583
that has also
persisted for centuries.
435
00:25:24,667 --> 00:25:27,083
One that involves
the strange theory
436
00:25:27,208 --> 00:25:29,792
that there are vast open spaces
437
00:25:29,875 --> 00:25:33,083
located in the
center of the Earth.
438
00:25:40,583 --> 00:25:42,833
Seismologist
Dr. Paul Richards
439
00:25:42,917 --> 00:25:45,582
and his team at
Columbia University
440
00:25:45,583 --> 00:25:48,667
make a remarkable announcement.
441
00:25:48,750 --> 00:25:51,499
They discovered that
while a full rotation
442
00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:54,042
of the Earth's surface
takes 24 hours,
443
00:25:54,125 --> 00:25:57,292
the iron core at the
center of our planet
444
00:25:57,375 --> 00:26:00,250
actually spins faster.
445
00:26:01,792 --> 00:26:03,875
They were measuring
446
00:26:03,958 --> 00:26:08,000
the rotation of the
core of the Earth
447
00:26:08,042 --> 00:26:10,875
in relation to the
surface of the Earth,
448
00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,250
and what they found
was that it's not constant.
449
00:26:14,375 --> 00:26:17,875
And it leads people to believe
450
00:26:17,958 --> 00:26:20,750
that there is a disconnection
between the two.
451
00:26:20,833 --> 00:26:23,250
Maybe it's not molten rock.
452
00:26:23,333 --> 00:26:25,125
It could be open air.
453
00:26:25,208 --> 00:26:27,792
So, when you put all
of that data together,
454
00:26:27,875 --> 00:26:29,625
it leaves open the idea,
455
00:26:29,708 --> 00:26:32,625
the hypothesis,
that Earth is hollow.
456
00:26:32,708 --> 00:26:35,542
Could there really
be vast hollow space
457
00:26:35,667 --> 00:26:37,542
beneath the Earth's surface?
458
00:26:37,667 --> 00:26:40,333
It sounds crazy.
459
00:26:40,417 --> 00:26:42,833
And yet, for thousands of years,
460
00:26:42,917 --> 00:26:45,958
the belief has persisted
that beneath our feet
461
00:26:46,042 --> 00:26:49,542
there are not just
caves and tunnels
462
00:26:49,667 --> 00:26:52,833
but an entire underground world.
463
00:26:54,917 --> 00:26:59,667
The idea of the Hollow
Earth is that we live on a shell
464
00:26:59,708 --> 00:27:04,500
and that inside the
Earth is a hollow cavity
465
00:27:04,583 --> 00:27:07,583
with its own atmosphere,
its own animals,
466
00:27:07,667 --> 00:27:10,708
and possibly, its
own inhabitants.
467
00:27:10,792 --> 00:27:13,000
The concept of a Hollow Earth
468
00:27:13,083 --> 00:27:16,416
goes well back
before written word.
469
00:27:16,417 --> 00:27:18,875
We have pictograms,
470
00:27:18,958 --> 00:27:22,958
cave drawings,
things that describe
471
00:27:23,042 --> 00:27:25,208
either deities coming
out of the Earth
472
00:27:25,292 --> 00:27:29,833
or man trying to communicate
with deities in the Earth,
473
00:27:29,875 --> 00:27:33,292
and that's where the idea
of a Hollow Earth came from.
474
00:27:33,375 --> 00:27:37,333
Of all the ancient
tales about Hollow Earth,
475
00:27:37,417 --> 00:27:39,625
perhaps the most intriguing
476
00:27:39,708 --> 00:27:44,042
is one that involves
the Garden of Eden.
477
00:27:44,125 --> 00:27:45,958
There is an ancient legend
478
00:27:46,042 --> 00:27:49,958
that is recorded from
a very, very old text
479
00:27:50,042 --> 00:27:53,292
called the Sefer HaTemunah,
the "Book of the Image."
480
00:27:54,500 --> 00:27:56,667
The legend tells us
481
00:27:56,708 --> 00:28:01,416
that a cave called Machpelah
482
00:28:01,417 --> 00:28:05,125
is the doorway to
the Garden of Eden...
483
00:28:06,292 --> 00:28:09,583
which exists in inner Earth.
484
00:28:09,667 --> 00:28:12,208
But here's the
interesting question:
485
00:28:12,333 --> 00:28:14,875
a garden in a cave?
486
00:28:14,958 --> 00:28:16,792
It doesn't work like that.
487
00:28:16,875 --> 00:28:22,042
Gardens have plant life
that grows, requires sun.
488
00:28:23,833 --> 00:28:26,917
But in inner Earth,
there's an inner sun.
489
00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,417
Could Adam and Eve have lived
490
00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:33,083
in a lush paradise
deep underground?
491
00:28:33,167 --> 00:28:34,625
The incredible
notion that people
492
00:28:34,708 --> 00:28:37,000
could inhabit
subterranean spaces
493
00:28:37,083 --> 00:28:38,875
has been embraced
not just in ancient times
494
00:28:38,958 --> 00:28:42,625
but also, in the modern era.
495
00:28:42,708 --> 00:28:45,583
In fact, by the turn
of the 20th century,
496
00:28:45,708 --> 00:28:48,958
the fascination with
Hollow Earth was so strong
497
00:28:49,042 --> 00:28:52,042
that a new generation
of scientists and explorers
498
00:28:52,125 --> 00:28:55,083
set out to find proof
of the existence
499
00:28:55,167 --> 00:28:58,375
of a so-called "Inner Earth."
500
00:28:58,458 --> 00:29:01,500
Perhaps the most
fascinating of those expeditions
501
00:29:01,583 --> 00:29:03,875
was led by an
American Naval officer
502
00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:09,417
named Admiral
Richard E. Byrd in 1926.
503
00:29:09,500 --> 00:29:11,333
Admiral Richard Byrd
504
00:29:11,458 --> 00:29:16,666
was a famous American
aviator and explorer.
505
00:29:16,667 --> 00:29:21,458
And he claimed that
on one of the journeys
506
00:29:21,542 --> 00:29:23,958
that he made to the North Pole...
507
00:29:24,042 --> 00:29:27,417
In an aircraft... he came across
508
00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:32,292
an environment down below
that was plush and green
509
00:29:32,375 --> 00:29:36,917
with animals, almost like a sort
of Garden of Eden, if you like.
510
00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:42,708
In other words, what was
seen, perhaps, by Admiral Byrd
511
00:29:42,792 --> 00:29:45,917
at the North Pole was
actually an entrance
512
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,417
into a parallel world,
513
00:29:48,542 --> 00:29:50,667
a parallel existence
514
00:29:50,750 --> 00:29:53,667
that exists and coexists
with the Earth itself.
515
00:29:53,750 --> 00:29:57,083
Is it possible that Admiral Byrd
516
00:29:57,167 --> 00:30:01,000
saw an entrance to Inner
Earth at the North Pole?
517
00:30:01,042 --> 00:30:03,750
Almost a century after
his alleged discovery,
518
00:30:03,833 --> 00:30:06,833
there's no way to know for sure.
519
00:30:06,917 --> 00:30:10,167
But modern science
is trying to solve
520
00:30:10,250 --> 00:30:14,333
this centuries-old mystery
by conducting seismic studies
521
00:30:14,458 --> 00:30:17,542
of the interior of the planet.
522
00:30:17,625 --> 00:30:21,250
One of the pieces of data
that was really earthshaking
523
00:30:21,333 --> 00:30:25,417
was when Washington
University published the discovery
524
00:30:25,542 --> 00:30:30,167
of another ocean underneath
the crust of the Atlantic Ocean.
525
00:30:30,208 --> 00:30:34,958
They could actually read
the waves crashing on a shore
526
00:30:35,042 --> 00:30:37,667
on the inside of the crust.
527
00:30:37,708 --> 00:30:40,167
That was really
quite remarkable.
528
00:30:40,208 --> 00:30:44,208
When I see reports like
that, it leads me to believe,
529
00:30:44,292 --> 00:30:46,042
at least, that
there's a possibility
530
00:30:46,125 --> 00:30:48,458
that we have a Hollow Earth.
531
00:30:49,750 --> 00:30:51,958
If we gather evidence to prove
532
00:30:52,042 --> 00:30:53,917
that our planet
is actually hollow,
533
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,124
it could change everything.
534
00:30:56,125 --> 00:30:59,083
Maybe the ancients
were right all along.
535
00:31:01,125 --> 00:31:04,874
Does the Earth really have
enormous hollow expanses
536
00:31:04,875 --> 00:31:07,292
beneath its surface?
537
00:31:07,375 --> 00:31:10,667
It's a wild thought to consider,
but one way or another,
538
00:31:10,792 --> 00:31:13,000
we may soon find out the answer.
539
00:31:13,083 --> 00:31:16,958
Because according to some,
the future of humanity lies
540
00:31:17,083 --> 00:31:18,833
not on the surface of the planet
541
00:31:18,917 --> 00:31:23,125
but rather deep underground.
542
00:31:29,333 --> 00:31:31,750
On the surface, this remote town
543
00:31:31,833 --> 00:31:35,125
which is located in a
harsh sandstone desert,
544
00:31:35,208 --> 00:31:38,625
looks like a normal
rural community.
545
00:31:38,708 --> 00:31:40,417
But appearances
can be deceiving,
546
00:31:40,500 --> 00:31:42,000
because as it turns out,
547
00:31:42,083 --> 00:31:45,625
most of the town is
located underground.
548
00:31:48,208 --> 00:31:50,542
Beneath the surface
of Coober Pedy
549
00:31:50,625 --> 00:31:52,542
lies a subterranean world,
550
00:31:52,625 --> 00:31:56,125
complete with homes
that are known as "dugouts"
551
00:31:56,250 --> 00:32:00,583
and other living necessities.
552
00:32:00,708 --> 00:32:04,542
Coober Pedy is-is an incredible
town in the Australian Outback.
553
00:32:04,667 --> 00:32:08,333
You go down these ramps
into an underground space,
554
00:32:08,417 --> 00:32:11,750
and then, you start
seeing restaurants,
555
00:32:11,875 --> 00:32:14,250
hotels,
556
00:32:14,333 --> 00:32:16,333
people's houses,
557
00:32:16,458 --> 00:32:19,042
churches underground.
558
00:32:19,125 --> 00:32:25,125
All of this stuff excavated
from this soft but very firm rock.
559
00:32:25,208 --> 00:32:28,458
What would possess people
560
00:32:28,542 --> 00:32:33,042
to live in such an unusual,
underground community?
561
00:32:34,333 --> 00:32:36,833
Well, the history of
subterranean living
562
00:32:36,875 --> 00:32:40,792
in Coober Pedy
dates back to 1915,
563
00:32:40,875 --> 00:32:44,458
when miners first
traveled to this area
564
00:32:44,542 --> 00:32:47,583
to dig for gold
and precious opals.
565
00:33:32,375 --> 00:33:35,333
The name for Coober
Pedy comes from Aboriginal people
566
00:33:35,375 --> 00:33:39,958
that lived there when the
first explorers came out.
567
00:33:40,042 --> 00:33:42,000
Coober Pedy means
"white man in a hole."
568
00:33:42,083 --> 00:33:44,500
'Cause they saw these people
569
00:33:44,542 --> 00:33:47,292
digging into these things and
disappearing into the Earth.
570
00:33:47,375 --> 00:33:48,809
And of course, were
confounded, like,
571
00:33:48,833 --> 00:33:50,113
"Why do you keep going in there?
572
00:33:50,208 --> 00:33:52,000
What do you want in this place?"
573
00:34:34,042 --> 00:34:35,643
Today,
Coober Pedy is more famous
574
00:34:35,667 --> 00:34:38,750
for being an alternative
lifestyle community
575
00:34:38,833 --> 00:34:41,333
than it is for opal mining.
576
00:34:41,417 --> 00:34:44,000
According to recent estimates,
577
00:34:44,083 --> 00:34:47,667
there are 1,000
individual dugouts carved
578
00:34:47,750 --> 00:34:50,042
into the rock at Coober Pedy,
579
00:34:50,167 --> 00:34:52,750
and approximately 2,500 people
580
00:34:52,875 --> 00:34:55,708
live and work here year-round.
581
00:35:14,375 --> 00:35:18,292
But do residents
of this unorthodox community
582
00:35:18,375 --> 00:35:21,000
enjoy their
subterranean existence?
583
00:35:21,125 --> 00:35:23,333
Well, if you ask the
people of Coober Pedy,
584
00:35:23,458 --> 00:35:28,500
they'll tell you they wouldn't
want to live any other way.
585
00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:56,083
While the story of Coober Pedy
586
00:35:56,167 --> 00:35:58,250
and its residents
is extraordinary,
587
00:35:58,333 --> 00:36:00,417
some people believe
that underground living
588
00:36:00,542 --> 00:36:04,708
is not a matter of
lifestyle preference
589
00:36:04,833 --> 00:36:09,292
but rather, survival.
590
00:36:09,375 --> 00:36:11,167
In recent years, an
increasing number
591
00:36:11,250 --> 00:36:14,417
of so-called "doomsday
bunkers" have been built,
592
00:36:14,500 --> 00:36:16,417
which are designed
to protect residents
593
00:36:16,500 --> 00:36:19,333
in the event of a catastrophe.
594
00:36:19,458 --> 00:36:23,125
One of the most prominent
of these subterranean shelters
595
00:36:23,208 --> 00:36:25,167
is Vivos xPoint,
596
00:36:25,208 --> 00:36:29,625
which is located
in South Dakota.
597
00:36:29,750 --> 00:36:34,000
Vivos xPoint is the largest
survival community on Earth.
598
00:36:34,083 --> 00:36:36,792
It was originally a
government facility
599
00:36:36,875 --> 00:36:41,208
that was in charge of
munitions for World War II.
600
00:36:41,292 --> 00:36:45,167
We have 575 bunkers
601
00:36:45,250 --> 00:36:48,500
spread out across 7,000 acres,
602
00:36:48,583 --> 00:36:50,292
or about nine square miles,
603
00:36:50,375 --> 00:36:52,417
which is about half
the size of Manhattan,
604
00:36:52,500 --> 00:36:57,917
that are now being used for
underground living and survival
605
00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:03,000
in case of the worst possible
events we might encounter.
606
00:37:03,083 --> 00:37:04,500
People who live out there,
607
00:37:04,542 --> 00:37:06,333
they're regular
people like you and I.
608
00:37:06,417 --> 00:37:09,458
And they come from
all different walks of life.
609
00:37:09,542 --> 00:37:11,958
I think it always
pays to be prepared
610
00:37:12,042 --> 00:37:14,333
to survive whatever may come.
611
00:37:15,333 --> 00:37:16,667
If we think about
612
00:37:16,750 --> 00:37:18,708
bunkers that are being
built around the world,
613
00:37:18,792 --> 00:37:20,083
all of these spaces
are connected
614
00:37:20,167 --> 00:37:21,792
by a fundamental belief
615
00:37:21,875 --> 00:37:24,833
that the underground
is a space of protection.
616
00:37:24,917 --> 00:37:28,292
So it completely makes sense,
617
00:37:28,375 --> 00:37:33,083
because humanity has
always sought the underground
618
00:37:33,208 --> 00:37:36,125
to hide from a
hostile environment.
619
00:37:36,250 --> 00:37:38,333
In the future, will
millions of people
620
00:37:38,417 --> 00:37:42,208
actually live a
subterranean existence?
621
00:37:42,333 --> 00:37:44,083
It may seem unlikely,
622
00:37:44,208 --> 00:37:46,500
but the truth is
that humanity's fate
623
00:37:46,583 --> 00:37:50,667
may indeed rely on
what's deep underground.
624
00:37:50,750 --> 00:37:54,750
For instance, there are places
where people have drilled
625
00:37:54,833 --> 00:37:57,792
two and a half miles beneath
the surface of the Earth
626
00:37:57,875 --> 00:38:00,542
in search of a rare
and precious metal
627
00:38:00,667 --> 00:38:03,167
that is critical
to our survival.
628
00:38:03,208 --> 00:38:05,500
Gold.
629
00:38:11,375 --> 00:38:15,583
In this nation located
between South Africa and Mozambique,
630
00:38:15,667 --> 00:38:18,875
stands an ancient,
stepped mountain canyon
631
00:38:18,958 --> 00:38:21,167
known as Bomvu Ridge.
632
00:38:21,250 --> 00:38:25,500
The Bomvu Ridge is significant
because, according to experts,
633
00:38:25,583 --> 00:38:30,667
it is the site of the
oldest mine in history.
634
00:38:30,750 --> 00:38:33,250
Radiocarbon dating,
shows evidence
635
00:38:33,333 --> 00:38:38,000
that this place was mined
40, 50,000 years ago.
636
00:38:38,125 --> 00:38:41,250
And 50,000 years later,
637
00:38:41,375 --> 00:38:44,333
the place is still
producing iron today.
638
00:38:44,458 --> 00:38:46,333
So, the history of
the human species,
639
00:38:46,458 --> 00:38:48,833
from the Stone Age
to the digital age,
640
00:38:48,875 --> 00:38:53,333
has this relationship
to going after the metals
641
00:38:53,458 --> 00:38:56,667
that we need at
that particular place.
642
00:38:56,750 --> 00:39:01,000
It's astonishing to think
that, from the humble beginnings
643
00:39:01,083 --> 00:39:03,625
of the first mine
at Bomvu Ridge,
644
00:39:03,708 --> 00:39:06,958
there are now more
than 6,000 active mines
645
00:39:07,042 --> 00:39:09,625
located all over the world.
646
00:39:09,708 --> 00:39:13,875
Some of today's mines extend
incredibly deep into the Earth,
647
00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:18,417
such as the Mponeng
gold mine in South Africa,
648
00:39:18,500 --> 00:39:20,207
which reaches an astonishing
649
00:39:20,208 --> 00:39:23,000
two and a half
miles underground.
650
00:39:25,542 --> 00:39:28,500
Every year, more than
3.2 billion tons of iron,
651
00:39:28,625 --> 00:39:32,417
gold, silver, platinum
and other precious metals
652
00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:35,250
are extracted from our planet.
653
00:39:35,333 --> 00:39:38,250
Today, we rely on
mining perhaps even more
654
00:39:38,333 --> 00:39:39,917
than our ancestors did,
655
00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:44,375
because modern electronics
depend on what are referred to
656
00:39:44,458 --> 00:39:46,541
as rare earth elements.
657
00:39:46,542 --> 00:39:48,250
The term "rare earths"
658
00:39:48,333 --> 00:39:51,708
refers to 17 chemically
similar elements
659
00:39:51,792 --> 00:39:55,667
that have fantastic magnetic
and conductive properties.
660
00:39:55,750 --> 00:39:58,625
They are called
things like europium,
661
00:39:58,708 --> 00:40:01,500
lanthanum, praseodymium, cerium,
662
00:40:01,583 --> 00:40:06,000
and together they are
absolutely essential
663
00:40:06,083 --> 00:40:08,999
for life as we know it today.
664
00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,667
We need these elements
for medical technologies,
665
00:40:12,708 --> 00:40:15,667
communications,
computer hardware.
666
00:40:15,750 --> 00:40:18,500
But eventually,
rare earth elements
667
00:40:18,625 --> 00:40:20,625
are going to peter out.
668
00:40:20,708 --> 00:40:23,667
And the real question is,
669
00:40:23,792 --> 00:40:26,750
how deep will we
go into the Earth
670
00:40:26,833 --> 00:40:28,750
to get the elements
that we need?
671
00:40:28,875 --> 00:40:30,601
I think the simple
answer to that is we will go
672
00:40:30,625 --> 00:40:33,167
as far as our
technologies allow us to go.
673
00:40:33,208 --> 00:40:37,833
Will the Earth's supply
of rare metals eventually run out?
674
00:40:37,958 --> 00:40:39,750
It appears the
only way to find out
675
00:40:39,875 --> 00:40:41,833
is to keep digging
into our planet,
676
00:40:41,958 --> 00:40:45,000
in search of both
essential resources
677
00:40:45,083 --> 00:40:48,625
and also answers
678
00:40:48,708 --> 00:40:52,708
to the many mysteries
that lie beneath our feet.
679
00:40:52,792 --> 00:40:55,458
As humans, we share
680
00:40:55,542 --> 00:40:57,667
this curiosity,
681
00:40:57,708 --> 00:41:01,000
this desire to understand
what's beneath our feet.
682
00:41:01,125 --> 00:41:03,167
And we want to explore.
683
00:41:03,208 --> 00:41:05,375
We want to follow
the breadcrumbs
684
00:41:05,458 --> 00:41:08,625
of this mystery of
what is down there.
685
00:41:08,708 --> 00:41:11,833
Geophysical research
686
00:41:11,917 --> 00:41:15,417
is revealing cave
systems, caverns,
687
00:41:15,500 --> 00:41:18,458
and obviously, whole cities
688
00:41:18,542 --> 00:41:21,667
that were never
known about in the past.
689
00:41:21,750 --> 00:41:25,042
And we are going to discover
690
00:41:25,125 --> 00:41:29,667
incredible things beneath
the Earth in the future
691
00:41:29,750 --> 00:41:34,833
that we could not even
have imagined existing before.
692
00:41:34,875 --> 00:41:38,500
There is something that compels
humanity to explore underground,
693
00:41:38,542 --> 00:41:40,542
whether we're looking
for precious metals
694
00:41:40,625 --> 00:41:42,583
or building new living spaces
695
00:41:42,708 --> 00:41:47,292
or simply satisfying our desire
to descend into the unknown.
696
00:41:47,375 --> 00:41:49,875
And just like our
ancestors before us,
697
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:54,667
we'll keep digging in search
of all the subterranean secrets
698
00:41:54,708 --> 00:41:58,000
held by our planet
that, for now, remain...
699
00:41:59,208 --> 00:42:00,583
unexplained.
700
00:42:00,667 --> 00:42:02,458
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