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WILLIAM SHATNER:
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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♪
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SHATNER:
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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SHATNER:
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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BRADLEY GARRETT: 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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(man screaming)
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SHATNER:
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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LYNNE McNEILL:
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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SHATNER:
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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ROBERT SCHOCH:
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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SHATNER:
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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GARNERO:
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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MICHIO KAKU:
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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SHATNER:
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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CLEMENTS:
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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SHATNER:
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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NEWMAN:
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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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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SHATNER:
Based on the carvings
on the walls
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and artifacts recovered
in the chambers,
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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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But just who exactly carved
these enormous caverns
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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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00:13:19,126 --> 00:13:22,501
This is very strange
because the Chinese
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have always been very meticulous
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in the way that they've recorded
provincial data.
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00:13:29,501 --> 00:13:31,418
And yet,
there was absolutely nothing,
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00:13:31,501 --> 00:13:35,126
no mention whatsoever
of these caves.
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CLEMENTS:
The caves themselves
are so massive,
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00:13:38,751 --> 00:13:40,460
such a huge undertaking.
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It's not something
that a bunch of local villagers
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might have done for a hobby.
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00:13:43,876 --> 00:13:46,293
We can estimate
that it would have taken
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00:13:46,418 --> 00:13:50,710
a thousand people,
working 24 hours a day,
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00:13:50,751 --> 00:13:55,418
six years
to carve out these caverns.
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There ought to be some kind
of geographical feature,
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some kind of odd-looking hill
or an infield valley
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or something where all
that sandstone has gone,
250
00:14:04,043 --> 00:14:05,418
but we don't know where that is.
251
00:14:05,418 --> 00:14:07,210
SHATNER:
In recent years,
252
00:14:07,335 --> 00:14:10,251
some historians have suggested
that the Longyou Caves
253
00:14:10,335 --> 00:14:13,001
disappeared from history
because they were intended
254
00:14:13,001 --> 00:14:15,043
to be secret caverns
255
00:14:15,126 --> 00:14:18,668
that were
never meant to be found.
256
00:14:18,751 --> 00:14:21,376
We do not know
who built the caves.
257
00:14:21,418 --> 00:14:24,168
But we can guess,
considering the fact
258
00:14:24,251 --> 00:14:26,210
that they're 2,000 years old,
259
00:14:26,293 --> 00:14:29,793
that they were built in a period
called the Warring States.
260
00:14:29,918 --> 00:14:32,335
And at the time,
China was a patchwork
261
00:14:32,418 --> 00:14:34,835
of different kingdoms
all fighting each other.
262
00:14:34,918 --> 00:14:40,335
And the fact that they are not
mentioned in ancient documents
263
00:14:40,335 --> 00:14:43,043
could well be a factor
of their use
264
00:14:43,085 --> 00:14:45,793
for some kind of
strategic purpose.
265
00:14:45,876 --> 00:14:46,751
So, "We're not gonna tell
the enemy
266
00:14:46,835 --> 00:14:48,251
"where our secret bunkers are.
267
00:14:48,376 --> 00:14:50,335
We're not gonna tell them
where our secret supplies are."
268
00:14:50,418 --> 00:14:53,085
SHATNER:
Could the Longyou Caves
have been a subterranean place
269
00:14:53,168 --> 00:14:56,001
to hide critical supplies
270
00:14:56,085 --> 00:15:01,001
or even people
from encroaching enemy forces?
271
00:15:01,085 --> 00:15:04,043
Or could their purpose
be tied to the deep waters
272
00:15:04,126 --> 00:15:06,918
that shrouded their location?
273
00:15:08,168 --> 00:15:10,710
What's interesting about
the Longyou Caves
274
00:15:10,793 --> 00:15:13,668
is it seems
that when they flooded,
275
00:15:13,751 --> 00:15:17,251
the water helped maintain
the structural integrity.
276
00:15:17,335 --> 00:15:20,876
Somehow, it took the load
off some of the beams,
277
00:15:21,001 --> 00:15:23,210
for example,
holding up the roofs.
278
00:15:23,293 --> 00:15:25,335
Now that the caves
have been drained,
279
00:15:25,418 --> 00:15:28,001
the Chinese have been
obliged to add
280
00:15:28,085 --> 00:15:30,043
extra buttressing
to hold them up.
281
00:15:30,085 --> 00:15:32,876
And so, I think they were
282
00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,085
a storage facility,
um, and I think,
283
00:15:35,168 --> 00:15:37,751
certainly, many of them
were intended for water.
284
00:15:37,835 --> 00:15:40,126
The area is drought-prone,
285
00:15:40,210 --> 00:15:43,710
so in the event
of some kind of military crisis,
286
00:15:43,751 --> 00:15:48,085
it would have been very handy
to have a secret base
287
00:15:48,168 --> 00:15:51,460
with enough water
for them to live on for years.
288
00:15:51,543 --> 00:15:56,043
SHATNER:
Were the Longyou Caves hidden
beneath a pond for centuries
289
00:15:56,085 --> 00:15:59,418
because they were built
to be a secret water reservoir?
290
00:15:59,501 --> 00:16:02,376
Or could they have had
another purpose,
291
00:16:02,376 --> 00:16:04,543
that has yet to be unearthed?
292
00:16:04,585 --> 00:16:08,501
For now, the answer remains
lost to history.
293
00:16:10,585 --> 00:16:13,626
But in modern times,
the caves have become
294
00:16:13,751 --> 00:16:17,751
an important source of pride
for the people of Longyou,
295
00:16:17,835 --> 00:16:21,960
who regularly hold festivals in
this ancient underground space
296
00:16:22,085 --> 00:16:25,251
to commemorate their heritage.
297
00:16:25,376 --> 00:16:28,876
The story of the Longyou Caves
is actually very fascinating
298
00:16:28,918 --> 00:16:32,043
because it would seem
that by looking
299
00:16:32,126 --> 00:16:34,126
beneath the earth itself,
300
00:16:34,251 --> 00:16:38,251
we're obviously going
to discover many, many caverns,
301
00:16:38,335 --> 00:16:42,501
underground chambers
or even cities
302
00:16:42,501 --> 00:16:46,293
done by human hands
that have been completely lost,
303
00:16:46,418 --> 00:16:50,126
and that's
a very exciting prospect.
304
00:16:52,210 --> 00:16:56,293
Archaeologists are conducting
ongoing excavations
305
00:16:56,418 --> 00:16:59,001
in an attempt
to unravel the mystery
306
00:16:59,085 --> 00:17:02,043
of who built the incredible
Longyou cave system.
307
00:17:02,126 --> 00:17:04,876
But some experts believe
the best way to solve
308
00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,543
an underground mystery
is not by digging,
309
00:17:07,585 --> 00:17:11,418
but rather
by researching historical texts.
310
00:17:11,501 --> 00:17:14,335
For instance,
there's a copper mine
311
00:17:14,418 --> 00:17:17,418
in southern Israel that,
according to the Bible,
312
00:17:17,501 --> 00:17:22,293
may have been the hiding place
of King Solomon's treasure.
313
00:17:26,043 --> 00:17:28,251
SHATNER: In the deserts
of southern Israel
314
00:17:28,335 --> 00:17:32,960
lies a mountainous region
that is called the Timna Valley.
315
00:17:33,085 --> 00:17:34,626
Today, this area is known
316
00:17:34,710 --> 00:17:38,543
for its uniquely shaped
sandstone cliffs.
317
00:17:38,626 --> 00:17:44,876
But more than 3,000 years ago,
the Timna Valley was the site
318
00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,668
of a vast network
of copper mines.
319
00:17:49,793 --> 00:17:53,793
MULLINS:
In the Timna Valley,
mining activity took place
320
00:17:53,876 --> 00:17:54,960
for a long, long time,
321
00:17:55,043 --> 00:17:56,710
and most
of the mining operations
322
00:17:56,751 --> 00:17:58,418
took place underground.
323
00:17:58,501 --> 00:18:02,168
The deepest is about 115 feet.
324
00:18:02,293 --> 00:18:06,335
They would hew in the ground
circular shafts,
325
00:18:06,418 --> 00:18:09,710
and going down that shaft,
326
00:18:09,751 --> 00:18:15,335
they would cut steps
into the side of the shaft.
327
00:18:15,418 --> 00:18:18,501
And they would tunnel
along horizontally,
328
00:18:18,585 --> 00:18:21,376
where they would
extract the copper
329
00:18:21,460 --> 00:18:23,876
and take it back up
to the surface.
330
00:18:23,918 --> 00:18:27,543
SHATNER:
In recent years, the Timna mines
have attracted attention
331
00:18:27,585 --> 00:18:29,710
because there are those
who believe
332
00:18:29,751 --> 00:18:33,418
that buried underground
in one of these deep tunnels
333
00:18:33,543 --> 00:18:38,793
is the legendary lost treasure
of the biblical King Solomon.
334
00:18:41,001 --> 00:18:43,001
In the Old Testament
of the Bible,
335
00:18:43,085 --> 00:18:45,376
King Solomon is described
as a noble
336
00:18:45,501 --> 00:18:49,043
and wise ruler of Israel.
337
00:18:49,210 --> 00:18:52,460
Historians believe
that Solomon was a real person
338
00:18:52,543 --> 00:18:56,460
who lived
in the 10th century BC.
339
00:18:56,585 --> 00:18:58,460
King Solomon
is an intriguing figure
340
00:18:58,585 --> 00:19:02,085
because the Bible makes
so many claims about him
341
00:19:02,168 --> 00:19:05,376
controlling
vast amounts of territory.
342
00:19:05,418 --> 00:19:07,710
According to the Bible,
343
00:19:07,793 --> 00:19:12,251
Solomon expanded
ancient Israel considerably,
344
00:19:12,335 --> 00:19:14,210
from the Euphrates river
in the north
345
00:19:14,335 --> 00:19:18,251
all the way
to the River of Egypt,
346
00:19:18,376 --> 00:19:21,876
and so, a much more
expansive territory.
347
00:19:22,001 --> 00:19:24,168
The Bible also describes
348
00:19:24,251 --> 00:19:29,501
Solomon controlling
vast amounts of wealth.
349
00:19:29,585 --> 00:19:34,460
Solomon decides to build
a temple, uh, in Jerusalem.
350
00:19:34,460 --> 00:19:38,043
The temple becomes
the home of God,
351
00:19:38,085 --> 00:19:41,918
and he spares no expense.
352
00:19:42,001 --> 00:19:43,793
And he was so committed
353
00:19:43,876 --> 00:19:47,793
to having the best temple
in the region
354
00:19:47,876 --> 00:19:51,085
that he actually imports
the finest materials
355
00:19:51,085 --> 00:19:54,085
to build this temple.
356
00:19:54,168 --> 00:19:57,251
SHATNER:
According to the Bible,
Solomon's temple was built
357
00:19:57,376 --> 00:20:00,793
from the best limestone
and cedarwood.
358
00:20:00,793 --> 00:20:05,710
Inside, the walls were
overlaid with pure gold,
359
00:20:05,710 --> 00:20:09,793
and Solomon adorned the temple
with objects made out of copper,
360
00:20:09,876 --> 00:20:13,751
which was also
a precious metal at the time.
361
00:20:16,751 --> 00:20:18,876
King Solomon ruled Israel
for 40 years
362
00:20:19,001 --> 00:20:22,418
before dying in 931 BC.
363
00:20:22,543 --> 00:20:25,793
Upon his death,
Solomon reportedly left behind
364
00:20:25,876 --> 00:20:29,043
an enormous amount
of gold and other riches
365
00:20:29,126 --> 00:20:33,085
in his magnificent temple.
366
00:20:33,085 --> 00:20:37,501
But then, in 586 BC,
367
00:20:37,585 --> 00:20:40,543
the Babylonians
invaded Jerusalem
368
00:20:40,626 --> 00:20:44,376
and sacked Solomon's temple.
369
00:20:44,460 --> 00:20:49,376
When the Temple of Solomon
was destroyed in 586 BCE,
370
00:20:49,460 --> 00:20:53,293
all the temple
treasures were lost to history.
371
00:20:53,376 --> 00:20:57,751
An ancient legend says
that Solomon's treasures
372
00:20:57,876 --> 00:21:01,793
were taken out of Jerusalem
and buried.
373
00:21:03,876 --> 00:21:07,251
There are those who believe
that the treasures
374
00:21:07,376 --> 00:21:09,710
are, to this day, still hidden.
375
00:21:09,751 --> 00:21:13,876
SHATNER:
For centuries, the legend
of King Solomon's lost treasure
376
00:21:14,001 --> 00:21:18,668
has been a source
of fascination and mystery.
377
00:21:18,751 --> 00:21:21,751
In 1885, the story was exposed
to a wider audience
378
00:21:21,876 --> 00:21:25,126
when author H. R. Haggard
wrote his famous novel
379
00:21:25,210 --> 00:21:27,626
King Solomon's Mines,
380
00:21:27,710 --> 00:21:30,710
which speculated
that Solomon's treasures
381
00:21:30,793 --> 00:21:35,418
were hidden deep
in an underground mine shaft.
382
00:21:35,501 --> 00:21:39,376
But if there is some truth
to this legend,
383
00:21:39,501 --> 00:21:45,043
then where is King Solomon's
treasure buried?
384
00:21:45,126 --> 00:21:50,460
For some, the most likely
location is the Timna mines.
385
00:21:50,585 --> 00:21:52,751
MULLINS:
The Timna Valley is located
386
00:21:52,835 --> 00:21:56,210
not more than 150 miles
from Jerusalem.
387
00:21:56,251 --> 00:21:59,668
So we're talking about
close proximity.
388
00:21:59,751 --> 00:22:04,835
At Timna, there are 10,000
mine shafts, maybe more,
389
00:22:04,835 --> 00:22:09,960
and so, it's easy
for people to kind of say,
390
00:22:10,043 --> 00:22:11,668
"There must be a connection."
391
00:22:11,751 --> 00:22:13,710
SHATNER:
In the last several decades,
392
00:22:13,793 --> 00:22:16,418
numerous researchers have tried
to prove that the Timna mines
393
00:22:16,501 --> 00:22:19,585
are, in fact, the hiding place
394
00:22:19,668 --> 00:22:23,710
of King Solomon's
lost treasures.
395
00:22:23,751 --> 00:22:25,876
Some of the first evidence
in support of this theory
396
00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,376
was found by an archaeologist
named Nelson Glueck,
397
00:22:29,460 --> 00:22:32,376
who conducted a series
of excavations at Timna
398
00:22:32,418 --> 00:22:35,126
in the 1930s.
399
00:22:35,251 --> 00:22:36,460
COLLINS:
Nelson Glueck
400
00:22:36,543 --> 00:22:39,793
made a huge study
of the-the copper mines,
401
00:22:39,918 --> 00:22:41,543
the smelting works,
402
00:22:41,668 --> 00:22:44,585
and also, the camps
of those that were there.
403
00:22:44,668 --> 00:22:50,793
And what he found
under the ground was pottery
404
00:22:50,876 --> 00:22:56,126
dating from the 9th
to 10th century BC.
405
00:22:56,251 --> 00:22:59,210
And this was
the exact time frame
406
00:22:59,293 --> 00:23:03,043
of the reign of King Solomon.
407
00:23:03,126 --> 00:23:05,835
And so, for Nelson Glueck,
408
00:23:05,918 --> 00:23:12,293
he felt that he had discovered
evidence of Solomon's mines.
409
00:23:12,376 --> 00:23:14,793
SHATNER:
Nelson Glueck's discoveries
410
00:23:14,876 --> 00:23:18,668
made sensational headlines
around the world.
411
00:23:18,751 --> 00:23:21,460
However,
despite years of searching,
412
00:23:21,585 --> 00:23:25,626
Glueck was unable to locate
the fabled treasure,
413
00:23:25,710 --> 00:23:29,710
and some experts began to think
that Glueck was wrong
414
00:23:29,835 --> 00:23:34,210
to associate the Timna mines
with King Solomon.
415
00:23:34,293 --> 00:23:38,585
But then, in 2019,
416
00:23:38,668 --> 00:23:42,710
a team of archaeologists
led by Professor Erez Ben-Yosef
417
00:23:42,793 --> 00:23:46,751
of Tel Aviv University,
made a remarkable discovery.
418
00:23:46,835 --> 00:23:50,460
While excavating an ancient
mining worksite at Timna
419
00:23:50,543 --> 00:23:52,710
that is referred to
as Slaves' Hill,
420
00:23:52,835 --> 00:23:55,793
they found more evidence
that links this location
421
00:23:55,876 --> 00:23:57,710
to King Solomon.
422
00:24:36,293 --> 00:24:38,626
When you take
the totality of this,
423
00:24:38,710 --> 00:24:42,668
the Bible and what it says
about King Solomon,
424
00:24:42,751 --> 00:24:47,543
the presence of these copper
mines in the deserts of Israel,
425
00:24:47,626 --> 00:24:51,210
and put
all these elements together,
426
00:24:51,293 --> 00:24:52,626
for people of faith,
427
00:24:52,710 --> 00:24:54,793
it gives them
a greater assurance
428
00:24:54,876 --> 00:24:57,085
of the truthfulness
of the Bible,
429
00:24:57,168 --> 00:25:00,668
that it involves real people
430
00:25:00,668 --> 00:25:03,626
in real places in a real time.
431
00:25:05,710 --> 00:25:08,043
Is the treasure of King Solomon
432
00:25:08,126 --> 00:25:10,543
hidden somewhere
in the Timna copper mines?
433
00:25:10,626 --> 00:25:14,626
Experts continue to search
for clues deep underground
434
00:25:14,710 --> 00:25:18,460
in hopes of answering
that long-standing question.
435
00:25:18,585 --> 00:25:21,751
Not unlike another
subterranean mystery
436
00:25:21,835 --> 00:25:24,626
that has also persisted
for centuries.
437
00:25:24,710 --> 00:25:27,126
One that involves
the strange theory
438
00:25:27,251 --> 00:25:29,835
that there are vast open spaces
439
00:25:29,918 --> 00:25:33,126
located in the center
of the Earth.
440
00:25:40,626 --> 00:25:42,876
SHATNER:
Seismologist Dr. Paul Richards
441
00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,626
and his team
at Columbia University
442
00:25:45,626 --> 00:25:48,710
make a remarkable announcement.
443
00:25:48,793 --> 00:25:51,543
They discovered
that while a full rotation
444
00:25:51,543 --> 00:25:54,085
of the Earth's surface
takes 24 hours,
445
00:25:54,168 --> 00:25:57,335
the iron core
at the center of our planet
446
00:25:57,418 --> 00:26:00,293
actually spins faster.
447
00:26:01,835 --> 00:26:03,918
AGNEW:
They were measuring
448
00:26:04,001 --> 00:26:08,043
the rotation of the core
of the Earth
449
00:26:08,085 --> 00:26:10,918
in relation
to the surface of the Earth,
450
00:26:11,043 --> 00:26:14,293
and what they found was
that it's not constant.
451
00:26:14,418 --> 00:26:17,918
And it leads people to believe
452
00:26:18,001 --> 00:26:20,793
that there is a disconnection
between the two.
453
00:26:20,876 --> 00:26:23,293
Maybe it's not molten rock.
454
00:26:23,376 --> 00:26:25,168
It could be open air.
455
00:26:25,251 --> 00:26:27,835
So, when you put
all of that data together,
456
00:26:27,918 --> 00:26:29,668
it leaves open the idea,
457
00:26:29,751 --> 00:26:32,668
the hypothesis,
that Earth is hollow.
458
00:26:32,751 --> 00:26:35,585
Could there really be
vast hollow space
459
00:26:35,710 --> 00:26:37,585
beneath the Earth's surface?
460
00:26:37,710 --> 00:26:40,376
It sounds crazy.
461
00:26:40,460 --> 00:26:42,876
And yet, for thousands of years,
462
00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:46,001
the belief has persisted
that beneath our feet
463
00:26:46,085 --> 00:26:49,585
there are not just caves
and tunnels
464
00:26:49,710 --> 00:26:52,876
but an entire underground world.
465
00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:59,710
The idea of the Hollow Earth
is that we live on a shell
466
00:26:59,751 --> 00:27:04,543
and that inside the Earth
is a hollow cavity
467
00:27:04,626 --> 00:27:07,626
with its own atmosphere,
its own animals,
468
00:27:07,710 --> 00:27:10,751
and possibly,
its own inhabitants.
469
00:27:10,835 --> 00:27:13,043
AGNEW:
The concept of a Hollow Earth
470
00:27:13,126 --> 00:27:16,460
goes well back before
written word.
471
00:27:16,460 --> 00:27:18,918
We have pictograms,
472
00:27:19,001 --> 00:27:23,001
cave drawings,
things that describe
473
00:27:23,085 --> 00:27:25,251
either deities
coming out of the Earth
474
00:27:25,335 --> 00:27:29,876
or man trying to communicate
with deities in the Earth,
475
00:27:29,918 --> 00:27:33,335
and that's where the idea
of a Hollow Earth came from.
476
00:27:33,418 --> 00:27:37,376
SHATNER:
Of all the ancient tales
about Hollow Earth,
477
00:27:37,460 --> 00:27:39,668
perhaps the most intriguing
478
00:27:39,751 --> 00:27:44,085
is one that involves
the Garden of Eden.
479
00:27:44,168 --> 00:27:46,001
TZADOK:
There is an ancient legend
480
00:27:46,085 --> 00:27:50,001
that is recorded
from a very, very old text
481
00:27:50,085 --> 00:27:53,335
called the Sefer HaTemunah,
the "Book of the Image."
482
00:27:54,543 --> 00:27:56,710
The legend tells us
483
00:27:56,751 --> 00:28:01,460
that a cave called Machpelah
484
00:28:01,460 --> 00:28:05,168
is the doorway
to the Garden of Eden...
485
00:28:06,335 --> 00:28:09,626
...which exists in inner Earth.
486
00:28:09,710 --> 00:28:12,251
But here's
the interesting question:
487
00:28:12,376 --> 00:28:14,918
a garden in a cave?
488
00:28:15,001 --> 00:28:16,835
It doesn't work like that.
489
00:28:16,918 --> 00:28:22,085
Gardens have plant life
that grows, requires sun.
490
00:28:23,876 --> 00:28:26,960
But in inner Earth,
there's an inner sun.
491
00:28:27,043 --> 00:28:29,460
SHATNER:
Could Adam and Eve have lived
492
00:28:29,543 --> 00:28:33,126
in a lush paradise
deep underground?
493
00:28:33,210 --> 00:28:34,668
The incredible notion
that people
494
00:28:34,751 --> 00:28:37,043
could inhabit
subterranean spaces
495
00:28:37,126 --> 00:28:38,918
has been embraced
not just in ancient times
496
00:28:39,001 --> 00:28:42,668
but also, in the modern era.
497
00:28:42,751 --> 00:28:45,626
In fact, by the turn
of the 20th century,
498
00:28:45,751 --> 00:28:49,001
the fascination with
Hollow Earth was so strong
499
00:28:49,085 --> 00:28:52,085
that a new generation
of scientists and explorers
500
00:28:52,168 --> 00:28:55,126
set out to find proof
of the existence
501
00:28:55,210 --> 00:28:58,418
of a so-called "Inner Earth."
502
00:28:58,501 --> 00:29:01,543
Perhaps the most fascinating
of those expeditions
503
00:29:01,626 --> 00:29:03,918
was led by an American
Naval officer
504
00:29:04,043 --> 00:29:09,460
named Admiral Richard E. Byrd
in 1926.
505
00:29:09,543 --> 00:29:11,376
Admiral Richard Byrd
506
00:29:11,501 --> 00:29:16,710
was a famous American aviator
and explorer.
507
00:29:16,710 --> 00:29:21,501
And he claimed
that on one of the journeys
508
00:29:21,585 --> 00:29:24,001
that he made to the North Pole--
509
00:29:24,085 --> 00:29:27,460
in an aircraft-- he came across
510
00:29:27,543 --> 00:29:32,335
an environment down below
that was plush and green
511
00:29:32,418 --> 00:29:36,960
with animals, almost like a sort
of Garden of Eden, if you like.
512
00:29:37,043 --> 00:29:42,751
In other words, what was seen,
perhaps, by Admiral Byrd
513
00:29:42,835 --> 00:29:45,960
at the North Pole
was actually an entrance
514
00:29:46,043 --> 00:29:48,460
into a parallel world,
515
00:29:48,585 --> 00:29:50,710
a parallel existence
516
00:29:50,793 --> 00:29:53,710
that exists and coexists
with the Earth itself.
517
00:29:53,793 --> 00:29:57,126
SHATNER:
Is it possible that Admiral Byrd
518
00:29:57,210 --> 00:30:01,043
saw an entrance to Inner Earth
at the North Pole?
519
00:30:01,085 --> 00:30:03,793
Almost a century
after his alleged discovery,
520
00:30:03,876 --> 00:30:06,876
there's no way to know for sure.
521
00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:10,210
But modern science
is trying to solve
522
00:30:10,293 --> 00:30:14,376
this centuries-old mystery
by conducting seismic studies
523
00:30:14,501 --> 00:30:17,585
of the interior of the planet.
524
00:30:17,668 --> 00:30:21,293
One of the pieces of data
that was really earthshaking
525
00:30:21,376 --> 00:30:25,460
was when Washington University
published the discovery
526
00:30:25,585 --> 00:30:30,210
of another ocean underneath
the crust of the Atlantic Ocean.
527
00:30:30,251 --> 00:30:35,001
They could actually read
the waves crashing on a shore
528
00:30:35,085 --> 00:30:37,710
on the inside of the crust.
529
00:30:37,751 --> 00:30:40,210
That was really
quite remarkable.
530
00:30:40,251 --> 00:30:44,251
When I see reports like that,
it leads me to believe,
531
00:30:44,335 --> 00:30:46,085
at least,
that there's a possibility
532
00:30:46,168 --> 00:30:48,501
that we have a Hollow Earth.
533
00:30:49,793 --> 00:30:52,001
If we gather evidence to prove
534
00:30:52,085 --> 00:30:53,960
that our planet
is actually hollow,
535
00:30:54,043 --> 00:30:56,168
it could change everything.
536
00:30:56,168 --> 00:30:59,126
Maybe the ancients
were right all along.
537
00:31:01,168 --> 00:31:04,918
Does the Earth really have
enormous hollow expanses
538
00:31:04,918 --> 00:31:07,335
beneath its surface?
(chuckles)
539
00:31:07,418 --> 00:31:10,710
It's a wild thought to consider,
but one way or another,
540
00:31:10,835 --> 00:31:13,043
we may soon find out the answer.
541
00:31:13,126 --> 00:31:17,001
Because according to some,
the future of humanity lies
542
00:31:17,126 --> 00:31:18,876
not on the surface of the planet
543
00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:23,168
but rather deep underground.
544
00:31:29,376 --> 00:31:31,793
SHATNER: On the surface,
this remote town
545
00:31:31,876 --> 00:31:35,168
which is located
in a harsh sandstone desert,
546
00:31:35,251 --> 00:31:38,668
looks like
a normal rural community.
547
00:31:38,751 --> 00:31:40,460
But appearances
can be deceiving,
548
00:31:40,543 --> 00:31:42,043
because as it turns out,
549
00:31:42,126 --> 00:31:45,668
most of the town
is located underground.
550
00:31:48,251 --> 00:31:50,585
Beneath the surface
of Coober Pedy
551
00:31:50,668 --> 00:31:52,585
lies a subterranean world,
552
00:31:52,668 --> 00:31:56,168
complete with homes
that are known as "dugouts"
553
00:31:56,293 --> 00:32:00,626
and other living necessities.
554
00:32:00,751 --> 00:32:04,585
Coober Pedy is-is an incredible
town in the Australian Outback.
555
00:32:04,710 --> 00:32:08,376
You go down these ramps
into an underground space,
556
00:32:08,460 --> 00:32:11,793
and then, you start
seeing restaurants,
557
00:32:11,918 --> 00:32:14,293
hotels,
558
00:32:14,376 --> 00:32:16,376
people's houses,
559
00:32:16,501 --> 00:32:19,085
churches underground.
560
00:32:19,168 --> 00:32:25,168
All of this stuff excavated from
this soft but very firm rock.
561
00:32:25,251 --> 00:32:28,501
SHATNER:
What would possess people
562
00:32:28,585 --> 00:32:33,085
to live in such an unusual,
underground community?
563
00:32:34,376 --> 00:32:36,876
Well, the history
of subterranean living
564
00:32:36,918 --> 00:32:40,835
in Coober Pedy
dates back to 1915,
565
00:32:40,918 --> 00:32:44,501
when miners
first traveled to this area
566
00:32:44,585 --> 00:32:47,626
to dig for gold
and precious opals.
567
00:33:32,418 --> 00:33:35,376
GARRETT:
The name for Coober Pedy
comes from Aboriginal people
568
00:33:35,418 --> 00:33:40,001
that lived there when
the first explorers came out.
569
00:33:40,085 --> 00:33:42,043
Coober Pedy means
"white man in a hole."
570
00:33:42,126 --> 00:33:44,543
(laughs)
'Cause they saw these people
571
00:33:44,585 --> 00:33:47,335
digging into these things
and disappearing into the Earth.
572
00:33:47,418 --> 00:33:48,751
And of course,
were confounded, like,
573
00:33:48,876 --> 00:33:50,126
"Why do you keep going in there?
574
00:33:50,251 --> 00:33:52,043
What do you want in this place?"
575
00:33:52,126 --> 00:33:53,418
(machinery whirring)
576
00:34:34,085 --> 00:34:35,626
SHATNER:
Today, Coober Pedy
is more famous
577
00:34:35,710 --> 00:34:38,793
for being an alternative
lifestyle community
578
00:34:38,876 --> 00:34:41,376
than it is for opal mining.
579
00:34:41,460 --> 00:34:44,043
According to recent estimates,
580
00:34:44,126 --> 00:34:47,710
there are 1,000
individual dugouts carved
581
00:34:47,793 --> 00:34:50,085
into the rock at Coober Pedy,
582
00:34:50,210 --> 00:34:52,793
and approximately 2,500 people
583
00:34:52,918 --> 00:34:55,751
live and work here year-round.
584
00:35:14,418 --> 00:35:18,335
SHATNER:
But do residents
of this unorthodox community
585
00:35:18,418 --> 00:35:21,043
enjoy their
subterranean existence?
586
00:35:21,168 --> 00:35:23,376
Well, if you ask the people
of Coober Pedy,
587
00:35:23,501 --> 00:35:28,543
they'll tell you they wouldn't
want to live any other way.
588
00:35:54,543 --> 00:35:56,126
SHATNER:
While the story of Coober Pedy
589
00:35:56,210 --> 00:35:58,293
and its residents
is extraordinary,
590
00:35:58,376 --> 00:36:00,460
some people believe
that underground living
591
00:36:00,585 --> 00:36:04,751
is not a matter
of lifestyle preference
592
00:36:04,876 --> 00:36:09,335
but rather, survival.
593
00:36:09,418 --> 00:36:11,210
In recent years,
an increasing number
594
00:36:11,293 --> 00:36:14,460
of so-called "doomsday bunkers"
have been built,
595
00:36:14,543 --> 00:36:16,460
which are designed
to protect residents
596
00:36:16,543 --> 00:36:19,376
in the event of a catastrophe.
597
00:36:19,501 --> 00:36:23,168
One of the most prominent
of these subterranean shelters
598
00:36:23,251 --> 00:36:25,210
is Vivos xPoint,
599
00:36:25,251 --> 00:36:29,668
which is located
in South Dakota.
600
00:36:29,793 --> 00:36:34,043
Vivos xPoint is the largest
survival community on Earth.
601
00:36:34,126 --> 00:36:36,835
It was originally
a government facility
602
00:36:36,918 --> 00:36:41,251
that was in charge
of munitions for World War II.
603
00:36:41,335 --> 00:36:45,210
We have 575 bunkers
604
00:36:45,293 --> 00:36:48,543
spread out across 7,000 acres,
605
00:36:48,626 --> 00:36:50,335
or about nine square miles,
606
00:36:50,418 --> 00:36:52,460
which is about half the size
of Manhattan,
607
00:36:52,543 --> 00:36:57,960
that are now being used for
underground living and survival
608
00:36:58,043 --> 00:37:03,043
in case of the worst possible
events we might encounter.
609
00:37:03,126 --> 00:37:04,543
People who live out there,
610
00:37:04,585 --> 00:37:06,376
they're regular people
like you and I.
611
00:37:06,460 --> 00:37:09,501
And they come from
all different walks of life.
612
00:37:09,585 --> 00:37:12,001
I think it always pays
to be prepared
613
00:37:12,085 --> 00:37:14,376
to survive whatever may come.
614
00:37:15,376 --> 00:37:16,710
GARRETT:
If we think about
615
00:37:16,793 --> 00:37:18,751
bunkers that are being built
around the world,
616
00:37:18,835 --> 00:37:20,126
all of these spaces
are connected
617
00:37:20,210 --> 00:37:21,835
by a fundamental belief
618
00:37:21,918 --> 00:37:24,876
that the underground
is a space of protection.
619
00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:28,335
So it completely makes sense,
620
00:37:28,418 --> 00:37:33,126
because humanity has always
sought the underground
621
00:37:33,251 --> 00:37:36,168
to hide
from a hostile environment.
622
00:37:36,293 --> 00:37:38,376
In the future,
will millions of people
623
00:37:38,460 --> 00:37:42,251
actually live
a subterranean existence?
624
00:37:42,376 --> 00:37:44,126
It may seem unlikely,
625
00:37:44,251 --> 00:37:46,543
but the truth is
that humanity's fate
626
00:37:46,626 --> 00:37:50,710
may indeed rely
on what's deep underground.
627
00:37:50,793 --> 00:37:54,793
For instance, there are places
where people have drilled
628
00:37:54,876 --> 00:37:57,835
two and a half miles
beneath the surface of the Earth
629
00:37:57,918 --> 00:38:00,585
in search of a rare
and precious metal
630
00:38:00,710 --> 00:38:03,210
that is critical
to our survival.
631
00:38:03,251 --> 00:38:05,543
Gold.
632
00:38:11,418 --> 00:38:15,626
SHATNER:
In this nation located between
South Africa and Mozambique,
633
00:38:15,710 --> 00:38:18,918
stands an ancient,
stepped mountain canyon
634
00:38:19,001 --> 00:38:21,210
known as Bomvu Ridge.
635
00:38:21,293 --> 00:38:25,543
The Bomvu Ridge is significant
because, according to experts,
636
00:38:25,626 --> 00:38:30,710
it is the site
of the oldest mine in history.
637
00:38:30,793 --> 00:38:33,293
Radiocarbon dating, uh,
shows evidence
638
00:38:33,376 --> 00:38:38,043
that this place was mined
40, 50,000 years ago.
639
00:38:38,168 --> 00:38:41,293
And 50,000 years later,
640
00:38:41,418 --> 00:38:44,376
the place is still
producing iron today.
641
00:38:44,501 --> 00:38:46,376
So, the history
of the human species,
642
00:38:46,501 --> 00:38:48,876
from the Stone Age
to the digital age,
643
00:38:48,918 --> 00:38:53,376
has this relationship
to going after the metals
644
00:38:53,501 --> 00:38:56,710
that we need
at that particular place.
645
00:38:56,793 --> 00:39:01,043
SHATNER:
It's astonishing to think that,
from the humble beginnings
646
00:39:01,126 --> 00:39:03,668
of the first mine
at Bomvu Ridge,
647
00:39:03,751 --> 00:39:07,001
there are now more than
6,000 active mines
648
00:39:07,085 --> 00:39:09,668
located all over the world.
649
00:39:09,751 --> 00:39:13,918
Some of today's mines extend
incredibly deep into the Earth,
650
00:39:14,043 --> 00:39:18,460
such as the Mponeng gold mine
in South Africa,
651
00:39:18,543 --> 00:39:20,251
which reaches an astonishing
652
00:39:20,251 --> 00:39:23,043
two and a half miles
underground.
653
00:39:25,585 --> 00:39:28,543
Every year, more than
3.2 billion tons of iron,
654
00:39:28,668 --> 00:39:32,460
gold, silver, platinum
and other precious metals
655
00:39:32,543 --> 00:39:35,293
are extracted from our planet.
656
00:39:35,376 --> 00:39:38,293
Today, we rely on mining
perhaps even more
657
00:39:38,376 --> 00:39:39,960
than our ancestors did,
658
00:39:40,043 --> 00:39:44,418
because modern electronics
depend on what are referred to
659
00:39:44,501 --> 00:39:46,585
as rare earth elements.
660
00:39:46,585 --> 00:39:48,293
KLINGER:
The term "rare earths"
661
00:39:48,376 --> 00:39:51,751
refers to 17 chemically
similar elements
662
00:39:51,835 --> 00:39:55,710
that have fantastic magnetic
and conductive properties.
663
00:39:55,793 --> 00:39:58,668
They are called things
like europium,
664
00:39:58,751 --> 00:40:01,543
lanthanum, praseodymium, cerium,
665
00:40:01,626 --> 00:40:06,043
and together they are
absolutely essential
666
00:40:06,126 --> 00:40:09,043
for life as we know it today.
667
00:40:09,043 --> 00:40:12,710
We need these elements
for medical technologies,
668
00:40:12,751 --> 00:40:15,710
communications,
computer hardware.
669
00:40:15,793 --> 00:40:18,543
But eventually,
rare earth elements
670
00:40:18,668 --> 00:40:20,668
are going to peter out.
671
00:40:20,751 --> 00:40:23,710
And the real question is,
672
00:40:23,835 --> 00:40:26,793
how deep will we go
into the Earth
673
00:40:26,876 --> 00:40:28,793
to get the elements
that we need?
674
00:40:28,918 --> 00:40:30,585
I think the simple answer
to that is we will go
675
00:40:30,668 --> 00:40:33,210
as far as our technologies
allow us to go.
676
00:40:33,251 --> 00:40:37,876
SHATNER:
Will the Earth's supply of
rare metals eventually run out?
677
00:40:38,001 --> 00:40:39,793
It appears the only way
to find out
678
00:40:39,918 --> 00:40:41,876
is to keep digging
into our planet,
679
00:40:42,001 --> 00:40:45,043
in search of both
essential resources
680
00:40:45,126 --> 00:40:48,668
and also answers
681
00:40:48,751 --> 00:40:52,751
to the many mysteries
that lie beneath our feet.
682
00:40:52,835 --> 00:40:55,501
GARNERO:
As humans, we share
683
00:40:55,585 --> 00:40:57,710
this curiosity,
684
00:40:57,751 --> 00:41:01,043
this desire to understand
what's beneath our feet.
685
00:41:01,168 --> 00:41:03,210
And we want to explore.
686
00:41:03,251 --> 00:41:05,418
We want to follow
the breadcrumbs
687
00:41:05,501 --> 00:41:08,668
of this mystery
of what is down there.
688
00:41:08,751 --> 00:41:11,876
COLLINS:
Geophysical research
689
00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:15,460
is revealing
cave systems, caverns,
690
00:41:15,543 --> 00:41:18,501
and obviously, whole cities
691
00:41:18,585 --> 00:41:21,710
that were never
known about in the past.
692
00:41:21,793 --> 00:41:25,085
And we are going to discover
693
00:41:25,168 --> 00:41:29,710
incredible things beneath
the Earth in the future
694
00:41:29,793 --> 00:41:34,876
that we could not even have
imagined existing before.
695
00:41:34,918 --> 00:41:38,543
There is something that compels
humanity to explore underground,
696
00:41:38,585 --> 00:41:40,585
whether we're looking
for precious metals
697
00:41:40,668 --> 00:41:42,626
or building new living spaces
698
00:41:42,751 --> 00:41:47,335
or simply satisfying our desire
to descend into the unknown.
699
00:41:47,418 --> 00:41:49,918
And just like
our ancestors before us,
700
00:41:50,043 --> 00:41:54,710
we'll keep digging in search
of all the subterranean secrets
701
00:41:54,751 --> 00:41:58,043
held by our planet that,
for now, remain...
702
00:41:59,251 --> 00:42:00,626
...unexplained.
703
00:42:00,710 --> 00:42:02,501
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