Lost Cities Beneath Waves

Rising seas and shifting ground have swallowed entire settlements. The ancient Egyptian city of Heracleion lay hidden beneath the waters near Alexandria for over a thousand years until divers found its temples, statues, and ships in 2000.

Off Japan, the Yonaguni Monument shows enormous stone terraces that some researchers believe date back around 10,000 years. Whether it is natural or human-made is still fiercely debated.

The Mediterranean holds dozens of submerged ports. Pavlopetri off southern Greece is the oldest known underwater town, dating to about 5,000 years ago. Its streets and tombs are still visible, a reminder that coastlines are never permanent.