Lemuria facts for kids
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Lemuria was a legendary continent. People once thought it existed in the Indian Ocean. Zoologist Philip Sclater first suggested this idea in 1864. He wanted to explain why lemur fossils were found in Madagascar and India, but not in Africa.
Later, some spiritual groups used the idea of Lemuria in their beliefs. They claimed it was the homeland of early human ancestors. However, modern science, especially the discovery of plate tectonics, showed that Lemuria never existed as a sunken continent.
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What Was Lemuria?
Lemuria was imagined as a large landmass. It was thought to connect different parts of the world. Scientists in the 1800s used this idea to solve puzzles about where animals lived. They called these ideas "land bridges." These bridges were supposed to have sunk into the ocean.
Why Scientists Thought Lemuria Existed
In 1864, a zoologist named Philip Sclater wrote about animals in Madagascar. He was puzzled by lemurs. Lemurs are small, furry primates. Their fossils were found in Madagascar and India. But they were not found in nearby Africa or the Middle East. Sclater thought a sunken continent could explain this. He named this missing land "Lemuria." He believed it once connected Madagascar and India.
Sclater's idea was not unique. Other scientists also proposed land bridges. They wanted to understand how species spread across the Earth. This was especially true after Charles Darwin's ideas about evolution became popular. Before we understood continental drift, these sunken landmasses seemed like good answers.
How Plate Tectonics Disproved Lemuria
The idea of Lemuria disappeared from science in the 1960s. This happened when scientists accepted the theory of plate tectonics. This theory explains how Earth's outer layer is made of large plates. These plates are always moving.
Scientists now know that Madagascar and India were once connected. They were part of a giant supercontinent called Gondwana. Millions of years ago, India broke away from Gondwana. It slowly drifted to its current location. Madagascar also moved. This movement of continents explains why similar animals and rocks are found in these places. It means there was no need for a sunken continent like Lemuria. The landmasses simply moved apart.
Lemuria in Myths and Stories
Even though science disproved Lemuria, the idea lived on. It became popular in spiritual and mystical beliefs. These ideas often involve "lost lands." People believed these lands held ancient knowledge.
Theosophy and Lost Continents
In the late 1800s, Helena Blavatsky used Lemuria in her spiritual teachings called Theosophy. She claimed Lemuria was the home of early human ancestors. She called these beings "Lemurians." Her writings made the myth of Lemuria very popular.
Later, a writer named James Churchward wrote many books about a lost continent. He called it "Mu." He said it was in the Pacific Ocean. Churchward's books helped spread the idea of lost continents even further.
Lemuria and Mount Shasta
In 1894, a book called A Dweller on Two Planets was published. It claimed that survivors from Lemuria lived in tunnels. These tunnels were said to be under Mount Shasta in California. This hidden city was called Telos. People imagined it as a beautiful place with jeweled walls.
Later, other writers and spiritual groups continued this story. They believed Mount Shasta was a special place for Lemurians. Today, some spiritual groups still visit Mount Shasta. They hold festivals and events there. They believe it is a place of spiritual importance.
The Legend of Kumari Kandam
In Tamil literature, there is a legend about a sunken landmass. It is called Kumari Kandam. Some Tamil writers have connected this legend to Lemuria. They believe Kumari Kandam was a very old civilization. They even suggest it was the "cradle of human civilization." This legend describes a large land that was swallowed by the ocean.
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