Yonaguni monument facts for kids
The Yonaguni Monument is a huge group of rocks found underwater. It is located near the southern coast of Japan. Local divers first discovered these amazing rocks in the 1980s. The monument looks like it has stairs and flat surfaces with sharp corners.
Many scientists think these rock shapes were made by nature over a very long time. However, some people, like Masaaki Kimura, who is a professor of earthquakes at the University of the Ryukyus, believe it was built or carved by humans. They think it might be 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
The main part of the monument is a large rectangular shape. It is about 150 meters (490 feet) long and 40 meters (130 feet) wide. It stands about 27 meters (90 feet) tall. The very top of this structure is about 5 meters (16 feet) below the ocean surface. Most of its top looks like a series of flat steps and terraces. Many of these steps are rectangular, and their sides are very steep.
What Makes It Special?
The Yonaguni Monument has several unique features that make it stand out. These parts are often discussed when people wonder if it's natural or man-made.
Interesting Features of the Monument
- Two tall pillars: There are two pillars close together that almost reach the water's surface. They stop about 2.4 meters (8 feet) below it.
- The Loop Road: This is a wide ledge, about 5 meters (16 feet) across. It goes around the bottom of the main rock formation on three sides.
- The Totem: This is a stone column that stands about 7 meters (23 feet) tall.
- The Dividing Wall: This is a straight wall, about 10 meters (33 feet) long.
- The Gosintai: This is a single large rock that sits on a low, flat platform.
- The Turtle: This is a low platform shaped like a star.
- The Triangle Pool: This is a triangular dip in the rock. It has two large holes at its edges.
- The Stage: This rock formation is shaped like the letter "L".
See also
In Spanish: Estructuras de Yonaguni para niños
