Satellite Images Unveil Eerie Secrets of Ghostly Metropolis in the Pacific Ocean

Researchers were stunned to discover a city of mysterious canals, stone structures, and ruins on the remote island of Pohnpei, in the middle of a lagoon. According to research , Nan Madol, also known as the "Venice of the Pacific," dates back to around 1180.

Mark McCoy, an associate professor at Southern Methodist University in Texas, told Fox News last year, "It seemed that Nan Madol represented a first in Pacific Island history. The tomb of the first chiefs of Pohnpei was a century older than similar monumental burials of leaders on other islands." He added, "In its prime, Nan Madol was a capital. It was the seat of political power, the center of the most important religious rituals, and where the former chiefs of the island were laid to rest."

Satellite images revealed 97 geometric shapes along the coastline, adding to the site's eerie feeling. Knewz.com noted that while the ruins were made of heavy stones and columns, their purpose remained unknown. There were no carvings or artwork on the walls and platforms surrounding the city. Legends said that the Saudeleur people had ruled the area for over a thousand years and were sometimes harsh.

In a clip per Newsweek , Karen Bellinger explained: "As amazing as this site appeared from satellite imagery, seeing it up close was even more astounding. Some walls were 25 feet tall and 17 feet thick." The city's isolated location—2,500 miles from Los Angeles and 1,600 miles from Australia—added to its eerie mystery.

McCoy shared with Fox News , "The main finding was the discovery of strong archaeological evidence of the rise of the first chiefs to rule the island. This was described in Pohnpei’s oral histories, and with the results in our new paper, it could be compared to other islands in the Pacific and societies around the world."

Nan Madol consisted of 92 artificial islands spread over 200 acres along Pohnpei’s mangrove-covered shore. The city was believed to have been built by the Saudeleurs, descendants of two brothers who founded a sea-worshipping religious community in the 6th century. They transported long black lava rock columns, naturally shaped as pentagons or hexagons, from the other side of the island. These columns were used to build walls and platforms, with coral filling in the gaps, where traditional thatched structures were placed for living.

Rufino Mauricio, Pohnpei’s only archaeologist, told the Smithsonian , "We didn’t know how they brought the columns here or how they lifted them to build the walls. Most Pohnpeians were content to believe they used magic to make them fly." The Smithsonian Museum claimed that Nan Madol's construction involved moving 750,000 tonnes of black rock, with 1,850 tonnes being moved each year.

Mauricio continued, "Not bad for people who had no pulleys, no levers, and no metal. We needed to clear out some of the islands to appreciate the extraordinary effort that went into this construction."