Human history is filled with legends of cataclysmic floods, from the Epic of Gilgamesh to the story of Noah’s Ark. These ancient accounts are remarkable in their consistency and detail, despite emerging independently in cultures around the world. While often interpreted as symbolic or exaggerated records of local flood events, recent scientific research into vast reservoirs of water deep within the Earth offers a compelling geological explanation that may support these narratives.
The Earth’s Hidden Oceans
Most of us think of Earth’s water as being entirely in oceans, rivers, lakes, and glaciers on the surface. However, discoveries in recent decades have revealed that the Earth contains immense amounts of water deep underground, stored within the mantle in minerals like ringwoodite and wadsleyite. These minerals can trap hydrogen and oxygen in a crystalline structure, holding significant amounts of water far below the Earth’s surface.
The total amount of water in this hidden reservoir is astonishing, with estimates suggesting that the Earth’s mantle may hold between two to three times the volume of water found in all the surface oceans combined. This water is not liquid but bound within mineral structures, leading scientists to refer to these deep reservoirs as Earth’s “hidden oceans.”
The presence of water beneath the Earth’s surface aligns intriguingly with ancient flood myths, which often describe water surging up from below as well as from above. For example, in Genesis, it’s written that “all the fountains of the great deep burst forth” alongside heavy rain. Similarly, in the Book of Enoch, there are references to water sources lying deep within the Earth, ready to fulfill a divine promise to transform the dry lands.
This hidden water theory ties intriguingly to the prophecy that water may return to the dry lands of Northern Africa, including the Sahara. Geological shifts could theoretically release bound water, perhaps bringing water back to these arid regions over time, aligning with these ancient accounts.
While mantle water is bound within minerals, certain geological conditions can release it. During subduction, for example, minerals containing water are exposed to extreme pressure and temperature, freeing water that can then migrate upwards. Periods of intense tectonic activity could, therefore, trigger the release of enough water to cause significant flooding, contributing to the phenomenon described in flood myths.
Today’s water cycle moves surface waters between oceans, the atmosphere, and back. Yet, a “hidden” water cycle may also exist in which water moves between the surface and mantle. This deep water cycle could provide context for ancient myths that represent memories of dramatic shifts in water availability, as seen in the mythologies of Northern African and Middle Eastern civilizations.
Our planet’s capacity to store water deep beneath its surface adds an intriguing dimension to the interpretation of ancient flood myths and prophecies. This hidden water reservoir could suggest a scientifically plausible basis for these myths worldwide, including the potential for fulfilling ancient prophecies of water returning to barren lands.