Mind-blowing: 22-Million-Year-Old Lost Forest Discovered in Panama Canal | All You Need to Know

New Delhi: Unveiling a mesmerising chapter of Earth's history, scientists have stumbled upon a lost forest in Panama Canal, dating back around 22 million years. This extraordinary discovery, me by researchers from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Coloro Island, offers a unique insight into a bygone era that vanished due to volcanic eruptions.  This discovery not only offers a glimpse into a prehistoric ecosystem but also unravels intricate history of Earth, showcasing how geological forces and catastrophic events shaped planet's narrative.

vast mangrove forest on Barro Coloro Island stands as a testament to Miocene Epoch, approximately 23 million years ago, when collision of South American and Caribbean plates sculpted landscape of present-day Panama and Central America. Barro Coloro Island emerged as a result of this geological transformation, transitioning from a mound to a hill and ultimately forming an island.

Dotted with towering trees reaching heights of up to 130 feet, island's lush forest captivates with its preserved ancient charm. scientific team, delving into ir discovery, uneard 121 preserved pieces of wood in island's creek, shedding light on unique ecological system that once thrived.

Sediment samples from Barro Coloro Island became valuable resources for scientists, revealing an ideal habitat for ancient mangrove species. island's conditions, where fresh and sea water mixed, allowed for flourishing of mangrove forests during Miocene epoch when atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations surpassed modern levels.

researchers named this ancient mangrove species Sonneratioxylon barrocoloroensis, with genus Sonneratioxylon honoring an existing group of species and island's name indicating its origin. Despite having distant relatives in modern Souast Asia, absence of or tree fossils near island suggests challenges faced by different species in surviving re. unique preservation of fossils on Barro Coloro Island is attributed to its silica-rich waters and fast currents, creating a concrete-like cover that prevented decomposition.