7 Hidden Underground Cities That Shocked Scientists

Today, I'll take you around the world to explore some of Earth's hidden cities that will blow your mind.

Helike

I'm gonna start with Helike aka the real-life Atlantis. Helike is a city that once held great mythical power and was lost to the power of water and the gods will. The city discovered in the late 1980s was lost in 373 BC after the entirety of Helike was lost in hours due to natural forces. However, Greek mythology tells a different story. It is believed that the residents of Helike had driven the Lonian tribe out of their city.

The Lonian tribe just so happened to be extremely dedicated worshippers of Poseidon, god of the sea. Furious with the tribe's departure, Poseidon dragged the entire city underwater in just one night.

While this was a widely accepted reason for the city's disappearance for many years, the team who discovered the site determined that an earthquake had liquefied the area, causing the ground to release water that consumed the entire city.

Shi Cheng, aka The Lion City

Next, we have Shi Cheng, aka the Lion City in China. This city is located beneath the Chengdu Lake and the Zhejiang Province. The city dates back over 1,300 years and was erected during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

It was submerged in 1959 to make way for a hydroelectric dam. The Lion City was intentionally flooded. It has remained submerged for decades, hidden beneath the lake's waters, but it's been incredibly well-preserved.

Sigiriya

Next, we have the city of Sigiriya, a palace built in the 5th century AD by King Kashyapa on top of a boulder that was 200 meters tall to enter required a person to walk up a large staircase and through the jaws of a lion. While the palace was grand, it was also short-lived because not long after the construction of the city was complete, Kasapa's brother Moggallana attacked Sigiriya.

Kashyapa's army deserted him, and his wife slept from the top of the boulder to their deaths. Siguria was conquered by Moggallana and his army and left behind as a monument to their success. In the 1800s, European archaeologists investigating the story decided to go out looking for the forgotten castle and in 1831 they found it.

And there was a gigantic lion guarding it, only it was made of brick and plaster. On the inside of the castle, archaeologists found incredible archaeological structures for their time. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declares the city of Sigiriya the eighth wonder of the world.

Peru, The Lost City of Machu Picchu

Next, we head to Peru, the lost city of Machu Picchu, which was constructed around 1450 and then abandoned around 1572. It was a turbulent time with the Spanish invasion and this is often believed to be the main reason the residents were forced to relocate. In 1911 the site was rediscovered and it's been a tourist attraction ever since. The ancient city sits in the Andes mountains and it's Stunning in pictures.

Leptis Magna

Next, is Leptis Magna, the ancient Roman city lost in the 6th century AD after the Arabian invasion. The city was built in the 7th century BC and is considered one of the most important parts of the Roman Empire during the rule of Septimius Severus.

After the invasion, however, the city was left abandoned and in ruins, and eventually, one of the most important pieces of Roman history was lost, buried deep underneath the drifting sands. In the 1920s, it was found again, the ruins almost perfectly preserved thanks to the protection of the sands.

Port Royal

Next, we have what was once a pirate town. Port Royal is a historic town on the southeastern coast of Jamaica. The Spaniards founded it in 1518. It's one of the oldest European settlements in the Americas. The town was a major hub for shipping and trade during the 17th century and became a notorious hotspot for pirates and privateers. It was a base for some of the most famous pirates at the time like Henry Morgan.

The town's wealth and reputation grew because of piracy, smuggling, and trade making it a prosperous but somewhat lawless place. But the pirate party ended in 1692 when a massive earthquake struck Port Royal causing a lot of the town to sink into the sea. The earthquake along with hurricanes and fires led to the decline of the town but some of the buildings still stand today and what remains of Port Royal is now a tourist destination.

Heracleion

And finally, we have Heracleion, yet another sunken city. This time an ancient Egyptian city was mentioned countless times through Greek mythology, most notably as the city where Heracles, son of Zeus, took his first steps into Africa. The city, which was during its peak one of Egypt's most important ports, was lost for thousands of years, until the early 2000s when divers came across its ruins while exploring off the coast of Egypt.

At first, they came across a piece of an ancient statue, and then full statues, and then jewels, and then the ruins of an ancient Egyptian temple. Researchers discovered that many areas of the city were still intact, and they transcribed hieroglyphics found in the submerged city believed to have been lost after an earthquake and subsequent tsunami took it all out.

Comment below on which hidden city you find fascinating :)