Experts still don’t know how the 100 artificial islands were constructed a millennium ago.
The ancient complex of Nan Madol on the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia has fascinated visitors for centuries. Now, thanks to satellite technology, researchers have captured the ruins from a perspective that’s rarely seen.
As Yahoo 7 reports, the new aerial footage debuted on an episode of the Science Channel series What on Earth? In the recent installment, experts discussed Nan Madol, a chain of intricate, human-made islands that is sometimes called the “Venice of the Pacific” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name Nan Madol means “spaces between,” a reference to the network of canals connecting the ruins.
The 100-odd blocky stone structures were built atop coral reefs in a lagoon off a remote island in the western Pacific Ocean.