50,000 Year Old Underwater Primeval Forest Gulf of Mexico

11-07-13. Imagine swimming in an underwater primeval forest that nature has preserved for over 50,000 years.  Now you can if you are willing to dive 60 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, 10 miles offshore of Alabama.

Experts believe 2005’s Hurricane Katrina unveiled what had been buried under ocean sediment for centuries.  And it took some curious fishermen to discover it by questioning why there so many fishing congregating in one area.

The discovery was made in 2012 but only recently became public knowledge.  The find was confirmed when a dive team and experts from Louisiana State University took the 60 foot plunge and found a primeval cypress forest nearly one mile wide.  The thriving eco system has stood devoid of oxygen for over 12,000 years.  Some of the tree stumps found are half-a-mile in diameter.  Scientists from Louisiana State tested some of the samples brought up by divers that proved to be 52,000 years old.  That means these trees were probably thriving during an period earlier than the Ice Age.  Incredibly researchers say the inside of the tree appears to still be hard... (Video)  HispanicallySpeakingNews.com

Actualización 12-07-13. Hallan los restos de un bosque prehistórico en el fondo del golfo de México
Un equipo de buzos ha descubierto los restos de un bosque primigenio en el fondo del golfo de México, cerca de la costa del estado estadounidense de Alabama.

De acuerdo con el portal LiveScience, una gran cantidad de cipreses de los pantanos (Taxodium distichum) permanecieron enterrados bajo varios sedimentos marinos durante más de 50.000 años, hasta que esta capa fue destruida por el huracán Katrina...