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In the western Pacific Ocean, there is a mysterious and mesmerizing unsolved puzzle: the remains of the ancient city of Nan Madol. Situated on the eastern coast of Pohnpei, a Micronesian island, this once-magnificent prehistoric city consists of approximately 100 man-made stone islands with intricate shapes. Strangely, the city is placed on top of a coral reef.
The origins of Nan Madol remain unclear, as does the reason for constructing a city so remote from sources of food and water. Nevertheless, the ruins are filled with fascinating tales and supernatural phenomena. Click through the gallery to take a virtual tour of Nan Madol and be transported back in time.
The remains are made up of 92 man-made islands constructed on coral reefs and connected by canals, earning the nickname "Venice of the Pacific."
"Nan Madol" translates to "the space in between," alluding to the canals, while also acknowledging the city's historical significance and reputation for paranormal activity.
What could motivate the construction of a city in the ocean, situated far away from any other known society?
The construction is an engineering marvel, comprising massive basalt slabs, created without the help of any of the tools we have today.
The colossal basalt walls reach heights of around 25 ft (7.6 m) and are 17 ft (5 m) thick in certain areas.
According to carbon dating, certain structures are approximately 900 years old, while the islets themselves can be traced back to the 8th and 9th centuries CE.
According to Atlas Obscura, there is evidence of human activity dating back to the first or second century BCE. Limited information is available about the ancient civilization that resided in the region.
According to reports, the basalt stones originated from a volcanic plug on the other side of Pohnpei. Magma had solidified within the vent of an active volcano there.
Archeologists today are unable to comprehend the means by which the immense stones were relocated and stacked on Pohnpei island, given the limited technological resources of that era.
According to Oddity, constructing the megalithic structures would have demanded a comparable level of effort as the Egyptian pyramids, considering the rocks' estimated weight of 750,000 metric tons.
Experts have proposed that rafts might have been employed to ferry the massive rocks to the reef, although there remain no explanations as to how they were initially transported from distant quarries or how they were transformed into those awe-inspiring formations.
Why would someone opt for a remote location on a coral reef to transport all those rocks to, far away from civilization?
The 92 islets are all similar in size and geometric shape, but no one knows why they are there or why they were built this way.
According to Pohnpeian legend, the city was built by Olisihpa and Olosohpa, twin sorcerer brothers.
The brothers sought a location to construct an altar for worshipping Nahnisohn Sahpw, the deity of farming, an activity that is ironically impossible due to the islands' unfavorable conditions.
According to legend, the brothers utilized rituals and enlisted the aid of a flying dragon to raise the enormous basalt and construct the islets of Nan Madol.
Olosohpa later became the inaugural Saudeleur, initiating a dynasty that governed Nan Madol until approximately 1628.
According to reports, the belief among many Pohnpeians remains that the ancient city was constructed through sorcery, as there is no other known explanation for how a massive 750,000 metric tons of basalt was transported.
This place, regardless of its origin, is known as a holy location established by the Saudeleur dynasty. This dynasty was home to chiefs, priests, and ordinary people who served them. The image depicts the tomb of the Saudeleur dynasty.
The Saudeleur rulers required local chieftains to live in Nan Madol to oversee their activities and retain authority.
According to Atlas Obscura, numerous islets were designated for specific purposes like residential areas, food preparation, coconut oil production, and canoe construction.
The population of Nan Madol was believed to be over 1,000, while Pohnpei had around 25,000 people in total.
The Pohnpeians, who were under subjugation, had to supply the city with food and water because it was impossible to cultivate crops or gather fresh water on the reef.
This issue could be the reason why this remarkable city was left behind.
There are many tales of how the Saudeleur reign ended, but all of them attribute it to the legendary warrior Isokelekel in the 15th century, who, it’s said, implemented a new system of tribal chiefdom.
The mystery of the ancient city’s origins and purpose has naturally inspired quite a few legends involving spirits and ghosts. Some are scared to visit, while others go precisely for the spookiness!
Howard Phillips Lovecraft, a well-known American writer, drew inspiration from Nan Madol for his fictional sunken city of R'lyeh in his Cthulhu mythos.
In his short story, he references the actual island of Pohnpei and incorporates the Nan Madol mythology into his portrayal of "The nightmare corpse-city of R’lyeh" which was "built in measureless eons behind history."
Nan Madol became part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2016.
The ruins face multiple threats such as climate change, rising sea levels, encroaching mangroves, and unpredictable Pacific weather. These factors have led to its inclusion on the World Heritage in Danger List.
See also: The world's largest artificial islands
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Discover the "Venice of the Pacific" and its unique charm
TRAVEL Curiosity
In the western Pacific Ocean, there is a mysterious and mesmerizing unsolved puzzle: the remains of the ancient city of Nan Madol. Situated on the eastern coast of Pohnpei, a Micronesian island, this once-magnificent prehistoric city consists of approximately 100 man-made stone islands with intricate shapes. Strangely, the city is placed on top of a coral reef.
The origins of Nan Madol remain unclear, as does the reason for constructing a city so remote from sources of food and water. Nevertheless, the ruins are filled with fascinating tales and supernatural phenomena. Click through the gallery to take a virtual tour of Nan Madol and be transported back in time.