An expedition to a deep-sea ridge, just north of the Hawaiian Islands, revealed a surprise back in 2022: an ancient dried-up lake bed paved with what appears to be a yellow brick road.

The exploration vessel Nautilus discovered the eerie scene while surveying the Liliʻuokalani ridge in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM).

PMNM is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world, larger than all the national parks in the United States combined, and we've only explored about 3 percent of its seafloor .

Researchers at the Ocean Exploration Trust are pushing the frontiers of this wilderness , which lies more than 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) below the waves, and the best part is, anyone can watch the exploration.

A highlight reel of the expedition's footage publ

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