A team of oceanographers, led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, has discovered a colossal underwater mountain in the Pacific Ocean, about 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) off the coast of Chile. Standing at an impressive 1.9 miles (3,109 meters) tall, the newly mapped seamount surpasses the height of Mount Olympus in Greece and is nearly four times the height of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

The discovery was made during a 28-day expedition aboard the R/V Falkor (too) research vessel. Using advanced sonar technology, researchers mapped the seafloor by measuring the time it took for sound waves to bounce back from the seabed, revealing the mountain’s towering presence. This expedition highlights the vastness of the unexplored ocean, as only 26% of the seafloor has been mapped to such high resolution, despite covering 71% of Earth’s surface.

The seamount is part of a vibrant underwater mountain range rich in marine biodiversity, including sponge gardens, ancient corals, and rare species. During their exploration, the team used an underwater robot to document several extraordinary creatures, such as a ghostly white Casper octopus, which was observed in the southern Pacific for the first time. They also recorded the first-ever footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid, previously known only from a few collected specimens.

Among the highlights were the sightings of two rare Bathyphysa siphonophores, also known as “flying spaghetti monsters” due to their string-like appearance. The discoveries were part of the research vessel’s third expedition to the Nazca Ridge, a region poised to become the world’s first high seas marine protected area under a new UN treaty.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute’s efforts contribute significantly to the Ocean Census, a global initiative aiming to catalog 100,000 unknown marine species within the next decade, enhancing our understanding and conservation of deep-sea ecosystems.