A world of wonder that lies beneath the waves

Sep 25 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

A NEW map has been drawn of ancient North East settlements – under the sea. Settlements of neolithic man that eventually came to a fishy end when they were swallowed by the tides of the North Sea are among features on the unique document.

Bone harpoons, axe heads and flint arrows found on the seabed are ample evidence that people once lived on land that is now beneath the waves. And scientists know woolly mammoths also walked the lands.

The map was produced in response to a survey carried out by Natural England which found most people thought the undersea landscape was barren. It also found less than 1% of people questioned could name a feature of a landscape beneath the waves.

And the document reveals towering underwater dunes as well as a huge reef off the Northumberland coast.

The survey showed only 6% of people living in northern England believe the landscape under the North Sea is unique to the region. And more than one in 10 people in the North East think the sea is “utterly” or “mostly barren”.

So Natural England produced the map to show exactly what can be found off the North’s coast. Regional director Martyn Howat said: “There is an incredible variety of landscapes and marine life off the coast of the North East. Our undersea environment has dramatic landscapes with valleys, hills, plains and cliffs and is a source of intrigue and fascination.

“There are all these great places under the waves and yet most people have no idea that they are there.”

Karen Mitchell, Natural England’s marine campaign manager, said: “Each undersea region has its own special landscape variety, just as on land we have the Cheviots, Kielder Forest or the fells of the Lake District.

“For example, the Great North Eastern Rocky Reef stretches for 20 miles off the Northumberland coast, while elsewhere, expanses of the seabed are dominated by underwater dunes, some as tall as Nelson’s Column. It is important more people are aware of the rich diversity of wildlife and landscapes that exist under the sea.”

The UK is committed to delivering a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around its coastline by 2012. These MPAs will give various degrees of protection to undersea landscapes and marine life and Natural England will be a key delivery body.