Just as the moving-picture show warned , Godzilla restfully lurks at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean . fortuitously , this is n’t a gargantuan radioactivity - load monster with a hate for moths , but an enormous geologic feature found on the seabed .
After 20 years of striving for recognition , it ’s prescribed : it ’s been correspond that the vast coordination compound of subaqueous ridge off the coast of Japan will formally be address the Godzilla Megamullion .
In February 2023 , the Japan Coast Guard announced the aim name was finally approved at an external league orchestrate by the International Hydrographic Organization ( IHO ) and the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission ( IOC ) , accord to apress release .
First discovered in 2001 , theGodzilla Megamullionis located some 600 kilometer ( 370 miles ) southeast of the southernmost island of Japan , Okinotorishima , in the Philippine Sea . It ’s fundamentally a immense complex of ridge that were forge by seafloor spread , whereby mid - ocean ridges gradually move and " grow " , form new pelagic crust .
This geological ocean floor feature is the largest have a go at it oceanic core coordination compound in the public , load for around 125 kilometers ( 77 miles ) in length and 55 kilometers ( 34 miles ) in width , about three time the area of Tokyo .
Given its flagitious sizing and its clear comparability to the worldly concern ’s favoritecity - wrecking beast(no offense , King Kong ) , the structure became known as Godzilla and , finally , the Godzilla Megamullion Province .
It ’s now much more than a nickname . Thanks to this late approval , the feature of speech will be label as the Godzilla Megamullion on all official documents , maps , and research paper . The new official labeling system even breaks down the parts of the geological lineament and names them after unlike body parts of Godzilla , such as the drumhead peak , cervix pinnacle , west sleeve climb , north tail raise , and so on .
In a world of copyright laws and multi - million dollar bill movie franchises , obtaining the name was n’t square . Even before convince the scientific authorities , the Japan Coast Guardreportedlyhad to get permit to use the name from Toho Co. , which own the rights to the Godzilla franchise .
gratefully , the Japanese film production giant say they were “ unfeignedly honor ” by the prompting and gave the thumbs up .
[ H / T : Eos ]
