There is hidden continent on Earth that is underwater in the South Pacific, according to scientists. In this new discovery, researchers have identified this new land mass and named it Zealandia.

Researchers from New Zealand's GNS Science (also known as Te Pū Ao) in Maori, reveal that New Zealand is only a few islands of this unknown continent underwater. They also say that 94 percent of Zealandia is submerged under the sea.

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According to the lead author of the study, Nick Mortimer of GNS Science, Zealandia can be traditionally classified as a continent. Mortimer explains that this land mass is more than one million square miles when it comes to its area and possesses well-defined geological and geographical limits. In short, it is large enough to be classified as a continent.

In this new study, GNS Science geologists along with researchers from the University of Sydney, Victoria University and the Geological Survey of New Caledonia were able to investigate and examine this land mass intensively. Zealandia's name is inspired by New Zealand, the Chatham Rise, the Lord Howe Rise, and the Campbell Plateau. It was developed by geophysicist Bruce Luyendyk in 1995 to represent them collectively.

Zealandia possesses a crust thickness of an estimated six to 18 miles which is also the thinnest ever recorded among the Earth's continents. However, some portions of New Zealand's South Island have increased to at least 24 miles.

Researchers also reveal that this newly discovered continent can cover an area as large as India. Mortimer adds that Zealandia is not only the youngest continent but also the most submerged land mass among the planet's continents.

Mortimer concluded that Zealandia provides this fresh context to further investigate geological processes such as continental rifting, thinning and breakup. The team says that their research will be crucial to explore Zealandia more, to better understand its geology and significance. This new study was published in the journal of the Geological Society of America, GSA Today.