Ancient Freshwater Deposit Discovered Beneath Sicily

Geologists have discovered a massive deposit of ancient freshwater deep below the mountains of Sicily, estimated to contain 17.5 cubic kilometers of water. The deposit, trapped for around 6 million years, could potentially provide a solution to the water scarcity issues faced by arid lands along the Mediterranean coastlines. The discovery was made by analyzing maps and data from previous surveys looking for oil deposits. The researchers believe the water may have been trapped during the Messinian salinity crisis, a geological event that dried up the Mediterranean Sea basin. This finding has significant implications for addressing water scarcity in southern Italy and other regions in North Africa.