The mystery of the underwater rings at Cap Corse

Off Cap Corse, at a depth of more than 100 metres, a fascinating discovery has intrigued the scientific community for more than ten years: more than a thousand perfectly circular rings, measuring up to 20 metres in diameter, line the seabed. Their origin remains an enigma. Are they submerged volcanic craters? Traces left by falling meteorites? Or aggregates of hydrocarbons released by the seabed?

To shed light on this exceptional formation, unique in the Mediterranean, a major scientific expedition was led by Laurent Ballesta and his Gombessa team. In collaboration with the French Navy and a group of researchers from a variety of disciplines, they used cutting-edge technologies: an underwater station, a manned submarine, technical dives and detailed analyses of the site.

Over the course of this mission, which lasted several weeks, an exceptional biodiversity was revealed, home to species never before observed. This biological wealth underlines the importance of preserving this extraordinary site. With this in mind, the Cap Corse and Agriate Marine Park, which supported the expedition, has decided to put in place concrete protection measures to preserve these jewels of the Mediterranean.