Atlantis, dating back thousands of years, was the "soul of the world," the original cradle of civilization, and the source for most races, religions and science, according to Hoff, who is currently the president of Atlantis Publications, here on Tuesday.He referred to the work of Brazilian Professor Arysio Nunes dos Santos on the location of Atlantis. Santos in his book titled `Atlantis - The Lost Continent Finally Found¿ determined that Atlantis and earlier Lemuria, were located in the South China Sea, at the farthest ends of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Larger than an island, Atlantis was a continent comparable in size to the United States, which didn't sink but went underwater when sea levels rose around 11,600 years ago, Hoff noted, adding that Indonesia is the only part of that continent that remains visible.
Backing his claims he added that sources like NOAA satellite data also show that the continent was in the location.
"Millions of citizens of Atlantis were killed in the deluge/tsunami that followed a massive earthquake, but some fled to the Indus Valley area in India and Pakistan and other locations," Hoff said.
Greek philosopher Plato had first mentioned Atlantis some two and a half millennia ago.
Prof. Santos has studied and researched for 30 years to determine the location of Atlantis. Based on the studies and research, he has determined that Atlantis was located in Indonesia and surrounding areas.
"Our theory proposes the dramatic cataclysmic explosion of the Krakatoa volcano, which opened the Sunda Strait separating the islands of Java and Sumatra and caused the destruction of Atlantis. We also propose that it was the mechanism involved in ending the Pleistocene Ice Age some 11, 600 years ago. Some 70% of the former species of great mammals which existed in this former era became extinct, as a result," said Hoff, who also assisted Prof. Santos for about eight years.
Prof. Arysio Santos was a nuclear physicist, geologist and climatologist, and died in 2005, two months after the publication of his book.
Hoff believes that close cooperation between several parties, particularly businessmen, researchers and government officials, is necessary to promote Indonesia as the location of the lost continent.
"The finding of Atlantis could help boost tourism in Indonesia tremendously. With the Arab Spring, Indonesia has huge potential to attract millions of tourists. My only concern here is traffic jams which could be bad for tourists," said Hoff, who has visited Indonesia twice.
His first visit was in October 2010, when he spoke in an international conference on nature, philosophy and the culture of the ancient Sunda civilization, in Bogor, West Java.(*)
(T. F001/INA)
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
