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Mystery of the China Seas (Full Episode) | Drain the Oceans

National Geographic・22 minutes read

Advanced underwater scanning technology is used to reveal secrets of the sea floor, including the remains of battles like the Yamato in the China Seas, marking a turning point in naval warfare. The internet's data traffic stored in underwater cables is vulnerable to risks, as shown by a global internet shutdown caused by an underwater landslide in the Luzon Strait in 2006, impacting financial transactions and trade.

Insights

  • The sinking of the battleship Yamato marked the end of an era in naval warfare, transitioning dominance from battleships to air power, showcasing the evolution of military tactics and technology.
  • The vulnerability of the Mongol invasion fleet due to poor construction and the subsequent destruction by a typhoon underscores the significant role environmental factors can play in maritime history, shaping the outcomes of naval conflicts and expeditions.

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Recent questions

  • What was the significance of the Battle of Leyte Gulf?

    The Battle of Leyte Gulf marked a significant turning point in naval warfare, showcasing the power of air dominance over battleships.

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Summary

00:00

"Secrets of China Seas: Yamato's Legacy"

  • The China Seas are fiercely contested waters, holding the remains of epic battles and hidden treasures.
  • Advanced underwater scanning technology is used to reveal the secrets of the sea floor.
  • The battleship Yamato, the largest ever built, was a top-secret weapon of Japan during World War II.
  • Yamato's massive size, powerful armament, and top-secret nature made it a formidable force.
  • Yamato's involvement in the Battle of Leyte Gulf marked a significant turning point in naval warfare.
  • Despite its immense firepower, Yamato was vulnerable due to underperforming anti-aircraft guns.
  • Yamato's ultimate destruction was caused by a catastrophic explosion in its magazine, not enemy attacks.
  • The sinking of Yamato symbolized the end of the battleship era, as air power became dominant in naval warfare.
  • The sacrifice of the crew of Yamato reflects a long-standing tradition of self-sacrifice in Japanese history.
  • The mystery of the disappearance of the Mongol invasion fleet in Imari Bay 700 years ago remains a significant maritime enigma.

21:43

Mongol Fleet Lost to Divine Typhoon

  • In 1281, the Khan constructs a massive fleet of nearly 4,000 ships to confront the samurai warlords of Japan.
  • The Mongol fleet mysteriously disappears, leading to speculation about divine intervention.
  • Maritime archaeologist Kenzo Hayashida discovers a bronze seal from 1277, providing strong evidence of the Mongol invasion fleet.
  • Kenzo's team uncovers various artifacts like weapons, armor, and pots from the sunken fleet.
  • The fleet's poor construction, lacking deep keels, contributed to its vulnerability to rough seas.
  • The fleet's destruction is attributed to a typhoon during Japan's late summer, known as the kamikaze.
  • The Cham Islands off Vietnam reveal a treasure trove of 15th-century Chinese ceramics and numerous shipwrecks.
  • The Cham Islands were part of the Maritime Silk Road, a major trade route connecting Asia to Europe for centuries.
  • The internet's data traffic, stored in the underwater cables known as the Data Superhighway, is vulnerable to various risks.
  • Engineers bury cables deep below the seabed to protect them from damage, ensuring the smooth operation of the Worldwide Web.

42:48

"Ocean Cable Routes and Internet Shutdown"

  • Graham Evans, the Managing Director of a company planning cable routes across oceans, navigates rugged seabeds to find the shortest path from point A to point B, leading to cables converging at choke points like the Luzon Strait.
  • An earthquake in 2006 triggers a massive underwater landslide in the Luzon Strait, destroying data cables and causing a global internet shutdown, impacting financial transactions and trade, taking three months to fully repair, highlighting the critical role of these cables in the digital age.
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