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How can an entire continent be concealed from the rest of the world?
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Basically, it's a continent that wants to be really hard to find (you can find it if you try really, really hard). For example, if you got in a ship and wanted to sail to it you wouldn't be able to find it unless you were extremely lucky which is unlikely.
The continent is around the size of South America in a world with 6 continents that is slightly bigger than Earth.
It should be hidden not inaccessible as certain people can acess it if they know how.
The time period is around 1700s.
geography
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
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up vote
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Basically, it's a continent that wants to be really hard to find (you can find it if you try really, really hard). For example, if you got in a ship and wanted to sail to it you wouldn't be able to find it unless you were extremely lucky which is unlikely.
The continent is around the size of South America in a world with 6 continents that is slightly bigger than Earth.
It should be hidden not inaccessible as certain people can acess it if they know how.
The time period is around 1700s.
geography
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
New contributor
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Do you mean that the continent itself is sentient? Since you say "sail", I'm assuming the most advanced civilizations in your world are comparable to something between 10k BC - ~1800 AD? Could you be a bit more specific?
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
2
This is sadly super relevant. If we are dealing with say people around the copper stone age, it might be enough to simply kill or force to stay anyone who discovers the "continent". It's also impossible to watch and control an entire "continent" given that period. You will run into trouble with that approach later though ...
– Raditz_35
4 hours ago
1
Ok if I had to give a time period probably like 1700s or something close to that
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
That's the problem though I don't want everyone to shipwreck because the continent is inhabited and the inhabitants need to sail too.
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
Can you give us an idea of how large you want the continent to be? Would you accept something the size of Madagascar (587,000 km²), or do you want something similar in size to Australia (7.7M km²), or do need South America (17.8M km²), or what?
– Michael Kjörling♦
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 11 more comments
up vote
1
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favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Basically, it's a continent that wants to be really hard to find (you can find it if you try really, really hard). For example, if you got in a ship and wanted to sail to it you wouldn't be able to find it unless you were extremely lucky which is unlikely.
The continent is around the size of South America in a world with 6 continents that is slightly bigger than Earth.
It should be hidden not inaccessible as certain people can acess it if they know how.
The time period is around 1700s.
geography
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
New contributor
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Basically, it's a continent that wants to be really hard to find (you can find it if you try really, really hard). For example, if you got in a ship and wanted to sail to it you wouldn't be able to find it unless you were extremely lucky which is unlikely.
The continent is around the size of South America in a world with 6 continents that is slightly bigger than Earth.
It should be hidden not inaccessible as certain people can acess it if they know how.
The time period is around 1700s.
geography
geography
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
New contributor
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
New contributor
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
New contributor
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
asked 5 hours ago
Derel
122
122
New contributor
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Derel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Do you mean that the continent itself is sentient? Since you say "sail", I'm assuming the most advanced civilizations in your world are comparable to something between 10k BC - ~1800 AD? Could you be a bit more specific?
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
2
This is sadly super relevant. If we are dealing with say people around the copper stone age, it might be enough to simply kill or force to stay anyone who discovers the "continent". It's also impossible to watch and control an entire "continent" given that period. You will run into trouble with that approach later though ...
– Raditz_35
4 hours ago
1
Ok if I had to give a time period probably like 1700s or something close to that
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
That's the problem though I don't want everyone to shipwreck because the continent is inhabited and the inhabitants need to sail too.
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
Can you give us an idea of how large you want the continent to be? Would you accept something the size of Madagascar (587,000 km²), or do you want something similar in size to Australia (7.7M km²), or do need South America (17.8M km²), or what?
– Michael Kjörling♦
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 11 more comments
1
Do you mean that the continent itself is sentient? Since you say "sail", I'm assuming the most advanced civilizations in your world are comparable to something between 10k BC - ~1800 AD? Could you be a bit more specific?
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
2
This is sadly super relevant. If we are dealing with say people around the copper stone age, it might be enough to simply kill or force to stay anyone who discovers the "continent". It's also impossible to watch and control an entire "continent" given that period. You will run into trouble with that approach later though ...
– Raditz_35
4 hours ago
1
Ok if I had to give a time period probably like 1700s or something close to that
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
That's the problem though I don't want everyone to shipwreck because the continent is inhabited and the inhabitants need to sail too.
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
Can you give us an idea of how large you want the continent to be? Would you accept something the size of Madagascar (587,000 km²), or do you want something similar in size to Australia (7.7M km²), or do need South America (17.8M km²), or what?
– Michael Kjörling♦
4 hours ago
1
1
Do you mean that the continent itself is sentient? Since you say "sail", I'm assuming the most advanced civilizations in your world are comparable to something between 10k BC - ~1800 AD? Could you be a bit more specific?
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
Do you mean that the continent itself is sentient? Since you say "sail", I'm assuming the most advanced civilizations in your world are comparable to something between 10k BC - ~1800 AD? Could you be a bit more specific?
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
2
2
This is sadly super relevant. If we are dealing with say people around the copper stone age, it might be enough to simply kill or force to stay anyone who discovers the "continent". It's also impossible to watch and control an entire "continent" given that period. You will run into trouble with that approach later though ...
– Raditz_35
4 hours ago
This is sadly super relevant. If we are dealing with say people around the copper stone age, it might be enough to simply kill or force to stay anyone who discovers the "continent". It's also impossible to watch and control an entire "continent" given that period. You will run into trouble with that approach later though ...
– Raditz_35
4 hours ago
1
1
Ok if I had to give a time period probably like 1700s or something close to that
– Derel
4 hours ago
Ok if I had to give a time period probably like 1700s or something close to that
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
1
That's the problem though I don't want everyone to shipwreck because the continent is inhabited and the inhabitants need to sail too.
– Derel
4 hours ago
That's the problem though I don't want everyone to shipwreck because the continent is inhabited and the inhabitants need to sail too.
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
1
Can you give us an idea of how large you want the continent to be? Would you accept something the size of Madagascar (587,000 km²), or do you want something similar in size to Australia (7.7M km²), or do need South America (17.8M km²), or what?
– Michael Kjörling♦
4 hours ago
Can you give us an idea of how large you want the continent to be? Would you accept something the size of Madagascar (587,000 km²), or do you want something similar in size to Australia (7.7M km²), or do need South America (17.8M km²), or what?
– Michael Kjörling♦
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 11 more comments
5 Answers
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4
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Antarctica, while not hidden, was essentially "protected" by ice shelfs until 1895 when the first human set foot on it. Thanks to the dangers posed to ships by ice shelfs, and a very unfriendly climate, most people still steer clear of it in 2018.
Your land mass could simply be surrounded treacherous ice, very dangerous looking rocks, etc.
EDIT:
The inhabitants of this land mass would either have to
1) Wait until they could build "ice-cutter" boats to become a seafaring nation(s)
2) The "ice people" would have to build something like the Japanese in the 1200s for the 2nd Mongol invasion, which was essentially a series of forts at every beach where a ship could land.
The Japanese also had the help of Typhoons if they could keep an invading army at sea long enough.
Japan managed to hold off invaders until into the 20th century. Between "ice everywhere" and some sentries to pick off explorers you could likely keep your land mass the stuff of folk lore.
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
Would the dangerous looking rocks have an impact on the inhabitants?
– Derel
4 hours ago
The reverse analogous situation was true for the continent overlying the North pole - thought to be there for centuries but actually nonexistent. zapatopi.net/blog/….
– Willk
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Dinotopia1 comes to mind as it is a large continent hidden by storm dashed reefs. Along the same lines if you have strong water/air currents that divert away from the continent only a strongly motivated person could make it to the continent.
Also if you allow magic Themyscira, Wonder woman's home, comes to mind which is protected by fog and a magic mirage.
Or you could do a combination of a Lion Turtle (from AtLAB) and Great A'Tuin (from Discworld) where the continent is actually the back of a giant swimming turtle and only residents know its route.
One other idea comes to mind from One Piece, Amazon Lily is surrounded by sea monsters (and calm ocean) and only those with seastone on the bottom of their ships can travel to the island safely.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinotopia
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
What if the inhabitants need to sail somewhere?
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
@Derel how far do the inhabitants need to sail? You may need to clarify your question with more details of exactly what you are looking for
– depperm
4 hours ago
If they need to sail for trade or travelling for example
– Derel
4 hours ago
1) why aren't currents allowed? How big does your continent need to be?
– depperm
4 hours ago
Could there be a mixture of Dinotopia and Themyscira (magic stuff and storms, currents, etc.) also bearing in mind it's an entire continent and they are islands.
– Derel
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
Under your current constraints: it's impossible
By the 1700s we were not only sailing everywhere, we were mapping everything. Let's assume for a moment that your continent was unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason). Now, calculating the distance between two above-sea-level objects is no small thing, but let's assume that at distances greater than 20Km, you can't see the continent.
It would take "no time at all" for a big blank spot to develop on the world maps with a pin in it holding a small flag with itty-bitty text neatly written in a beautiful caligraphy saying, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be wonder here!" or some such that would translate to, "what the heck is here?"
So, while the details of your continent would be unknown, the fact that a continent-sized swath of ocean is unknown would be the worst-kept secret on the planet.
And every sailor out there would be hungry to figure out what's there.
Conclusion #1 You can't hide the existence of something the size of a continent.
so, let's ask ourselves, what could keep the average sailor from knowing about it? Reefs, ocean shelves, sandbars, fog... the problem with continent-sized problems is that there aren't continent-sized solutions. Unless you throw realism out the window and hold to magic/fantasy, there is nothing that can keep a fog bank around an entire continent. There's too much distance. Too much change of climate from one side to the other.
Consider South America. On one side is the angry, hurricane-laden Atlantic Ocean. On the other, the benign and comfortable Pacific Ocean. So, storms and other climate-related solutions are out, even in part. They're not permanent. They change based on the local ocean, sunlight, landscape, etc. etc....
Things in the water are out, too. Reefs wear down or build up. Storms break them. Shallow water is overcome with oars and shallow drafts. They're inconvenient, but not insurmountable. Worse... around an entire continent? No.
Conclusion #2 Continent-sized problems require continent-sized solutions after all.
So, let's not hide the fact that there's a continent there, let's hide simply hide the interior of the continent. Suddenly that little flag reads, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be dirt here! Be there gold?"1
So, let's build a ring of fire: volcanoes. Basically, let's create a continent that's one big unstable tectonic plate, and the world is bursting out around it. It's not fog that's curtaining the continent... it's ash. Lots of it. And it's a recent development such that the magma flows and ash haven't had enough time to build up new coastline that's outside the pyroclastic cloud.
This is hard to believe... but it's plausible. It's also on the clock. All that magma and ash will begin to build up new coastline — and fairly quickly (tens of years, IMO).
So, everybody knows it's a continent because volcanos are well known... but it's a formidable ring of volcanos. Even if you know how to approach the continent... you'll need Maui's help to get past the volcanos.
Conclusion #3 You shouldn't try to hide the continent. That's impossible. No one in the 1700s would suddenly slap their foreheads and exclaim, "you mean there's a continent there?" You should make the continent unapproachable. The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely. And I'm voting for volcanos to make that happen. Or dinosaurs.
1 I'm a Terry Pratchett fan, so this was necessary. Very necessary.
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
"what the heck is here?" Terra Incognita?
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely." That's "right", but it only works for relatively small volcanic islands. Continents, though, as you know, are so big that there will be some beach somewhere that the ships can land on.
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
@RonJohn, Aaaah... fiction. A continental ring of active volcanoes constantly spewing ash and magma. Alan Quartermaine may be able to get in, but no one else would. So say we all!
– JBH
1 hour ago
* unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason)* And that's assuming earth is FLAT wink
– Mr.J
1 hour ago
@Mr.J, right back atcha! worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/…
– JBH
46 mins ago
 |Â
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0
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The continent is under 60 feet of water, underground. The continent has a small cone like a volcano that rises above the ocean where rain water and sunlight come in to this underground and underwater cavern. The civilization lives near that single entrance while the rest of the continent is dark and potentially dry.
They could possibly create mirrors to reflect the sunlight to a larger part of the underground/underwater region.
Once they figured out how to create electricity much more of the continent could be used for living, growing crops, etc.
Now to figure out how to keep the island from being discovered...
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
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Make the Cost of Trading with India Lower
It's popularly said that Columbus was attempting to prove some novel scientific concept of the roundness of the Earth when he set sail, but that really is not the case. Navigators used circular Earth equations even before the 1400s to get everywhere. In fact, the calculations of the radius of the Earth were pretty good.
Columbus did the math as best he could and calculated that he could ship goods more cost effectively by boat than the current costs of going over land and dealing with dozens of middle-men, governments, bandits; or the other alternative of sailing around the coast of Africa at great risk due to storms and taking a very long time to take such a long route.
Arrogant as everyone was, no one even considered the possibility that there might be a landmass in that enormous expanse.
If your continent could manipulate the political and economic situation to keep an easy and low-cost trade route to India open, it's extremely likely that no one would bother to sail west. If you have that kind of political clout, you could also maybe discourage people with enough money to send a few boats on what very well might be a suicide mission from doing so.
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
add a comment |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Antarctica, while not hidden, was essentially "protected" by ice shelfs until 1895 when the first human set foot on it. Thanks to the dangers posed to ships by ice shelfs, and a very unfriendly climate, most people still steer clear of it in 2018.
Your land mass could simply be surrounded treacherous ice, very dangerous looking rocks, etc.
EDIT:
The inhabitants of this land mass would either have to
1) Wait until they could build "ice-cutter" boats to become a seafaring nation(s)
2) The "ice people" would have to build something like the Japanese in the 1200s for the 2nd Mongol invasion, which was essentially a series of forts at every beach where a ship could land.
The Japanese also had the help of Typhoons if they could keep an invading army at sea long enough.
Japan managed to hold off invaders until into the 20th century. Between "ice everywhere" and some sentries to pick off explorers you could likely keep your land mass the stuff of folk lore.
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
Would the dangerous looking rocks have an impact on the inhabitants?
– Derel
4 hours ago
The reverse analogous situation was true for the continent overlying the North pole - thought to be there for centuries but actually nonexistent. zapatopi.net/blog/….
– Willk
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Antarctica, while not hidden, was essentially "protected" by ice shelfs until 1895 when the first human set foot on it. Thanks to the dangers posed to ships by ice shelfs, and a very unfriendly climate, most people still steer clear of it in 2018.
Your land mass could simply be surrounded treacherous ice, very dangerous looking rocks, etc.
EDIT:
The inhabitants of this land mass would either have to
1) Wait until they could build "ice-cutter" boats to become a seafaring nation(s)
2) The "ice people" would have to build something like the Japanese in the 1200s for the 2nd Mongol invasion, which was essentially a series of forts at every beach where a ship could land.
The Japanese also had the help of Typhoons if they could keep an invading army at sea long enough.
Japan managed to hold off invaders until into the 20th century. Between "ice everywhere" and some sentries to pick off explorers you could likely keep your land mass the stuff of folk lore.
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
Would the dangerous looking rocks have an impact on the inhabitants?
– Derel
4 hours ago
The reverse analogous situation was true for the continent overlying the North pole - thought to be there for centuries but actually nonexistent. zapatopi.net/blog/….
– Willk
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Antarctica, while not hidden, was essentially "protected" by ice shelfs until 1895 when the first human set foot on it. Thanks to the dangers posed to ships by ice shelfs, and a very unfriendly climate, most people still steer clear of it in 2018.
Your land mass could simply be surrounded treacherous ice, very dangerous looking rocks, etc.
EDIT:
The inhabitants of this land mass would either have to
1) Wait until they could build "ice-cutter" boats to become a seafaring nation(s)
2) The "ice people" would have to build something like the Japanese in the 1200s for the 2nd Mongol invasion, which was essentially a series of forts at every beach where a ship could land.
The Japanese also had the help of Typhoons if they could keep an invading army at sea long enough.
Japan managed to hold off invaders until into the 20th century. Between "ice everywhere" and some sentries to pick off explorers you could likely keep your land mass the stuff of folk lore.
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
Antarctica, while not hidden, was essentially "protected" by ice shelfs until 1895 when the first human set foot on it. Thanks to the dangers posed to ships by ice shelfs, and a very unfriendly climate, most people still steer clear of it in 2018.
Your land mass could simply be surrounded treacherous ice, very dangerous looking rocks, etc.
EDIT:
The inhabitants of this land mass would either have to
1) Wait until they could build "ice-cutter" boats to become a seafaring nation(s)
2) The "ice people" would have to build something like the Japanese in the 1200s for the 2nd Mongol invasion, which was essentially a series of forts at every beach where a ship could land.
The Japanese also had the help of Typhoons if they could keep an invading army at sea long enough.
Japan managed to hold off invaders until into the 20th century. Between "ice everywhere" and some sentries to pick off explorers you could likely keep your land mass the stuff of folk lore.
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
answered 4 hours ago
sevensevens
1913
1913
Would the dangerous looking rocks have an impact on the inhabitants?
– Derel
4 hours ago
The reverse analogous situation was true for the continent overlying the North pole - thought to be there for centuries but actually nonexistent. zapatopi.net/blog/….
– Willk
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Would the dangerous looking rocks have an impact on the inhabitants?
– Derel
4 hours ago
The reverse analogous situation was true for the continent overlying the North pole - thought to be there for centuries but actually nonexistent. zapatopi.net/blog/….
– Willk
2 hours ago
Would the dangerous looking rocks have an impact on the inhabitants?
– Derel
4 hours ago
Would the dangerous looking rocks have an impact on the inhabitants?
– Derel
4 hours ago
The reverse analogous situation was true for the continent overlying the North pole - thought to be there for centuries but actually nonexistent. zapatopi.net/blog/….
– Willk
2 hours ago
The reverse analogous situation was true for the continent overlying the North pole - thought to be there for centuries but actually nonexistent. zapatopi.net/blog/….
– Willk
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Dinotopia1 comes to mind as it is a large continent hidden by storm dashed reefs. Along the same lines if you have strong water/air currents that divert away from the continent only a strongly motivated person could make it to the continent.
Also if you allow magic Themyscira, Wonder woman's home, comes to mind which is protected by fog and a magic mirage.
Or you could do a combination of a Lion Turtle (from AtLAB) and Great A'Tuin (from Discworld) where the continent is actually the back of a giant swimming turtle and only residents know its route.
One other idea comes to mind from One Piece, Amazon Lily is surrounded by sea monsters (and calm ocean) and only those with seastone on the bottom of their ships can travel to the island safely.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinotopia
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
What if the inhabitants need to sail somewhere?
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
@Derel how far do the inhabitants need to sail? You may need to clarify your question with more details of exactly what you are looking for
– depperm
4 hours ago
If they need to sail for trade or travelling for example
– Derel
4 hours ago
1) why aren't currents allowed? How big does your continent need to be?
– depperm
4 hours ago
Could there be a mixture of Dinotopia and Themyscira (magic stuff and storms, currents, etc.) also bearing in mind it's an entire continent and they are islands.
– Derel
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
Dinotopia1 comes to mind as it is a large continent hidden by storm dashed reefs. Along the same lines if you have strong water/air currents that divert away from the continent only a strongly motivated person could make it to the continent.
Also if you allow magic Themyscira, Wonder woman's home, comes to mind which is protected by fog and a magic mirage.
Or you could do a combination of a Lion Turtle (from AtLAB) and Great A'Tuin (from Discworld) where the continent is actually the back of a giant swimming turtle and only residents know its route.
One other idea comes to mind from One Piece, Amazon Lily is surrounded by sea monsters (and calm ocean) and only those with seastone on the bottom of their ships can travel to the island safely.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinotopia
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
What if the inhabitants need to sail somewhere?
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
@Derel how far do the inhabitants need to sail? You may need to clarify your question with more details of exactly what you are looking for
– depperm
4 hours ago
If they need to sail for trade or travelling for example
– Derel
4 hours ago
1) why aren't currents allowed? How big does your continent need to be?
– depperm
4 hours ago
Could there be a mixture of Dinotopia and Themyscira (magic stuff and storms, currents, etc.) also bearing in mind it's an entire continent and they are islands.
– Derel
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Dinotopia1 comes to mind as it is a large continent hidden by storm dashed reefs. Along the same lines if you have strong water/air currents that divert away from the continent only a strongly motivated person could make it to the continent.
Also if you allow magic Themyscira, Wonder woman's home, comes to mind which is protected by fog and a magic mirage.
Or you could do a combination of a Lion Turtle (from AtLAB) and Great A'Tuin (from Discworld) where the continent is actually the back of a giant swimming turtle and only residents know its route.
One other idea comes to mind from One Piece, Amazon Lily is surrounded by sea monsters (and calm ocean) and only those with seastone on the bottom of their ships can travel to the island safely.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinotopia
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
Dinotopia1 comes to mind as it is a large continent hidden by storm dashed reefs. Along the same lines if you have strong water/air currents that divert away from the continent only a strongly motivated person could make it to the continent.
Also if you allow magic Themyscira, Wonder woman's home, comes to mind which is protected by fog and a magic mirage.
Or you could do a combination of a Lion Turtle (from AtLAB) and Great A'Tuin (from Discworld) where the continent is actually the back of a giant swimming turtle and only residents know its route.
One other idea comes to mind from One Piece, Amazon Lily is surrounded by sea monsters (and calm ocean) and only those with seastone on the bottom of their ships can travel to the island safely.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinotopia
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
answered 4 hours ago
depperm
923418
923418
What if the inhabitants need to sail somewhere?
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
@Derel how far do the inhabitants need to sail? You may need to clarify your question with more details of exactly what you are looking for
– depperm
4 hours ago
If they need to sail for trade or travelling for example
– Derel
4 hours ago
1) why aren't currents allowed? How big does your continent need to be?
– depperm
4 hours ago
Could there be a mixture of Dinotopia and Themyscira (magic stuff and storms, currents, etc.) also bearing in mind it's an entire continent and they are islands.
– Derel
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
What if the inhabitants need to sail somewhere?
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
@Derel how far do the inhabitants need to sail? You may need to clarify your question with more details of exactly what you are looking for
– depperm
4 hours ago
If they need to sail for trade or travelling for example
– Derel
4 hours ago
1) why aren't currents allowed? How big does your continent need to be?
– depperm
4 hours ago
Could there be a mixture of Dinotopia and Themyscira (magic stuff and storms, currents, etc.) also bearing in mind it's an entire continent and they are islands.
– Derel
4 hours ago
What if the inhabitants need to sail somewhere?
– Derel
4 hours ago
What if the inhabitants need to sail somewhere?
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
1
@Derel how far do the inhabitants need to sail? You may need to clarify your question with more details of exactly what you are looking for
– depperm
4 hours ago
@Derel how far do the inhabitants need to sail? You may need to clarify your question with more details of exactly what you are looking for
– depperm
4 hours ago
If they need to sail for trade or travelling for example
– Derel
4 hours ago
If they need to sail for trade or travelling for example
– Derel
4 hours ago
1) why aren't currents allowed? How big does your continent need to be?
– depperm
4 hours ago
1) why aren't currents allowed? How big does your continent need to be?
– depperm
4 hours ago
Could there be a mixture of Dinotopia and Themyscira (magic stuff and storms, currents, etc.) also bearing in mind it's an entire continent and they are islands.
– Derel
4 hours ago
Could there be a mixture of Dinotopia and Themyscira (magic stuff and storms, currents, etc.) also bearing in mind it's an entire continent and they are islands.
– Derel
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
Under your current constraints: it's impossible
By the 1700s we were not only sailing everywhere, we were mapping everything. Let's assume for a moment that your continent was unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason). Now, calculating the distance between two above-sea-level objects is no small thing, but let's assume that at distances greater than 20Km, you can't see the continent.
It would take "no time at all" for a big blank spot to develop on the world maps with a pin in it holding a small flag with itty-bitty text neatly written in a beautiful caligraphy saying, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be wonder here!" or some such that would translate to, "what the heck is here?"
So, while the details of your continent would be unknown, the fact that a continent-sized swath of ocean is unknown would be the worst-kept secret on the planet.
And every sailor out there would be hungry to figure out what's there.
Conclusion #1 You can't hide the existence of something the size of a continent.
so, let's ask ourselves, what could keep the average sailor from knowing about it? Reefs, ocean shelves, sandbars, fog... the problem with continent-sized problems is that there aren't continent-sized solutions. Unless you throw realism out the window and hold to magic/fantasy, there is nothing that can keep a fog bank around an entire continent. There's too much distance. Too much change of climate from one side to the other.
Consider South America. On one side is the angry, hurricane-laden Atlantic Ocean. On the other, the benign and comfortable Pacific Ocean. So, storms and other climate-related solutions are out, even in part. They're not permanent. They change based on the local ocean, sunlight, landscape, etc. etc....
Things in the water are out, too. Reefs wear down or build up. Storms break them. Shallow water is overcome with oars and shallow drafts. They're inconvenient, but not insurmountable. Worse... around an entire continent? No.
Conclusion #2 Continent-sized problems require continent-sized solutions after all.
So, let's not hide the fact that there's a continent there, let's hide simply hide the interior of the continent. Suddenly that little flag reads, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be dirt here! Be there gold?"1
So, let's build a ring of fire: volcanoes. Basically, let's create a continent that's one big unstable tectonic plate, and the world is bursting out around it. It's not fog that's curtaining the continent... it's ash. Lots of it. And it's a recent development such that the magma flows and ash haven't had enough time to build up new coastline that's outside the pyroclastic cloud.
This is hard to believe... but it's plausible. It's also on the clock. All that magma and ash will begin to build up new coastline — and fairly quickly (tens of years, IMO).
So, everybody knows it's a continent because volcanos are well known... but it's a formidable ring of volcanos. Even if you know how to approach the continent... you'll need Maui's help to get past the volcanos.
Conclusion #3 You shouldn't try to hide the continent. That's impossible. No one in the 1700s would suddenly slap their foreheads and exclaim, "you mean there's a continent there?" You should make the continent unapproachable. The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely. And I'm voting for volcanos to make that happen. Or dinosaurs.
1 I'm a Terry Pratchett fan, so this was necessary. Very necessary.
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
"what the heck is here?" Terra Incognita?
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely." That's "right", but it only works for relatively small volcanic islands. Continents, though, as you know, are so big that there will be some beach somewhere that the ships can land on.
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
@RonJohn, Aaaah... fiction. A continental ring of active volcanoes constantly spewing ash and magma. Alan Quartermaine may be able to get in, but no one else would. So say we all!
– JBH
1 hour ago
* unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason)* And that's assuming earth is FLAT wink
– Mr.J
1 hour ago
@Mr.J, right back atcha! worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/…
– JBH
46 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
Under your current constraints: it's impossible
By the 1700s we were not only sailing everywhere, we were mapping everything. Let's assume for a moment that your continent was unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason). Now, calculating the distance between two above-sea-level objects is no small thing, but let's assume that at distances greater than 20Km, you can't see the continent.
It would take "no time at all" for a big blank spot to develop on the world maps with a pin in it holding a small flag with itty-bitty text neatly written in a beautiful caligraphy saying, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be wonder here!" or some such that would translate to, "what the heck is here?"
So, while the details of your continent would be unknown, the fact that a continent-sized swath of ocean is unknown would be the worst-kept secret on the planet.
And every sailor out there would be hungry to figure out what's there.
Conclusion #1 You can't hide the existence of something the size of a continent.
so, let's ask ourselves, what could keep the average sailor from knowing about it? Reefs, ocean shelves, sandbars, fog... the problem with continent-sized problems is that there aren't continent-sized solutions. Unless you throw realism out the window and hold to magic/fantasy, there is nothing that can keep a fog bank around an entire continent. There's too much distance. Too much change of climate from one side to the other.
Consider South America. On one side is the angry, hurricane-laden Atlantic Ocean. On the other, the benign and comfortable Pacific Ocean. So, storms and other climate-related solutions are out, even in part. They're not permanent. They change based on the local ocean, sunlight, landscape, etc. etc....
Things in the water are out, too. Reefs wear down or build up. Storms break them. Shallow water is overcome with oars and shallow drafts. They're inconvenient, but not insurmountable. Worse... around an entire continent? No.
Conclusion #2 Continent-sized problems require continent-sized solutions after all.
So, let's not hide the fact that there's a continent there, let's hide simply hide the interior of the continent. Suddenly that little flag reads, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be dirt here! Be there gold?"1
So, let's build a ring of fire: volcanoes. Basically, let's create a continent that's one big unstable tectonic plate, and the world is bursting out around it. It's not fog that's curtaining the continent... it's ash. Lots of it. And it's a recent development such that the magma flows and ash haven't had enough time to build up new coastline that's outside the pyroclastic cloud.
This is hard to believe... but it's plausible. It's also on the clock. All that magma and ash will begin to build up new coastline — and fairly quickly (tens of years, IMO).
So, everybody knows it's a continent because volcanos are well known... but it's a formidable ring of volcanos. Even if you know how to approach the continent... you'll need Maui's help to get past the volcanos.
Conclusion #3 You shouldn't try to hide the continent. That's impossible. No one in the 1700s would suddenly slap their foreheads and exclaim, "you mean there's a continent there?" You should make the continent unapproachable. The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely. And I'm voting for volcanos to make that happen. Or dinosaurs.
1 I'm a Terry Pratchett fan, so this was necessary. Very necessary.
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
"what the heck is here?" Terra Incognita?
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely." That's "right", but it only works for relatively small volcanic islands. Continents, though, as you know, are so big that there will be some beach somewhere that the ships can land on.
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
@RonJohn, Aaaah... fiction. A continental ring of active volcanoes constantly spewing ash and magma. Alan Quartermaine may be able to get in, but no one else would. So say we all!
– JBH
1 hour ago
* unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason)* And that's assuming earth is FLAT wink
– Mr.J
1 hour ago
@Mr.J, right back atcha! worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/…
– JBH
46 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Under your current constraints: it's impossible
By the 1700s we were not only sailing everywhere, we were mapping everything. Let's assume for a moment that your continent was unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason). Now, calculating the distance between two above-sea-level objects is no small thing, but let's assume that at distances greater than 20Km, you can't see the continent.
It would take "no time at all" for a big blank spot to develop on the world maps with a pin in it holding a small flag with itty-bitty text neatly written in a beautiful caligraphy saying, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be wonder here!" or some such that would translate to, "what the heck is here?"
So, while the details of your continent would be unknown, the fact that a continent-sized swath of ocean is unknown would be the worst-kept secret on the planet.
And every sailor out there would be hungry to figure out what's there.
Conclusion #1 You can't hide the existence of something the size of a continent.
so, let's ask ourselves, what could keep the average sailor from knowing about it? Reefs, ocean shelves, sandbars, fog... the problem with continent-sized problems is that there aren't continent-sized solutions. Unless you throw realism out the window and hold to magic/fantasy, there is nothing that can keep a fog bank around an entire continent. There's too much distance. Too much change of climate from one side to the other.
Consider South America. On one side is the angry, hurricane-laden Atlantic Ocean. On the other, the benign and comfortable Pacific Ocean. So, storms and other climate-related solutions are out, even in part. They're not permanent. They change based on the local ocean, sunlight, landscape, etc. etc....
Things in the water are out, too. Reefs wear down or build up. Storms break them. Shallow water is overcome with oars and shallow drafts. They're inconvenient, but not insurmountable. Worse... around an entire continent? No.
Conclusion #2 Continent-sized problems require continent-sized solutions after all.
So, let's not hide the fact that there's a continent there, let's hide simply hide the interior of the continent. Suddenly that little flag reads, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be dirt here! Be there gold?"1
So, let's build a ring of fire: volcanoes. Basically, let's create a continent that's one big unstable tectonic plate, and the world is bursting out around it. It's not fog that's curtaining the continent... it's ash. Lots of it. And it's a recent development such that the magma flows and ash haven't had enough time to build up new coastline that's outside the pyroclastic cloud.
This is hard to believe... but it's plausible. It's also on the clock. All that magma and ash will begin to build up new coastline — and fairly quickly (tens of years, IMO).
So, everybody knows it's a continent because volcanos are well known... but it's a formidable ring of volcanos. Even if you know how to approach the continent... you'll need Maui's help to get past the volcanos.
Conclusion #3 You shouldn't try to hide the continent. That's impossible. No one in the 1700s would suddenly slap their foreheads and exclaim, "you mean there's a continent there?" You should make the continent unapproachable. The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely. And I'm voting for volcanos to make that happen. Or dinosaurs.
1 I'm a Terry Pratchett fan, so this was necessary. Very necessary.
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
Under your current constraints: it's impossible
By the 1700s we were not only sailing everywhere, we were mapping everything. Let's assume for a moment that your continent was unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason). Now, calculating the distance between two above-sea-level objects is no small thing, but let's assume that at distances greater than 20Km, you can't see the continent.
It would take "no time at all" for a big blank spot to develop on the world maps with a pin in it holding a small flag with itty-bitty text neatly written in a beautiful caligraphy saying, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be wonder here!" or some such that would translate to, "what the heck is here?"
So, while the details of your continent would be unknown, the fact that a continent-sized swath of ocean is unknown would be the worst-kept secret on the planet.
And every sailor out there would be hungry to figure out what's there.
Conclusion #1 You can't hide the existence of something the size of a continent.
so, let's ask ourselves, what could keep the average sailor from knowing about it? Reefs, ocean shelves, sandbars, fog... the problem with continent-sized problems is that there aren't continent-sized solutions. Unless you throw realism out the window and hold to magic/fantasy, there is nothing that can keep a fog bank around an entire continent. There's too much distance. Too much change of climate from one side to the other.
Consider South America. On one side is the angry, hurricane-laden Atlantic Ocean. On the other, the benign and comfortable Pacific Ocean. So, storms and other climate-related solutions are out, even in part. They're not permanent. They change based on the local ocean, sunlight, landscape, etc. etc....
Things in the water are out, too. Reefs wear down or build up. Storms break them. Shallow water is overcome with oars and shallow drafts. They're inconvenient, but not insurmountable. Worse... around an entire continent? No.
Conclusion #2 Continent-sized problems require continent-sized solutions after all.
So, let's not hide the fact that there's a continent there, let's hide simply hide the interior of the continent. Suddenly that little flag reads, "By the beneficence of Jove and King Horace there be dirt here! Be there gold?"1
So, let's build a ring of fire: volcanoes. Basically, let's create a continent that's one big unstable tectonic plate, and the world is bursting out around it. It's not fog that's curtaining the continent... it's ash. Lots of it. And it's a recent development such that the magma flows and ash haven't had enough time to build up new coastline that's outside the pyroclastic cloud.
This is hard to believe... but it's plausible. It's also on the clock. All that magma and ash will begin to build up new coastline — and fairly quickly (tens of years, IMO).
So, everybody knows it's a continent because volcanos are well known... but it's a formidable ring of volcanos. Even if you know how to approach the continent... you'll need Maui's help to get past the volcanos.
Conclusion #3 You shouldn't try to hide the continent. That's impossible. No one in the 1700s would suddenly slap their foreheads and exclaim, "you mean there's a continent there?" You should make the continent unapproachable. The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely. And I'm voting for volcanos to make that happen. Or dinosaurs.
1 I'm a Terry Pratchett fan, so this was necessary. Very necessary.
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
edited 3 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
answered 3 hours ago
JBH
34.9k581167
34.9k581167
"what the heck is here?" Terra Incognita?
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely." That's "right", but it only works for relatively small volcanic islands. Continents, though, as you know, are so big that there will be some beach somewhere that the ships can land on.
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
@RonJohn, Aaaah... fiction. A continental ring of active volcanoes constantly spewing ash and magma. Alan Quartermaine may be able to get in, but no one else would. So say we all!
– JBH
1 hour ago
* unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason)* And that's assuming earth is FLAT wink
– Mr.J
1 hour ago
@Mr.J, right back atcha! worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/…
– JBH
46 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
"what the heck is here?" Terra Incognita?
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely." That's "right", but it only works for relatively small volcanic islands. Continents, though, as you know, are so big that there will be some beach somewhere that the ships can land on.
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
@RonJohn, Aaaah... fiction. A continental ring of active volcanoes constantly spewing ash and magma. Alan Quartermaine may be able to get in, but no one else would. So say we all!
– JBH
1 hour ago
* unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason)* And that's assuming earth is FLAT wink
– Mr.J
1 hour ago
@Mr.J, right back atcha! worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/…
– JBH
46 mins ago
"what the heck is here?" Terra Incognita?
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"what the heck is here?" Terra Incognita?
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely." That's "right", but it only works for relatively small volcanic islands. Continents, though, as you know, are so big that there will be some beach somewhere that the ships can land on.
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
"The secret isn't its existence, but how to step foot on its interior safely." That's "right", but it only works for relatively small volcanic islands. Continents, though, as you know, are so big that there will be some beach somewhere that the ships can land on.
– RonJohn
2 hours ago
@RonJohn, Aaaah... fiction. A continental ring of active volcanoes constantly spewing ash and magma. Alan Quartermaine may be able to get in, but no one else would. So say we all!
– JBH
1 hour ago
@RonJohn, Aaaah... fiction. A continental ring of active volcanoes constantly spewing ash and magma. Alan Quartermaine may be able to get in, but no one else would. So say we all!
– JBH
1 hour ago
* unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason)* And that's assuming earth is FLAT wink
– Mr.J
1 hour ago
* unapproachable as such a distance that sailors couldn't see land (for whatever reason)* And that's assuming earth is FLAT wink
– Mr.J
1 hour ago
@Mr.J, right back atcha! worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/…
– JBH
46 mins ago
@Mr.J, right back atcha! worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/…
– JBH
46 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
0
down vote
The continent is under 60 feet of water, underground. The continent has a small cone like a volcano that rises above the ocean where rain water and sunlight come in to this underground and underwater cavern. The civilization lives near that single entrance while the rest of the continent is dark and potentially dry.
They could possibly create mirrors to reflect the sunlight to a larger part of the underground/underwater region.
Once they figured out how to create electricity much more of the continent could be used for living, growing crops, etc.
Now to figure out how to keep the island from being discovered...
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The continent is under 60 feet of water, underground. The continent has a small cone like a volcano that rises above the ocean where rain water and sunlight come in to this underground and underwater cavern. The civilization lives near that single entrance while the rest of the continent is dark and potentially dry.
They could possibly create mirrors to reflect the sunlight to a larger part of the underground/underwater region.
Once they figured out how to create electricity much more of the continent could be used for living, growing crops, etc.
Now to figure out how to keep the island from being discovered...
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The continent is under 60 feet of water, underground. The continent has a small cone like a volcano that rises above the ocean where rain water and sunlight come in to this underground and underwater cavern. The civilization lives near that single entrance while the rest of the continent is dark and potentially dry.
They could possibly create mirrors to reflect the sunlight to a larger part of the underground/underwater region.
Once they figured out how to create electricity much more of the continent could be used for living, growing crops, etc.
Now to figure out how to keep the island from being discovered...
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
The continent is under 60 feet of water, underground. The continent has a small cone like a volcano that rises above the ocean where rain water and sunlight come in to this underground and underwater cavern. The civilization lives near that single entrance while the rest of the continent is dark and potentially dry.
They could possibly create mirrors to reflect the sunlight to a larger part of the underground/underwater region.
Once they figured out how to create electricity much more of the continent could be used for living, growing crops, etc.
Now to figure out how to keep the island from being discovered...
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
answered 40 mins ago
Tracy Cramer
1,214511
1,214511
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Make the Cost of Trading with India Lower
It's popularly said that Columbus was attempting to prove some novel scientific concept of the roundness of the Earth when he set sail, but that really is not the case. Navigators used circular Earth equations even before the 1400s to get everywhere. In fact, the calculations of the radius of the Earth were pretty good.
Columbus did the math as best he could and calculated that he could ship goods more cost effectively by boat than the current costs of going over land and dealing with dozens of middle-men, governments, bandits; or the other alternative of sailing around the coast of Africa at great risk due to storms and taking a very long time to take such a long route.
Arrogant as everyone was, no one even considered the possibility that there might be a landmass in that enormous expanse.
If your continent could manipulate the political and economic situation to keep an easy and low-cost trade route to India open, it's extremely likely that no one would bother to sail west. If you have that kind of political clout, you could also maybe discourage people with enough money to send a few boats on what very well might be a suicide mission from doing so.
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Make the Cost of Trading with India Lower
It's popularly said that Columbus was attempting to prove some novel scientific concept of the roundness of the Earth when he set sail, but that really is not the case. Navigators used circular Earth equations even before the 1400s to get everywhere. In fact, the calculations of the radius of the Earth were pretty good.
Columbus did the math as best he could and calculated that he could ship goods more cost effectively by boat than the current costs of going over land and dealing with dozens of middle-men, governments, bandits; or the other alternative of sailing around the coast of Africa at great risk due to storms and taking a very long time to take such a long route.
Arrogant as everyone was, no one even considered the possibility that there might be a landmass in that enormous expanse.
If your continent could manipulate the political and economic situation to keep an easy and low-cost trade route to India open, it's extremely likely that no one would bother to sail west. If you have that kind of political clout, you could also maybe discourage people with enough money to send a few boats on what very well might be a suicide mission from doing so.
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Make the Cost of Trading with India Lower
It's popularly said that Columbus was attempting to prove some novel scientific concept of the roundness of the Earth when he set sail, but that really is not the case. Navigators used circular Earth equations even before the 1400s to get everywhere. In fact, the calculations of the radius of the Earth were pretty good.
Columbus did the math as best he could and calculated that he could ship goods more cost effectively by boat than the current costs of going over land and dealing with dozens of middle-men, governments, bandits; or the other alternative of sailing around the coast of Africa at great risk due to storms and taking a very long time to take such a long route.
Arrogant as everyone was, no one even considered the possibility that there might be a landmass in that enormous expanse.
If your continent could manipulate the political and economic situation to keep an easy and low-cost trade route to India open, it's extremely likely that no one would bother to sail west. If you have that kind of political clout, you could also maybe discourage people with enough money to send a few boats on what very well might be a suicide mission from doing so.
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
Make the Cost of Trading with India Lower
It's popularly said that Columbus was attempting to prove some novel scientific concept of the roundness of the Earth when he set sail, but that really is not the case. Navigators used circular Earth equations even before the 1400s to get everywhere. In fact, the calculations of the radius of the Earth were pretty good.
Columbus did the math as best he could and calculated that he could ship goods more cost effectively by boat than the current costs of going over land and dealing with dozens of middle-men, governments, bandits; or the other alternative of sailing around the coast of Africa at great risk due to storms and taking a very long time to take such a long route.
Arrogant as everyone was, no one even considered the possibility that there might be a landmass in that enormous expanse.
If your continent could manipulate the political and economic situation to keep an easy and low-cost trade route to India open, it's extremely likely that no one would bother to sail west. If you have that kind of political clout, you could also maybe discourage people with enough money to send a few boats on what very well might be a suicide mission from doing so.
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
answered 22 mins ago
James McLellan
5,0471429
5,0471429
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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1
Do you mean that the continent itself is sentient? Since you say "sail", I'm assuming the most advanced civilizations in your world are comparable to something between 10k BC - ~1800 AD? Could you be a bit more specific?
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
2
This is sadly super relevant. If we are dealing with say people around the copper stone age, it might be enough to simply kill or force to stay anyone who discovers the "continent". It's also impossible to watch and control an entire "continent" given that period. You will run into trouble with that approach later though ...
– Raditz_35
4 hours ago
1
Ok if I had to give a time period probably like 1700s or something close to that
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
That's the problem though I don't want everyone to shipwreck because the continent is inhabited and the inhabitants need to sail too.
– Derel
4 hours ago
1
Can you give us an idea of how large you want the continent to be? Would you accept something the size of Madagascar (587,000 km²), or do you want something similar in size to Australia (7.7M km²), or do need South America (17.8M km²), or what?
– Michael Kjörling♦
4 hours ago