Hills and valleys carved by ancient rivers in area the size of Belgium has remained untouched for more than 34m years


Exactly when sunshine last touched this hidden world is difficult to determine, but the researchers are confident it has been at least 14m years.

“We are now on course to develop atmospheric conditions similar to those that prevailed” between 14m and 34m years ago, when it was 3C to 7C warmer than currently, they wrote in the journal Nature Communications.