Baffled scientists find 'perfect' holes under the Atlantic Ocean that look 'human-made'

Scientists have been left puzzled after a line of 'perfectly aligned' holes were discovered on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Exploration in the US have shared their findings after a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) found the indentations a whole 1.7 miles beneath the surface.

The holes were uncovered during a mission to monitor deep-sea coral and sponge habitats at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores.

They appear to be located a perfect distance apart, with small amounts of sediment around them suggesting they may be the result of drilling.

The origin of the indentations, located 1.7 miles beneath the surface of the ocean, remains a mystery (National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration)

NOAA have now asked the public for their ideas on what the holes might be, writing on their Facebook page: "On Saturday's #Okeanos dive, we observed several of these sublinear sets of holes in the sediment. These holes have been previously reported from the region, but their origin remains a mystery.

"While they look almost human made, the little piles of sediment around the holes make them seem like they were excavated by... something."

Commenters were naturally forthcoming with their theories, with many suggesting they were made by humans.

The discovery was made by the NOAA Ocean Exploration team in the US while surveying the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration)

One person noticed how the holes "seem to have straight edges" and suggested that "two concrete slabs" has been placed together underneath the seabed, causing sediment to fall through them.

Another supported this theory, writing: "I agree it looks like sediment falling down through openings, not pressure blowing upward. If there could possibly be something like a submarine buried under there that shifted and sediment fell down through the vents/holes of the outer casing."

Another internet user instead proposed the marks were evidence of a "previously unknown crab species" which "hides in rectangular holes" waiting to hunt prey.

Members of the public were asked for their theories on the holes, with some suggesting something had been buried beneath (National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration)

But the most popular suggestion was that an unknown company was conducting samples at the site, leaving the marks behind as they drilled into the seabed.

In addition to the holes, the NOAA mission also explored a couple of active black smoker vent chimneys, and amphipods, octocorals, and tubes of unknown origin.

The Mid-Atlantic ridge is the longest mountain range in the world, and separates the North American tectonic plate from the Eurasian Plate and African Plates.