Atlantis, the legendary city on an island in the Atlantic Ocean, was first described by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato as an empire larger than even the Roman Empire at its height. According to those people who believe in its reality, Atlantis existed in about 9,000 BCE (or the 1200s BCE according to another interpretation). Its empire allegedly stretched from the North American copper mines of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the shores of Mexico and Colombia in the west, to Italy and Egypt in the east, encompassing more territories and peoples than any other empire. Plato claims, in the middle of Atlantis's war against the Mediterranean world, the island of Atlas, of which Atlantis was the capital, sank "in a single day and night" of earthquakes and floods. In this mesmerizing story, readers investigate the fascinating Atlantis legend and discover the perspectives of those who believe in its existence, those who don't, and the evidence each side uses to support its claims. Sidebars entitled Lost World Files, describe various theories and historical facts, and Seeker's Account, explain Atlantologists assertions.