This chapter reports some opinions of Jim Allen, who did several expeditions in Bolivia and hard worked tenths of years to connect Atlantis to South America.

  The findings on the Altiplano and its correct identification with the plane of Atlantis reflects the expeditions and studies of Jim Allen (1) who also worked as cartographer and interpreter of aerial phtography. Now let him take word on Atlantis...

It seems that South America has a new rival: Cuba. What about it?

What published evidence is there for Cuba? Is there the rectangular plain and ringed mountain?

Did you hear about a possible underwater city 700 meters below sea level? Could it be related to Atlantis? 

Where? I heard of two cities off India, but that does not make them Atlantis

Clues of civilization in the Bahamas. Colonies of South America - Atlantis ?

Maybe

The capital city lies probably beneath the ground. Do you think you have found the right hill where the city flourished? Why can't we find any consistent clue for the time being?

We have got consistent clues. The city may be beneath the ground elsewhere, but at Pampa Aullagas, the site matches the Greek and the Bolivian legends, it is in the correct location, it is the only site in the world that has the rings of land formation (2) and has also been destroyed by earthquakes, the sand on the site is that thrown up by the earthquakes in a process called Liquifaction.

Have you researched also other canals in the Altiplano or are you planning to do that?

I see some on satelitte photos (3) near Pampa Aullagas which I would like to look at on the ground

What are the exact measuraments of the rectangular part of the Altiplano? Are Plato's stadia really 177 meters?

In the Altiplano the rectangular plain corresponds to a stade of 300ft ie about half Plato's dimension.

Did you try to trace back the old boundaries of lake Poopò in 9650 BC in order to locate the city? Is that possible? 

The level of the lake varies all the time, but the location of Pampa Aullagas is in the correct place in the centre of the plain and at present it is about 50 stades from the sea.

I read that you have great geographical skills and that you are very good in taking all the possible physical information on a particular area through aerial photos ? How did these skills help you in finding the Altiplano?

In the first instance I built physical models of the Altiplano which is how I came to find the rectangular area.

Many people still believe Atlantis is in the middle of the actual Atlantic Ocean and so don't believe that Atlantis is South America. Can your theory be an extension, or better, a modern version of that one?

Forget the Atlantic Ocean, there has never been a sunken continent there.

Can you comment what exactly is the "opposite continent" mentioned by Plato?

The oppoisite continet is the continet of Asia and the islands of the Pacific are the "stepping stones" Plato mentioned

Tiahuanaco. Do you believe it dates back 15000 BC? could this be a convincing archaeological evidence of Atlantis? 

I accept archaeological findings which put it more recently than that, but archeo-astromomers say it is older. It is evidence of great skills amongst the people there.

Nazca lines are placed just near the Altiplano and look like connected to Tiahuanaco. Is this another clue?

Lines on the Altiplano are Llama trails.

What do you know of the lost cities of the Amazonian forest? Can they constitute an additional proof of Atlantis?

Could be an additional proof as there is now evidence of vast civilisation throughout all of Amazonia

Even Macchu Picchu seems to hold secrets. Another clue?

Much later date.

What was your opinion on Atlantis before discovering the features of the Altiplano?

Before finding teh Altiplano I looked at the Atlantic Ocean as others had done. But now that we have a region that fits the description, it is pointless to look elsewhere.

I read in your book that the academic scientists didn't take your work into serious consideration. That's really strange since it's based on geographical evidence corroborated by scientific data. Are things improving from this perspective?

Yes, especially in Bolivia.

Are you planning to write another book on Atlantis?

I already have, it's called "The Atlantis Trail" but have not yet found a publisher

Is there a particular element that people usually tell you that prevents them from understanding the theory of South America?

Not really, except they cannot imagine that the Ancients could navigate the Ocean, however there was coca and tobacco found in Egypt so someone must have sailed there.

The bull was a holy animal in Atlantis. Are there any clues it inhabited South America during the Ice Age?

Not aware of any, but remember Plato's story may incorporate factors from othere stories; but the underlying description of the Plain and the legend of the ringed mountain is proved true as it physically exists.

This interwiew was made on May 2002. In order to know more about Allen's thoughts we even show there an earlier interview (end of 2000) always concerning his activity in the Altiplano.

What is actually happening in the altiplano you found ? What are the current objectives of the research ?

I am about to embark on another expedition this time on behalf of the Learning Channel. We hope to complete the whole of The Atlantis Trail around the desert culminating at a new site I have yet to examine on the edge of the lake but which actually part sunk into the sea, has red, black and white stone and has the same name in the Aymara language as the name of a Bolivian legend of a missing city punished by the gods and sunk into the sea. My objectives have always been to bring this area and discovery to the attention of scientists hoping they would use their resources and technology to investigate it further.

I'm convinced you stroke the final solution. Do you think your theory could evolve in the future ?

Yes. It can always be refined according to more information and each expedition reveals a little bit more.

Are you afraid a new theory could be more convincing than yours ? Justify your answer

NO, it is the only location which fits all the aspects of Plato's geographical description. No other site has these features such as the level plain which most people ignore when putting forward their theories.

How did academic scientist and press hailed your discovery ?

Scientists never respond, the press, acknowledged but not widely enough known

Do you expect new great discoveries soon or do you think it will take time finding more clear evidence of Atlantis in the altiplano ?

 The new site I am visiting may be more than interesting, ultimately it may take a high tech approach, don't forget Plato said the city disappeared under the sea and vanished.

Let's speak about horses. Plato stated in Atlantis there were horse races and this animal was diffuse there. Anyway, unless I'm mistaken, before colonization in America there were not horses... how do you explain that ?

The horse actually originated in the Americas before being hunted to extinction. This was a smaller type of horse to the one we know today. It is more probable that the horses with charioteers etc refers to the field army which the Sea Peoples also had with them when they invaded Egypt. Whether these are the originals of Atlantis or this part was grafted onto an earlier story it is impossible to say.

From some reperts seems Carthaginians and Phoenicians reached America. Do you think they could bring the tale of Atlantis to the Old World ?

Possibly. They were probably associates if not descendants of the Atlanteans.

What do you think your theory miss ?

Nothing.

The same question 6) for the elephant.

The elephant known as the Mastodon was also native to the Americas and hunted to extinction.

Have you many collaborators in the Altiplano or people who try to help your cause ?

Not many, lack of funds has always been a real problem.

What kind of technology do you think Atlantis developed ?

It is not for me to speculate beyond that which Plato mentioned. They were good miners and engineers, especially in canal construction, building and agriculture. Possibly also shipbuilding.

What about the ruins of a channel in the altiplano ? Could it be excavated out ? Do you think there are other channels underground ? Could they be discovered by an x-rays analysis ?

Yes it could and should be. There are numerous canals all over the Altiplano, especially at Chipaya and on satellite photos I can see a whole grid like pattern near the new site I am going to (he's referring to the third photo in the page). There are quite possibly more underground. Again it calls for a high tech approach.