So I was obliged not to exceed this weight while building it to the aforesaid dimensions.' Basic set up: Consequently, under these conditions it needed to displace only nine–tenths of its volume, hence 1,356.48 cubic meters in other words, it was to weigh only that same number of metric tons. In drawing up plans for a ship meant to navigate underwater, I wanted it, when floating on the waves, to lie nine–tenths below the surface and to emerge only one–tenth. Its surface area totals 1,011.45 square meters, its volume 1,507.2 cubic meters-which is tantamount to saying that when it's completely submerged, it displaces 1,500 cubic meters of water, or weighs 1,500 metric tons.

These two dimensions allow you to obtain, via a simple calculation, the surface area and volume of the Nautilus. So it isn't quite built on the ten–to–one ratio of your high–speed steamers but its lines are sufficiently long, and their tapering gradual enough, so that the displaced water easily slips past and poses no obstacle to the ship's movements. The length of this cylinder from end to end is exactly seventy meters, and its maximum breadth of beam is eight meters. It noticeably takes the shape of a cigar, a shape already adopted in London for several projects of the same kind. Its interior is one of the primary settings in Jules Vernes adventure novel 20,000 Leagues. It's a very long cylinder with conical ends. The Nautilus is the name of the fictional submarine invented and commanded by Captain Nemo. 'Here, Professor Aronnax, are the different dimensions of this boat now transporting you. Then he began his description as follows:

The Captain placed before my eyes a working drawing that gave the ground plan, cross section, and side view of the Nautilus. A moment later we were seated on a couch in the lounge, cigars between our lips.

Jules verne nautilus captain