Zhemchug Canyon

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Zhemchug Canyon is a giant underwater canyon located in the middle of the Bering Sea. This submarine canyon is the largest canyon in the ocean.[1] The canyon has a vertical relief of 2600 meters,[2] dropping from the shallow shelf the Bering Sea to the depths of the Aleutian Basin. What makes the Zhemchug Canyon the largest canyon in the world is not only its great depth, but its large cross-sectional area.[1]

[edit] Ocean wildlife

Zhemchug canyon is important habitat for many species of ocean wildlife. The endangered short-tailed albatross congregates to feed over the surface waters of the canyon. Marine mammals such as Northern Fur Seal feed in the canyon as do many species of whales.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Normark, W.R. and Carlson, P.R., 2003, Giant submarine canyons: Is size any clue to their importance in the rock record? in Chan, M.A., and Archer, A.W., eds., Extreme depositional environments: Mega end members in geologic time: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Special Paper 370, p. 1–15
  2. ^ Forces of Nature: "Bering Sea Canyons." Retrieved March 21, 2007.
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