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 dropping from the shallow shelf the Bering Sea to the depths of the Aleutian Basin^[1]. Zhemchug Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon ^[2]. Zhemchug Canyon has two main branches, each larger than typical continental margin canyons such as the Monterey Canyon^[1].

What makes the Zhemchug Canyon the largest canyon in the world is not only its great depth, but its large cross-sectional area.^[1] Zhemchug Canyon is the largest submarine canyon in the world, based on drainage area (11,350 km²) and volume (5800 km³)^[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. Habitat-forming invertebrates such as bubblegum coral, bamboo coral, soft corals, Hexactinellid sponges, and other sponges have been identified during trawl surveys in the canyon.

[edit] References