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 metres dropping from the shallow shelf the Bering Sea to the depths of the Aleutian Basin[1]. Zhemchug Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon. 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].
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.