A hidden force beneath the Atlantic ripped open a 500 kilometer canyon

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A hidden mantle plume helped the Atlantic seafloor rip open, creating an underwater canyon system bigger than the Grand Canyon. The enormous King’s Trough Complex beneath the Atlantic formed when tectonic plates between Europe and Africa pulled apart like a zipper millions of years ago. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com On land, dramatic canyons such as the Grand Canyon are carved over time by flowing rivers. The ocean does not have rivers capable of cutting into rock on that scale. Even so, the seafloor hosts enormous features that surpass the size of the largest land canyons. About 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Portugal lies one of the most striking examples. Known as the King's Trough Complex, this vast underwater structure stretches roughly 500 kilometers and includes a series of parallel trenches and deep basins. At its eastern edge is Peake Deep, one of the deepest locations in the Atlantic Ocean. What created such an immense formation? A team of international researchers led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel has uncovered new clues. Their f
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