Source- This post on Nazca Ridge has been created based on the article “Ocean World Exploration: A New Seamount And Previously Unknown Species Discovered” published in “Astrobiology” on 2nd September 2024.
Why in News?
Recently, a team of oceanographers identified and charted a new seamount on the Nazca Ridge, located 900 miles off the coast of Chile in international waters.
About Nazca Ridge
1. Location: The Nazca Ridge is a prominent submarine geological feature located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
2. Area: It extends over 1,100 kilometers (about 680 miles) from the coast of Peru towards the west.
3. Geology: The ridge is part of the Nazca Plate, which is an oceanic tectonic plate that underlies much of the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
4. Formation: The Nazca Ridge formed over a hotspot, where rising magma created volcanic islands and underwater mountains made mostly of basalt.
6. Geologically, the Nazca Ridge is notable for its interaction with the South American Plate. As the Nazca Plate moves eastward, it subducts beneath the South American Plate along the Peru-Chile Trench.
This subduction influences regional earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the uplift of the Andes. The ridge’s presence also affects the subduction angle, leading to unique geological phenomena.
7. The unique underwater topography of the ridge creates a range of habitats for marine life, supporting diverse ecosystems. It is home to a variety of marine species, including many that are unique to the area.
About Nazca plate
1. It is located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, near the western coast of South America. It interacts with the South American Plate.
2. Its collision with the South American Plate contributes to the creation of the Andes Mountains. This interaction also leads to significant volcanic activity in the region.
3. The Nazca Plate is being pushed under the South American Plate in a process called subduction. This subduction affects the region’s geology, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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