Oceanographers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute have discovered a colossal underwater mountain in the Pacific Ocean, located 1,448 kilometers off Chile’s coast. This seamount, rising 3,109 meters from the ocean floor, is nearly four times the height of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.
The research, conducted during a 28-day expedition aboard the R/V Falkor (too), used sonar technology to map the seamount in detail. “By measuring the time sound waves take to travel to the seabed and back, we created a precise map of the mountain,” explained Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Institute.
This discovery is part of the team’s broader effort to map the ocean floor, of which only 26% has been explored in detail. The newly found seamount provides a unique habitat for diverse marine species, including sponge gardens, ancient corals, and the rare “Casper” octopus. The team also recorded the first-ever footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid.
These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to protect the deep-sea ecosystem. According to Virmani, “We’ve mapped and explored 25 seamounts, gathering data that could help protect this region under a new UN treaty.”
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