Scotia Ridge
Quick Summary
The Scotia Ridge is a submarine geological feature in the Scotia Sea, which is part of the South Atlantic Ocean. This ridge forms a large, west-opening loop, connecting South America's Tierra del Fuego to the Antarctic Peninsula. It encloses the Scotia Sea and is characterized by active volcanic and trench systems at its eastern end.123
The Scotia Ridge is associated with two basins: the West Scotia Basin and the East Scotia Basin. These basins are characterized by significant depths, with the West Scotia Basin averaging about 9,800 feet and the East Scotia Basin averaging 5,000 feet. The floors of these basins are largely covered by marine oozes composed of microscopic skeletons, with some areas containing manganese nodules. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current flows through these basins from west to east.14
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