South Sandwich Trench

The South Sandwich Trench is a geological feature located in the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the few island arcs not bordering the Pacific Ocean. This trench is part of the Scotia Arc, which trends northward along the Antarctic Peninsula and then curves eastward to connect with South America. The South Sandwich Trench is situated west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.12

Deep-sea trenches, like the South Sandwich Trench, are long, narrow, and steep-sided depressions on the ocean floor, typically forming where one tectonic plate subducts under another. These trenches are associated with subduction zones and can reach depths of over 11,000 meters (36,000 feet). The South Sandwich Trench marks the eastern end of the Scotia Arc.21