In April 2003, scientists on the German research vessel Meteor were cruising toward a site off the arid northwestern coast of Africa. On a mission to examine the erosion that sculpts the ocean floor, the crew was anxious to reach the study site to focus the ship's seafloor-scanning sonar on an area where they knew undersea landslides had occurred. It's a good thing they turned their equipment on early. At least 150 kilometers short of their destination, the sonar revealed a previously unknown undersea canyon deep enough to swallow an 85-story skyscraper.
Note: To comment, Science News subscribing members must now establish a separate login relationship with Disqus. Click the Disqus icon below, enter your e-mail and click “forgot password” to reset your password. You may also log into Disqus using Facebook, Twitter or Google.