Abyssal plain facts for kids

Imagine a huge, super-flat area deep under the ocean. That's an abyssal plain! These underwater plains are found very deep, usually between 3,000 and 6,000 meters (about 2 to 3.7 miles) below the ocean's surface. They cover more than half of our planet's surface and are some of the flattest, smoothest places on Earth.

Scientists believe abyssal plains are home to many different kinds of life. They also play a big part in how carbon moves through the ocean. This includes how calcium carbonate (like shells) dissolves and how much carbon dioxide is in the air over thousands of years. You can also find special places called hydrothermal vents and cold seeps on these plains.

Images for kids

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  Oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges. Older crust then sinks back into the Earth at oceanic trenches.

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  This map shows the age of the oceanic crust. Red areas are the youngest, and blue areas are the oldest.

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  The location of the Challenger Deep, the deepest known part of the Earth's oceans, found in the Mariana Trench.

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  Tubeworms and soft corals living at a cold seep 3,000 meters deep. Other animals like Eelpouts, a galatheid crab, and alvinocarid shrimp are feeding on mussels that get energy from chemicals.

See also

In Spanish: Llanura abisal para niños