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Gakkel Ridge facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Arctic Ocean bathymetric features
Main bathymetric/topographic features of the Arctic Ocean

The Gakkel Ridge (formerly known as the Nansen Cordillera and Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge) is a mid-oceanic ridge. It is located in the Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Siberia. It is a divergent tectonic plate boundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate. It is 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi) in length. Geologically, it connects the northern end of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with the Laptev Sea Rift.

The existence and approximate location of the Gakkel Ridge were predicted by Soviet polar explorer Yakov Yakovlevich Gakkel. It was confirmed on Soviet expeditions in the Arctic around 1950. The ridge is named after him. The name was recognized in April 1987 by SCUFN (under that body's old name, the Sub-Committee on Geographical Names and Nomenclature of Ocean Bottom Features).

  • Jokat, Wilfried, and Mechita C. Schmidt-Aursch. 2007. "Geophysical Characteristics of the Ultraslow Spreading Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean". Geophysical Journal International. 168, no. 3: 983-998. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03278.x



Images for kids

  • Awi-Pillowlava hg

    Pillow lava from the Gakkel Ridge

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dorsal de Gakkel para niños

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