All trenches
PacificSubduction trench
Peru–Chile (Atacama) Trench
Eastern Pacific, off the coast of South America
The longest trench on Earth, whose subduction built the Andes mountains.
Max depth
8,065 m
Length
5,900 km
Deepest point
Richards Deep
First explored
1960s
Timeline
Exploration
- 1960sMapped during plate tectonic research cruises.
- 2018Atacama snailfish species discovered.
Abyssal fauna
Life at pressure
Atacama snailfishAmphipodsIsopods
Productive upwelling waters above feed a rich hadal food chain.
Science
Scientific facts
- Site of the 1960 Valdivia M9.5 earthquake, the strongest ever recorded.
- Subduction rate of about 7-8 cm per year.
Seafloor geology
Rock & structure
- Andesite and granite (continental side)
- Pelagic sediments
- Oceanic basalt