Stories
Discover the Incredible Underwater River Flowing Inside the Atlantic Ocean
N
News18•11-10-2026, 13:51
Discover the Incredible Underwater River Flowing Inside the Atlantic Ocean
- •Scientists have discovered unique currents deep in the ocean that flow just like a river, such as the one found in the Atlantic Ocean near the Congo River mouth.
- •Known as turbidity currents, these dense streams of water are filled with soil, sand, and silt, moving through deep valleys on the ocean floor due to their high density and gravity.
- •The massive Congo Canyon on the ocean floor allows these dense streams to travel long distances, sometimes at very high speeds, driven by sediment-laden water.
- •These powerful ocean-floor currents can potentially damage underwater communication cables, making scientific research and monitoring essential for protecting marine infrastructure.
- •Studying these hidden underwater rivers helps scientists understand natural geological processes and the transportation of sediment to the depths of the ocean.
Key Questions Answered
The dense mixture of soil, sand, and silt carried by rivers like the Congo becomes heavier than the surrounding seawater, causing it to flow downwards along ocean floor slopes due to gravity.
This unique underwater current is located in the Atlantic Ocean near the mouth of Africa's Congo River, flowing through a massive ocean floor valley known as the Congo Canyon.
Yes, sediment-laden currents in the Congo Canyon can move at very high speeds and possess enough impact to damage communication cables laid beneath the ocean.
