Pacific Ocean: Ocean Floor

The floor of the Pacific Ocean, which has an average depth of c.14,000 ft (4,300 m), is largely a deep-sea plain. The greatest known depth (36,070 ft/10,994 m) is in the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench c.250 mi (400 km) SW of Guam. Rising from the plain are swells (many of which are volcanic), seamounts, and guyots; the extensive Albatross Plateau covers most of the SE and E central Pacific basin.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Exploration and Settlement
• Commerce and Shipping
• Currents
• Ocean Floor
• Coastline and Islands
• Extent and Seas
• Bibliography

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