deep-sea fans

Deep-sea fans are large, underwater sediment deposits shaped like the spread of a hand or a fan. They form at the mouths of steep canyons on the ocean floor where rivers of sediment, often triggered by underwater landslides, flow down from the land to the sea. As the sediment travels, it spreads out and accumulates, creating these fan-like structures. Deep-sea fans are important for understanding geological processes, marine ecosystems, and can even influence underwater currents. They are also potential sites for natural resources like oil and gas, making their study significant in geology and environmental science.