Coral Patch Seamount

rdf:langString Coral Patch Seamount

rdf:langString Coral Patch Seamount

rdf:langString Bathymetric map of Coral Patch Seamount

rdf:langString Coral Patch Seamount is a seamount (underwater mountain) between Madeira and mainland Portugal in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is an elongated 120 kilometres (75 mi) long and 70 kilometres (43 mi) wide mountain that rises to a depth of about 645 metres (2,116 ft), with nine volcanic cones on its summit. It has steeper southern slopes and a gentle northern slope. To its west lies Ampére Seamount, and together with several neighbouring seamounts it is one of the Horseshoe Seamounts. The seamount was probably formed by the in the Miocene, together with buckling processes in the oceanic crust. It was initially probably an island. There is evidence of submarine landslides and active faults which constitute a tsunami hazard; the 1755 Lisbon earthquake may have occurred north of the seamount. The name Coral Patch Seamount refers to the presence of cold water corals on the seamount. Their occurrence there was reported first in 1878, five years before the actual discovery of the seamount. They are only sparse on Coral Patch Seamount, probably due to lack of nutrients. A number of other submarine animals including fish have been observed.