What are submarine canyons and where are they?

Submarine canyon, any of a class of narrow steep-sided valleys that cut into continental slopes and continental rises of the oceans. Submarine canyons originate either within continental slopes or on a continental shelf. They are rare on continental margins that have extremely steep continental slopes or escarpments. read more

Submarine canyons are more common on the steep slopes found on active margins compared to those on the gentler slopes found on passive margins. They show erosion through all substrates, from unlithified sediment to crystalline rock. Canyons are steeper, shorter, more dendritic and more closely spaced on active than on passive continental margins. read more

Submarine canyons are the main pathways by which sediments reach the deep sea. Turbidity currents leave characteristic sediment patterns when they come to rest on the continental rise. They spread out horizontally and create depositional features called deep-sea fans. read more