Japan Trench

The Japan Trench is an oceanic trench, a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, in the floor of the northern Pacific Ocean off northeast Japan. It extends from the Kuril Islands to the Bonin Islands and is 9,000 m (30,000 ft) at its deepest. This trench is created when the oceanic Pacific plate subducts beneath the continental Eurasian plate. The subduction process, together with the friction created 'drags' the plates downwards, causing a deep-sea trench to be formed.

On August 11 1989 the Shinkai 6500 three-person submersible descended to 6,526 m (21,414 ft.) while exploring the Japan Trench.

See also

• Oceanic trench
• Pacific Ring of Fire

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