Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
1 comment 
Submarine Waterfall Impresses With Height, Width, and Volume, Revealing an Oceanic Phenomenon of Great Impact on Global Circulation.
The largest known waterfall on the planet does not appear on the surface.
It lies submerged between Greenland and Iceland, in the Denmark Strait, where a mass of cold water descends approximately 3.5 kilometers toward the ocean floor, with an estimated flow rate of about 5 million cubic meters per second and a width of approximately 160 kilometers, according to international oceanographic institutions.
The most common question when discussing major waterfalls tends to be about the tallest waterfall in the world.
-
These living root bridges and ladders are over 700 years old and help indigenous people survive in one of the rainiest regions in the world.
-
From sertanejo star to international investor: Ana Castela invests millions in a mansion in the USA, creates a themed accommodation in Orlando, and shows that the “boiadeira” also wants to grow away from the stage.
-
The 10 most stunning motorhomes in the world: a $3 million trailer with a rooftop nightclub and garage for a Ferrari, “palaces on wheels” with Italian marble, private cinema, and five-star hotel luxury for billionaires.
-
Trump wanted to spend $400 million on the White House, but the courts prohibited the million-dollar construction.
According to geographic databases, the title belongs to Angel Falls in Venezuela, where the Churún River drops about 979 meters from the top of Auyantepui in the southeast of the country.
It is the highest uninterrupted drop on solid ground.
However, researchers identified a formation even larger at the end of the 1980s, but located on the ocean floor.
This is the waterfall of the Denmark Strait, recorded in oceanographic surveys published since 1989.
Submarine Waterfall in the Denmark Strait
The structure is located in an ocean corridor that connects the Greenland Sea to the Irminger Sea.
Studies describe how the very cold water from the north flows across the submarine terrain and descends thousands of meters until it encounters deeper and slightly warmer layers.
This process forms a continuous drop within the water column itself.
In measurements conducted by agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), variations in temperature, density, and flow have been recorded, which can explain the behavior of the waterfall.
The descent occurs over an elevation known as the Greenland–Iceland Rise, where the ocean floor’s relief contributes to the downward movement.
The approximate width of 160 kilometers and the flow rate of millions of cubic meters per second make the waterfall stand out among already documented oceanic phenomena.
Researchers compare its volume to that of large known rivers, emphasizing that the underwater flow exceeds that of major surface river systems.
Being completely submerged, the phenomenon does not display the typical visual characteristics of waterfalls observed on land.
The descent occurs within the ocean, without the formation of mist or spray, and can only be analyzed through specific instruments, such as depth sondes and temperature and salinity sensors.
Physics and Dynamics of Cold Dense Water
The explanation for the existence of a submarine waterfall lies in the difference in density between water masses.
Experts point out that the cold water from the Arctic is denser than the relatively warmer water of the Irminger Sea.
When both meet in the Denmark Strait, the colder water tends to sink.
This movement is known as overflow.
In the case of the Denmark Strait, the flow moves from about 600 meters of depth to almost 4,000 meters, following the ocean floor’s relief.
The dynamics are similar to the concept of a waterfall: a volume of water descending from a higher level to a lower one due to gravity.
Role of the Waterfall in Global Ocean Circulation
According to oceanographers, this submerged waterfall is part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a process that redistributes heat, salinity, and nutrients between the North Atlantic and other regions.
The cold and dense water that sinks in the Denmark Strait contributes to the formation of the North Atlantic Deep Water, a fundamental layer for the balance of global circulation.
This mechanism influences heat transport to high latitudes and participates in the renewal of deep waters, which, when returning to the surface in other areas, help sustain marine ecosystems sensitive to nutrient availability.
Climatic Risks and Flow Changes
Climate models indicate that the AMOC may undergo changes due to ocean warming and the increased influx of freshwater from glacier melting.
According to researchers dedicated to this topic, the reduction in surface water density may decrease the volume of cold water capable of sinking in the North Atlantic.
If this process weakens, structures such as the waterfall of the Denmark Strait may also be altered.
Studies suggest that changes in ocean circulation have the potential to influence temperature patterns, rainfall distribution, and sea levels in various regions.
The existence of a waterfall over 3.5 kilometers deep in the ocean raises a relevant question about how barely visible but essential phenomena for the climate system can help understand the future behavior of the seas.
Viva a natureza, sabedoria e grande sensibilidade de alterar o clima ajudando os habitantes desse imenso mar. Somente com respeito e amor a natureza, poderemos mudar nossos destinos.