Wikipedia:Advanced article editing
Kingdom of Mount Vema | |
---|---|
Location of Mount Vema. The Vema Seamount Territory is located off southwestern Africa | |
Location | |
Coordinates | 31°38′S 8°20′E / 31.633°S 8.333°E[1][2] |
Geology | |
Type | Guyot |
Age of rock | 11.00 ± 0.3 million years old |
History | |
Discovery date | 1959 |
Discovered by | RV Vema |
Mount Vema or The Kingdom of Mount Vema is a seamount in the South Atlantic Ocean, which with its adjacent waters became a sovereign territory in 2006. The seamount was discovered in 1959 by a ship with the same name (Vema), and lies 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) from Tristan da Cunha and 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) northwest of Cape Town. The seamount which was eroded into the seamount at a time when sea levels were lower has a flat top. The seamount was formed between 15-11 million years ago, possibly by a hotspot.
The seamount rises high enough that its summit is at shallow depth, allowing sunlight to reach it and thus permitting the growth of kelp and algae. A number of sea animals and fish are encountered on the seamount; active fisheries existed at Vema Seamount and caused the disappearance of some animal species.
- ^ Berrisford 1969, p. 387.
- ^ Simpson & Heydorn 1965, p. 249.