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Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges
The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are two seamount chains that stretch across 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) in the southeastern Pacific. This region is isolated by the Humboldt Current and the Atacama Trench, producing unique biodiversity with one of the highest levels of marine endemism on Earth. The ridges provide important habitats and migration corridors for many ecologically important species, including 82 threatened or endangered species. Recent explorations have documented the deepest light-dependent reefs on Earth, as well as numerous species new to science. Not only is this region a biodiversity hotspot, it is also culturally significant as Indigenous Pacific Islanders and others have recognized its importance for centuries. Commercial activity is still low in this region. We must act now to protect its unique resources before they are lost forever.
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The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are one of the most unique diversity hotspots on Earth. Located off the west coast of South America, they include over 110 seamounts that stretch across 2,900 kilometers.
Over 73% of these ridges lie in areas beyond national jurisdiction, where they are unprotected and under threat from overfishing, plastic pollution, climate change, and potential deep-sea mining.
The region harbors one of the most unique collections of ecosystems and species on Earth. For many groups of organisms, nearly half of the species are endemic to the region and found nowhere else on our planet.
The ridges provide critical habitats and migration corridors for whales, sea turtles, and numerous other ecologically important species, including 82 threatened or endangered species.
The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges represent the easternmost corner of the Polynesian Triangle, a region with an exceptionally rich and long history of seafaring cultures.
Due to its high productivity, the region provides important feeding grounds for a wide variety of seabirds.
Recent explorations in this region have documented one of the deepest light-dependent coral reefs on Earth, as well as numerous species that are new to science.
Commercial activity is still low in this region. We must act now to protect its unique resources before they are lost forever.