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Glite Dictionary
Atacama Trench

Atacama Trench

8.4
A long, very deep valley in the Pacific Ocean floor off the coast of Chile
  • proper noun
translation icon : Fosa de Atacama
  • Did you know that the Atacama Trench reaches depths of over 8,000 meters?

Examples

  • Scientists have explored the biodiversity of the Atacama Trench using deep-sea submersibles.

  • Earthquakes are common near the Atacama Trench due to tectonic plate activity.

  • The Atacama Trench is the deepest part of the southeastern Pacific Ocean.

  • The Atacama Trench is the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean.

  • The Atacama Trench is a remarkable geological feature located off the coast of Chile.

  • Researchers have conducted extensive studies of the unique ecosystems found in the Atacama Trench.

  • Divers have observed strange creatures living in the dark depths of the Atacama Trench.

Synonyms

Peru-Chile Trench
vsAtacama Trench
7.2

A very deep valley on the Pacific Ocean floor near Peru and Chile

is the deep seafloor depression off Chile alone rather than off both countries

Surface Forms

Atacama Trench main

Morphology

Atacama + trench

This is a transparent place-name compound: if a learner knows 'Atacama' as a place and 'trench' as a very deep ocean depression, the meaning (a trench located at/near Atacama) is directly inferable. The pattern "PLACE + generic geographic noun" (e.g., Mariana Trench, Peru Trench) is cross-linguistically common and not idiomatic, so no special prior exposure is required beyond knowing the constituents.

Etymology

Atacama Trench gets its name from the nearby Atacama region and the word trench, which means a long, deep 'ditch' or groove. Picture a very deep, narrow 'ditch' under the Pacific Ocean near Chile — that's why the name means a very deep part of the sea floor.