Mendeleev Ridge
Encyclopedia
The Mendeleev Ridge is a broad ridge in the Arctic Ocean
from the East Siberian Sea
area of the Siberian Shelf
to the central areas of the ocean. It is attached to the Alpha Ridge
of the Amerasian Basin
. It is named after Dmitri Mendeleyev.The Ridge was discovered in 1948 by Soviet
high latitude expeditions. The name was approved by the Sub-Committee on Geographical Names and Nomenclature of Ocean Bottom Features (SCGN, now SCUFN) in April 1987.
The Mendeleev Ridge is instrumental in the Russian claim to the North pole. The territory claimed by Russia in the submission is a large portion of the Arctic Ocean, including the North Pole. One of the arguments was a statement, that the underwater Lomonosov Ridge
and Mendeleev Ridge are extensions of the Eurasian continent. In 2002 the UN Commission neither rejected nor accepted the Russian proposal, recommending additional research.
The origin of the ridge is still contested due to limited data, and it is unclear whether it is an oceanic or continental feature and whether its origin is associated with the Alpha Ridge.
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
from the East Siberian Sea
East Siberian Sea
The East Siberian Sea is a marginal sea in the Arctic Ocean. It is located between the Arctic Cape to the north, the coast of Siberia to the south, the New Siberian Islands to the west and Cape Billings, close to Chukotka, and Wrangel Island to the east...
area of the Siberian Shelf
Siberian Shelf
The Siberian Shelf, one of the Arctic Ocean coastal shelves , is the largest continental shelf of the Earth, a part of the continental shelf of Russia. It extends from the continent of Eurasia in the general area of North Siberia into the Arctic Ocean. It stretches to offshore. It is relatively...
to the central areas of the ocean. It is attached to the Alpha Ridge
Alpha Ridge
The Alpha Ridge is a major volcanic ridge under the Arctic Ocean between the Canada Basin and the Lomonosov Ridge. It was active during the formation of the Amerasian Basin. It was discovered in 1963. The highest elevation is about 2.7 km over the ocean floor. It is 200 to 450 km wide...
of the Amerasian Basin
Amerasian Basin
The Amerasian Basin is one of the two major basins into which the North Polar Basin of the Arctic Ocean is split by the Lomonosov Ridge . It extends from Ellesmere Island to the East Siberian Sea...
. It is named after Dmitri Mendeleyev.The Ridge was discovered in 1948 by Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
high latitude expeditions. The name was approved by the Sub-Committee on Geographical Names and Nomenclature of Ocean Bottom Features (SCGN, now SCUFN) in April 1987.
The Mendeleev Ridge is instrumental in the Russian claim to the North pole. The territory claimed by Russia in the submission is a large portion of the Arctic Ocean, including the North Pole. One of the arguments was a statement, that the underwater Lomonosov Ridge
Lomonosov Ridge
The Lomonosov Ridge is an unusual underwater ridge of continental crust in the Arctic Ocean. It spans 1800 km from the New Siberian Islands, as it is part of Eurasia, over the central part of the ocean to Ellesmere Island of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The width of the Lomonosov Ridge varies...
and Mendeleev Ridge are extensions of the Eurasian continent. In 2002 the UN Commission neither rejected nor accepted the Russian proposal, recommending additional research.
The origin of the ridge is still contested due to limited data, and it is unclear whether it is an oceanic or continental feature and whether its origin is associated with the Alpha Ridge.