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Health & Science5h 13m ago

The Denmark Strait cataract, Earth's tallest waterfall, sits unseen on the seafloor between Iceland and Greenland, where dense cold water plunges about 3,500 meters down a slope.

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Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland

Who
oceanographers, Mike Clare, Anna Sanchez Vidal
What
The Denmark Strait cataract, Earth's tallest waterfall, sits unseen on the seafloor between Iceland and Greenland, where dense cold water plunges about 3,500 meters down a slope.
When
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 23:00:54 GMT · 5h 13m ago
Where
Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland ·
Why
Cold water from the Nordic Seas meets warmer water from the Irminger Sea, and because the cold mass is denser, it slides underneath and spills down the sloping seabed.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This underwater waterfall, which moves an estimated 3.5 million cubic meters of water per second, plays a significant role in shaping the circulation of the entire Atlantic Ocean.

Story chain

3 events in this thread
  1. Currently Reading5h 13m ago
    The Denmark Strait cataract, Earth's tallest waterfall, sits unseen on the seafloor between Iceland and Greenland, where dense cold water plunges about 3,500 meters down a slope.
  2. Health & Science5h 13m ago
    The Denmark Strait cataract drops about 11,500 feet, down a slope on the ocean floor.
    Open article
  3. Health & Science5h 13m ago
    The tallest waterfall on Earth sits unseen on the seafloor between Iceland and Greenland, with no spray and no audible roar.
    Open article

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