Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 11 minutes ago
The Arctic and Antarctica are some of the most dynamic—yet fragile—regions on Earth. And what happens at the poles doesn't stay at the poles!
Explore our planet as you never have before with our new web experience: go.whoi.edu/ocean-world
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The Arctic and Antarctica are some of the most dynamic—yet fragile—regions on Earth. And what happens at the poles doesn't stay at the poles!
Explore our planet as you never have before with our new web experience: go.whoi.edu/ocean-world
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
![Boundary of Creation [TEASER]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ggd9SLnns4w/mqdefault.jpg "Boundary of Creation [TEASER]
Project FAMOUS (French-American Mid-Ocean Undersea Study) marked a significant milestone as the first marine scientific exploration conducted by manned submersibles at a diverging tectonic plate boundary on a mid-ocean ridge. Taking place from 1971 to 1974, a multinational team of scientists focused their efforts on a specific section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, approximately 700 kilometers west of the Azores. Utilizing innovative methods and specialized equipment, the researchers were able to examine the sea floor in unprecedented detail. This groundbreaking project successfully identified the primary mechanisms responsible for creating the median rift valley on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and mapped the zone of oceanic crustal accretion.
Watch the full report here: https://youtu.be/WtdDtgFshn4
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution")
