Triple junction between South America, Africa and Antarctica

What is it about?

Triple junctions occur where three plates meet. The triple junction near Bouvet Island is unusual as the plate velocities allow it to comprise either a junction of three spreading ridges or of one spreading ridge with two transform faults. Sonar data shown here reveal that the present triple junction is more nearly ridge-ridge-ridge than ridge-fault-fault.

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Why is it important?

Triple junctions in detail rarely seem to form simple junctions between three plates when imaged in detail. In this example, the data suggest that the junction is marked by overlapping rifts.