Hawaiian-Emperor chain

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Hawaiian-Emperor chain The Earth's largest volcanic mountain range, extending from the oldest seamount, dated at 78 Ma, near Kamchatka to an active submarine volcano south-east of Hawaii. The chain is regarded as a plume trace (see MANTLE PLUME). It forms two distinct, gentle curves, with a kink dated at approximately 43 Ma and thought to be related to a change in the direction of movement of the Pacific Plate over a stationary hot spot.