Boundary of Creation: A Report on Project FAMOUS

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.

Produced by Herman W. Kitchen
Support from The National Science Foundation, NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), United States Navy, CNEXO (French National Center of Ocean Exploration)
Host and Narrator Walter Sullivan Author of Continents in Motion and Science Editor for The New York Times
Senior Directors for Project FAMOUS; J.R. Heirtzler Chief Scientist – United States, Claude Reffaud Chef De Project – France, Xavier Le Pichon Directeur Scientifique – France