China helps to name world beneath waves

Country's role underlines the scale of its oceanic exploration and research

When most people hear the name Niao Chao, or "Bird's Nest", they immediately think of the National Stadium in Beijing, the site of the 2008 Olympic Games. However, there is another, less-famous Bird's Nest related to China: a 250-meter-high mound, nearly 3,000 meters below the surface of the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The hill, a small volcano, was discovered by the Chinese research vessel Dayang Yihao in August 2008. The name was suggested by its sunken summit, which resembles a sports arena, coupled with the then-ongoing Olympics.