= Rano Rani Seamounts =
== Possible Anchor Points for West Station ==

The abyssal sea floor in the eastern Equatorial Pacific is 3500 to 4000 meters deep.  West station anchor cables attached to seamounts can be half as long and half as strong.  Before launch loops are built, seasteads should be anchored to the 13 Rano Rahi Seamounts listed below, and the region explored for a few years, while territorial and diplomatic arrangements are negotiated.

These seamounts are further south than optimal, and are offered as examples of named seamounts.

|| Seamount  || Latitude || Longitude || Depth  ||
|| Hotu      || 15.5 S   || 117.3 W   || 1620 m ||
|| Hurihuri  || 18.3 S   || 114.9 W   || 1720 m ||
|| Rangi     || 17.2 S   || 114.3 W   || 1770 m ||
|| Ruru      || 17.7 S   || 116.2 W   || 1790 m ||
|| Toroko    || 17.9 S   || 113.5 W   || 1810 m ||
|| Hakatena  || 18.9 S   || 115.7 W   || 1820 m ||
|| Cloud     || 18.7 S   || 113.8 W   || 1840 m ||
|| Chapple   || 17.9 S   || 114.0 W   || 1910 m ||
|| Patia     || 17.6 S   || 115.0 W   || 1960 m ||
|| Anakena   || 17.6 S   || 113.7 W   || 2040 m ||
|| Taipaka   || 17.8 S   || 117.4 W   || 2120 m ||
|| Bibiariki || 17.6 S   || 115.9 W   || 2750 m || data and map from https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/gazetteer/ , search for Rano Rahi ||

{{ attachment:ranorahi.png | | }}

== Economic Zones ==

The Rano Rahi seamount region is not claimed by any nation.  The anchorages for East Station are closer to South America and those locations might be claimed by Ecuador or other nations post facto.  Map from https://www.marineregions.org/eezmapper.php

{{ attachment:economiczones.png | | }}

== Hurricanes ==

[[ attachment:hurricanes.png | {{ attachment:hurricanes.png | | width=800 }} ]]

== Lightning ==
Strikes per square kilometer per year.

[[ attachment:lightning.png  | {{ attachment:lightning.png | | width=800 }}  ]]

== Intertropical Convergence Zone ==

[[ attachment:itcz.png       | {{ attachment:itcz.png | | width=800 }}       ]]