Challenger Deep: The Deepest Point On Earth

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10 November 2024


Challenger Deep, the deepest known point on Earth, remains one of the most mysterious and least explored places on our planet. Here are some facts about it

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Challenger Deep is located in the western Pacific Ocean at the southern end of the Mariana Trench, near Guam and the Mariana Islands

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Challenger Deep reaches a depth of about 36,000 feet (10,994 meters) below sea level, making it the deepest known part of the world's oceans. That's deeper than Mount Everest is tall

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The pressure at Challenger Deep is over 1,000 times the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level, reaching approximately 16,000 pounds per square inch. This extreme pressure would crush most human-made objects

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Challenger Deep was first surveyed in 1875 by the British ship HMS Challenger, from which it takes its name. The first crewed descent was made in 1960 by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in the Trieste bathyscaphe

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In 2012, filmmaker James Cameron became the first person to make a solo dive to Challenger Deep, reaching the bottom in the Deepsea Challenger submersible

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Due to the depth, Challenger Deep is completely dark and experiences near-freezing temperatures. The area supports unique and highly adapted life forms that survive in extreme conditions

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Microorganisms, small shrimp-like creatures, and some other hardy species have been found here. These creatures are adapted to the high-pressure, low-light environment, using chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis for energy

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In recent years, scientists and explorers have made repeated trips to Challenger Deep. Since 2019, explorer Victor Vescovo has made several dives there, contributing to a deeper understanding of the trench's conditions and biology

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Studying Challenger Deep helps scientists understand deep-sea ecosystems, geology, and the potential for life in extreme environments. Research here could provide clues about similar environments on other planets and moons

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