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The temperature ranges from 34 to 39°F (1 to 3°C) at the bottom. However, the rest of the trench varies more drastically. There are steam vents throughout the trench and it can reach 572°F (300°C) due to the hydrothermal energy.
The Marianas Trench Marine National Monument was established in 2009. This is largely in part to protect the rare organisms that thrive within its depths.
The trench's mystery and allure have inspired fictional accounts, including 'Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror' (1997) by New York Times bestselling author Steve Alten.
Environmentalists continue to push for increasing awareness and interest in protecting the environment from man-made threats. The water quality and wildlife of the Mariana Trench are under constant surveillance by the local government.
Named after Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, the term 'hadel zone' refers to the deepest regions of the ocean which are found in oceanic trenches.
The trench serves as an international hotspot for scientific research, attracting multidisciplinary studies aimed at unraveling its geological, biological, and oceanographic secrets.
Studying the Mariana Trench offers a unique opportunity to peer into the depths of the Earth's history, thanks to the sedimentary layers and geological formations.
From 1946 through 1993, several countries used ocean disposal or ocean dumping as a method to dispose of nuclear and radioactive waste. The Mariana Trench was one of these places.
Researchers have found worrying levels of toxins known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the systems of scavenger crustaceans. Banned in 1970 for the environmental risk they cause, high rates of this toxin were found at multiple depths in the trench's sediment.
Unfortunately, the depths of the ocean can act like sinkholes for discarded pollutants and plastic waste. This has become a serious concern in the Mariana Trench.
The movement of the two plates was instrumental in creating the volcanic Mariana Islands. Studies of these plates have revealed some of the oldest crustal materials on the planet, up to 170 million years old.
The Mariana Trench was first discovered in 1875 during the Challenger expedition, named after the ship HMS Challenger. The explorers used a weighted rope to measure the depth of the trench, and it was recorded at 26,850 feet (8,183 m).
Despite the lack of light and the hostile environment, numerous organisms live inside the Mariana Trench. In fact, there are more than 200 microorganisms and other living creatures active inside the trench.
The trench is crescent-shaped. It's located near two tectonic plates, with the larger Pacific Plate sitting under the Mariana Trench.
The recorded depth of the trench so far is 36,037 feet (10,984 meters). That's almost seven miles, or 11 kilometers.
The area where the trench is considered to be the deepest is named Challenger Deep, although its exact location is difficult to define.
The trench is approximately 1,580 miles long (2,550 km), with a width of 43 miles (69 km).
The trench is located 124 miles (200 km) from the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The Mariana Trench is the deepest trench on Earth. Covered by ocean water, it's a geographical feature known as an oceanic trench.
In 1960, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh descended to the trench's deepest point in a bathyscaphe named Trieste. A bathyscaphe is a self-propelled underwater vehicle that can reach greater depths than a submarine.
In 2020, a Russian exploration vessel called Vityaz spent three hours in the trench, thus becoming the first vessel to explore it autonomously.
In 2019, Texas explorer and investor Victor Vescovo piloted the DSV Limiting Factor to a depth of 35,853 feet (10,928 m), creating a new world record by 52 feet (16 m). That same year, he dove for the second time, becoming the first person to dive into Challenger Deep twice.
James Cameron piloted a submersible, one that he personally helped design, to about 35,787 feet (10,908 m), setting a world record in 2012.
The exploration of the Mariana Trench fuels innovation in science, engineering, and technology. Pictured are Richard Branson and explorer Chris Welsh with a solo piloted submarine that was put on hold to visit the trench.
The 1960 exploration was sponsored by the US Navy. They were successful in mapping the entire site.
By comparison, Mount Everest stands at 29,026 feet (8,848 m) above sea level, meaning the deepest part of the Mariana Trench is 7,044 feet (2,147 m) deeper than Everest is tall.
The islands were named after Queen Mariana of Austria, who was married to King Philip IV of Spain. Subsequently, the trench was named after the nearby islands.
A more accurate measurement was made by Challenger II in 1951. An echo sounder was used and recorded a depth of 35,760 feet (10,899 m) at Challenger Deep. Pictured is an example of an echo sounder from that era.
In 2018, a film adaptation of Alten's book titled 'The Meg' was released. It stars Jason Statham, who's enlisted to stop a gigantic prehistoric shark from attacking the Chinese coast.
Sources: (CNN) (National Geographic) (Live Science)
See also: Submerged sensations! Amazing underwater attractions to dive for
As technology improved, clearer pictures and more accurate readings have been possible. Both sonar and multibeam echo sounders, together with remotely operated cameras, have provided increasing detail of the trench.
The Earth's land surface is truly remarkable, with its mountainous peaks and spectacular valleys. When we think of the ocean's topography, we tend to imagine a flat sandy floor, but it's actually just as varied as our world above water. One of the most intriguing underwater "valleys" is the Mariana Trench, a place of mystery and wonder shrouded in the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean. It's famous for being the deepest oceanic trench, as well as the home to Challenger Deep—the deepest known point on the Earth's surface.
From mind-boggling depths to astonishing creatures, click on for some fascinating facts about this deep-sea phenomenon.
From mind-boggling depths to astonishing creatures, click on for some fascinating facts about this deep-sea phenomenon.
What do you know about the deepest point on Earth?
Fascinating facts about the Mariana Trench
LIFESTYLE Deepest point on earth
The Earth's land surface is truly remarkable, with its mountainous peaks and spectacular valleys. When we think of the ocean's topography, we tend to imagine a flat sandy floor, but it's actually just as varied as our world above water. One of the most intriguing underwater "valleys" is the Mariana Trench, a place of mystery and wonder shrouded in the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean. It's famous for being the deepest oceanic trench, as well as the home to Challenger Deep—the deepest known point on the Earth's surface.
From mind-boggling depths to astonishing creatures, click on for some fascinating facts about this deep-sea phenomenon.