The Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth, is named after the nearby Mariana Islands. This abyssal depth is a wonder of the natural world, revealing secrets of our planet’s underwater landscape.

The Unfathomable Depth

As of 2011 research, the deepest point of the Mariana Trench is about 10,994 meters deep. To put this in perspective, Mount Everest, the tallest mountain peak, stands at 8,848 meters. If Everest were placed in the Mariana Trench, it would be submerged under an additional 2.1 kilometers of water.

Life in Extreme Conditions

Despite extreme pressure, a lack of sunlight, and freezing temperatures at depths over 6,000 meters, life thrives. The trench is home to diverse bacteria and protozoa, sea cucumbers, amphipods, mollusk shells, glowing octopuses, uniquely shaped starfish, blind giant worms, and flatfish with periscopic eyes.

Intense Pressure

The water pressure at the trench’s bottom is 1,072 times higher than the average atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Journey to the Depths

Traveling to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in a bathyscaphe takes about two hours.

The Heat of the Deep

At depths of approximately 1.6 kilometers, hydrothermal vents, also known as ‘black smokers,’ emit water heated up to 450 degrees Celsius.

Solo Descent by a Film Director

In 2012, director James Cameron, famed for movies like “Avatar“ and “Titanic,“ descended to a depth of 10,908 meters in a bathyscaphe, making him the only person to have made a solo dive to the Mariana Trench.

Natural Stone Bridges

Researchers in late 2011 discovered unique natural stone formations resembling bridges, each stretching 69 kilometers across the trench.

A National Monument

In 2009, the Mariana Trench was designated as a United States National Monument.

Historic Descent

The first successful manned descent to the trench’s bottom was achieved in 1960.

Pioneering Oceanic Exploration

Early studies of this oceanic abyss began with the “Challenger“ expedition, after which the deepest point of the trench, the Challenger Deep, is named.

Mountains Beneath the Sea

Scientists have found real mountains on the trench’s floor, with four peaks each rising more than 2.5 kilometers.

The Mariana Trench, with its awe-inspiring depth and unique marine life, remains one of the most fascinating and least explored places on Earth.