The deepest points of the oceans. The deepest points of the oceans Deep-sea trenches of the oceans

Despite the fact that the oceans are closer to us than the outer planets of the solar system, people have explored only five percent of the ocean floor, which remains one of the greatest mysteries of our planet. The deepest part of the ocean Mariana Trench or the Mariana Trench is one of the most famous places, about which we still do not know very much. With water pressure that is a thousand times greater than at sea level, diving into this place is akin to suicide. But thanks modern technologies and a few daredevils who, risking their lives, went down there, we learned a lot of interesting things about this amazing place.

The Mariana Trench or the Mariana Trench is located in the western part of Pacific Ocean east (about 200 km) of the 15 Mariana Islands near Guam. It is a trough in the shape of a crescent earth's crust about 2550 km long and 69 km wide on average.

The coordinates of the Mariana Trench are 11°22′ north latitude and 142°35′ east longitude.

According to the latest research in 2011, the depth of the deepest point of the Mariana Trench is about 10,994 meters ± 40 meters. For comparison, the height of high peak world - Everest is 8,848 meters. This means that if Everest were in the Mariana Trench, it would be covered by another 2.1 km of water.

Here are others Interesting Facts about what you can meet along the way and at the very bottom of the Mariana Trench.

1. Very hot water

Going down to such a depth, we expect that it will be very cold there. The temperature here reaches just above zero, varying from 1 to 4 degrees Celsius. However, at a depth of about 1.6 km from the surface of the Pacific Ocean, there are hydrothermal vents called "black smokers". They shoot water that heats up to 450 degrees Celsius.

This water is rich in minerals that help support life in the area. Despite the temperature of the water, which is hundreds of degrees above the boiling point, the water does not boil here due to the incredible water pressure, 155 times higher than on the surface.

2 Giant Toxic Amoebas

A few years ago, at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, giant 10-centimeter amoebas called xenophyophores were discovered. These single-celled organisms probably got so big because of the environment they live in at a depth of 10.6 km. cold temperature, high pressure and lack sunlight, most likely contributed to the fact that these amoeba acquired huge sizes.

In addition, xenophyophores have incredible abilities. They are resistant to many elements and chemical substances, including uranium, mercury and lead, which would kill other animals and people.

3. Clams

The strong water pressure in the Mariana Trench does not give any animal with a shell or bones a chance to survive. However, in 2012, in a trench near serpentine hydro thermal springs shellfish were found. Serpentine contains hydrogen and methane, which allows living organisms to form. How the molluscs retained their shell under such pressure remains unknown.

In addition, hydrothermal vents release another gas, hydrogen sulfide, which is deadly to shellfish. However, they learned to bind the sulfur compound into a safe protein, which allowed the population of these mollusks to survive.

4. Pure liquid carbon dioxide

The Champagne Hydrothermal Spring of the Mariana Trench, which lies outside the Okinawa Trench near Taiwan, is the only known underwater area where liquid carbon dioxide can be found. The spring, discovered in 2005, got its name from the bubbles that turned out to be carbon dioxide.

Many believe that these springs, called "white smokers" because of the lower temperature, may be the source of life. It was in the depths of the oceans with low temperatures and an abundance of chemicals and energy that life could originate.

5. Slime

If we had the opportunity to swim to the very depths of the Mariana Trench, we would feel that it is covered with a layer of viscous mucus. Sand, in its usual form, does not exist there. The bottom of the depression is mainly composed of crushed shells and plankton remains that have sunk to the bottom for many years. Due to the incredible pressure of the water, almost everything there turns into fine greyish-yellow thick mud.

6. Liquid sulfur

The Daikoku Volcano, which is located at a depth of about 414 meters on the way to the Mariana Trench, is the source of one of the most rare events on our planet. There is a lake of pure molten sulfur. The only place where liquid sulfur can be found is Jupiter's moon Io.

In this pit, called the "cauldron," the bubbling black emulsion boils at 187 degrees Celsius. Although scientists have not been able to explore this place in detail, it is possible that even more liquid sulfur is contained deeper. This may reveal the secret of the origin of life on Earth.

According to the Gaia hypothesis, our planet is one self-governing organism in which all living and non-living things are connected to support its life. If this hypothesis is correct, then a number of signals can be observed in the natural cycles and systems of the Earth. So the sulfur compounds created by organisms in the ocean must be stable enough in the water to allow them to pass into the air and back to land again.

7. Bridges

At the end of 2011, four stone bridge, which stretched from one end to the other for 69 km. They appear to have formed at the junction of the Pacific and Philippine tectonic plates.

One of the Dutton Ridge bridges, which was opened back in the 1980s, turned out to be incredibly high, like a small mountain. In the high point, the ridge reaches 2.5 km above the "Challenger Deep". Like many aspects of the Mariana Trench, the purpose of these bridges remains unclear. However, the very fact that these formations were discovered in one of the most mysterious and unexplored places is amazing.

8James Cameron's dive into the Mariana Trench

Since the discovery of the deepest part of the Mariana Trench, the Challenger Deep in 1875, only three people have been here. The first were American lieutenant Don Walsh and explorer Jacques Picard, who dived on January 23, 1960 on the Challenger.

After 52 years, another person ventured here - the famous film director James Cameron. So on March 26, 2012, Cameron went down to the bottom and took some photos. During James Cameron's 2012 dive to the Challenger Abyss in the DeepSea Challenge submersible, he tried to observe everything that was going on in the place until mechanical problems forced him to rise to the surface.

While he was at the deepest point in the world's oceans, he came to the shocking conclusion that he was completely alone. There were no scary things in the Mariana Trench sea ​​monsters or some miracle. According to Cameron, the very bottom of the ocean was "lunar...empty...lonely" and he felt "completely isolated from all mankind".

9. Mariana Trench

10. The Mariana Trench in the ocean is the largest reserve

The Mariana Trench is a US National Monument and the largest marine reserve in the world. Since it is a monument, there are a number of rules for those who want to visit this place. Within its borders, fishing and mining are strictly prohibited here. However, swimming is allowed here, so you may be the next one to venture into the most deep place in the ocean.

The ocean is much closer to us than the planets solar system. However, its bottom has been studied only by 5 percent. And how many more secrets do the waters of the oceans keep? This is the greatest mystery of our planet.

Max Depth

The Mariana Trench, or otherwise the Mariana Trench, is the deepest place in the world's oceans. live here amazing creatures and almost no light. However, this is the most famous place, which is still not fully understood and is fraught with many unsolved mysteries.

Diving into the Mariana Trench is a real suicide. After all, the water pressure here is thousands of times higher than the pressure at sea level. The maximum depth of the world's oceans is approximately 10,994 meters with an error of 40 meters. However, there are daredevils who descended to the very bottom, risking own life. Of course, this was not without modern technology.

Where is the deepest place in the oceans

The Mariana Trench is located in the region, and to be more precise, in its western part, closer to the east, near Guam, about 200 kilometers from the deepest place in the world's oceans, it resembles a crescent-shaped trench in shape. The depression is approximately 69 kilometers wide and 2,550 kilometers long.

Mariana Trench coordinates: east longitude - 142 ° 35 ', northern latitude- 11°22'.

bottom temperature

Scientists have suggested that at maximum depth there should be very low temperature. However, they were very surprised by the fact that at the bottom of the Mariana Trench this indicator remains above zero and is 1 - 4 ° C. Soon this phenomenon was found and an explanation.

Hydrothermal springs are located approximately at a depth of 1600 meters from the surface of the water. They are also called "white smokers". Jets come out of the sources very hot water. Its temperature is 450° Celsius.

It is worth noting that this water contains a huge amount of minerals. Exactly these chemical elements and support life at great depths. Despite such high temperature, which exceeds several times the boiling point, the water does not boil here. And this is due to the relatively high pressure. At this depth, this figure is 155 times higher than at the surface.

As you can see, the deepest places in the oceans are not so simple. There are still many mysteries hidden in them that need to be unraveled.

Who lives at such a depth

Many people think that the deepest place in the world's oceans is an abyss where life cannot exist. However, this is not the case. At the very bottom of the Mariana Trench, scientists have discovered very large amoebas, which are called xenophyophores. Their body length is 10 centimeters. These are very large unicellular organisms.

Scientists assume that this species amoeba has acquired such dimensions because of the environment in which they have to exist. It is worth noting that these single-celled creatures were found at a depth of 10.6 kilometers. Many factors influenced their development. This is the lack of sunlight, and rather high pressure, and, of course, cold water.

In addition, xenophyophores have simply unique abilities. Amoebas tolerate exposure to many chemicals and elements, including lead, mercury and uranium.

shellfish

The pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench is very high. In such conditions, even creatures with bones or a shell have no chance to survive. However, not so long ago, mollusks were found in the Mariana Trench. They live near hydrothermal springs, because serpentine contains methane and hydrogen. These substances allow a living organism to fully form.

It is still not known how mollusks manage to keep their shells in such conditions. In addition, hydrothermal springs release another gas - hydrogen sulfide. And he, as you know, is fatal to any mollusks.

Liquid carbon dioxide in its purest form

The Mariana Trench is a deep place in the oceans, as well as wonderful world with many unexplained phenomena. There are hydrothermal vents located near Taiwan, outside the Okinawa Trench. This is the only underwater area known to this moment where liquid carbon dioxide is present. This place was discovered back in 2005.

Many scientists believe that it was these sources that allowed life to originate in the Mariana Trench. After all, here not only optimum temperature but there are also chemicals present.

Finally

The deepest places in the oceans simply amaze with the extraordinary nature of their world. Here you can meet living organisms that feel great in complete darkness and at high pressure and cannot exist in another environment.

It is worth noting that the Mariana Trench has the status of a national monument of the United States. This marine reserve is the largest in the world. Of course, for those who want to visit here, there is a certain list of rules. Mining and fishing is strictly prohibited in this place.

The deepest trench in the World Ocean is the Mariana Trench (or the Mariana Trench). Located between the Pacific Ocean and Philippine Sea the trench was first measured in 1875 and takes its name from the Mariana Islands.

Numerous studies and measurements have established that the deepest point of the World Ocean is at a level of 10,994 m and has the name "Challenger abyss" (after the name of the corvette of the same name, which first explored the trench). The length of the trench is about 1500 km. Despite such a significant depth and extent, there are no signs of the presence of the Mariana Trench under the ocean water on the surface. Every year, hundreds of ships make commercial voyages from Japan to Australia, as well as from North America to the Philippines, pass over it unhindered.

The whole history of mankind is an ongoing research. Considering that 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by the little-studied World Ocean medium depth 3.7 km., there are still a lot of secrets and mysteries that mankind has not yet unraveled.

At the moment, the most studied and deepest underwater plain is the Abyssal Plain. Its depth varies from 2 to 6 km. Only with the use of modern equipment has become possible study plain landscape. In addition, under the thick ocean waters hundreds of volcanoes and mountain ranges, formed as a result of the movement of ancient tectonic plates, remain unexplored. Landscape depressions at the bottom of the oceans, having a depth of more than 6 kilometers, are commonly called trenches. Similar trenches are found in all the oceans of the Earth, but their maximum accumulation is in the Pacific.

The main difficulty associated with the study of the flora and fauna of such extreme depths associated with the lack of technological development. To take samples from the bottom of depressions, plains and trenches, the "capture" method is used. This method is quite economical, but the pressure at such colossal depths reaches 108.6 MPa (1072 times higher than atmospheric pressure), which necessitates the use of the most durable materials.

So, one of the latest studies of the Mariana Trench was made in March 2012 by the American film director James Cameron. A single-seat bathyscaphe was used to take samples of living organisms and rocks, as well as to take photos and videos. « Deepsea Challenger» (see photo above), which reached a depth of 10,908 meters.

In areas of more active thermal springs coral polyps, living at a sufficient depth, grow up to 1.5 meters with meter tentacles, while their relatives from shallower depths have a growth of about 10 centimeters. Currently, the study of the Mariana Trench continues. Scientists claim that about 2-5% of the filling of the bottom of the deepest place on the planet has been investigated.

There are deepest faults in the earth's crust - sea depressions at the bottom of the oceans, where impenetrable darkness and the highest pressure reign. We offer a selection of the deepest sea trenches, which the lack of technology does not yet allow to study well.

1. Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench is the deepest oceanic trench on our planet, which is located in the Pacific Ocean not far from the Mariana Islands that gave it its name. The depth of the trench is 10994 ± 40 m below sea level.

Paradoxically, the Mariana Trench is more or less explored - three people have already managed to descend here.

The first time this happened on January 23, 1960, when the bathyscaphe, on board which were US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and researcher Jacques Picard, managed to sink to a depth of 10,918 m. Then there was no such technology as now, and two people were connected with the world only by a strong cable. After a successful return, the researchers said that they saw flat, flounder-like fish at the very bottom, but, unfortunately, there are no photographs.

Just a year ago, director James Cameron descended to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. It was easier for him, even though he was alone: ​​in 50 years, technology had gone far ahead. Moreover, his bathyscaphe "Deepsea Challenger" was equipped with everything necessary for photo and video shooting, and there were also 3D cameras on board. Based on the material received, the channel " national geographic is preparing a film.

And recently, information was received that there are real mountains at the bottom of the Mariana Trench: with the help of echolocation, it was possible to “see” four ridges 2.5 km high.

2. Tonga Trench

The Tonga Trench is the deepest trench in southern hemisphere and the second deepest on Earth. The maximum known depth is 10,882 m. It is unusual primarily in that the speed of movement of lithospheric plates in the Tonga region is much greater than in all other parts of the planet where there are gaps in the earth's crust. Here, the plates move at a speed of 25.4 cm per year, compared to the usual 2 cm. This was established by observing the tiny island of Nyautoputana, which annually shifts by an average of just 25 cm.

Somewhere in the middle of Tonga, the Apollo 13 lunar landing stage was stuck, falling there during the return of the lunar module to Earth. It is located approximately at a depth of 6,000 m, and no attempts have been made to extract it from there. Together with it, a plutonium energy source containing plutonium-238 fell into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. It seems that this did not cause much harm to the environment, although given that the half-life of plutonium-238 is slightly less than 88 years, and the module fell there in 1970, the pioneers who decided to go down to the bottom of Tonga can expect very interesting discoveries.

3 Philippine Trench

The Philippine Trench is also located in the Pacific Ocean near the Philippine Islands. The maximum depth is 10,540 m. Little is known about the trench - only that it was formed as a result of subduction. No one tried to go down to its bottom, since the Mariana Trench, of course, is more interesting.

4. Kermadec chute

Kermadec connects to the north with the Tonga Trench. The maximum depth is 10,047 m. During an expedition in 2008, a strange pink creature of the species Notoliparis kermadecensis was photographed here at a depth of 7,560 m. Other inhabitants were also found there - huge crustaceans 34 cm in length.

5. Izu-Bonin Trench

The maximum depth of the Izu-Bonin Trench, also known as Izu-Ogasawara, is 9,810 m. It was discovered at the end of the 19th century during an expedition when it was decided to lay a telephone cable on the ocean floor. Of course, first it was necessary to make measurements, and in one place, not far from the Izu Islands, the lot of the Tuscarora did not reach the bottom, recording a depth of more than 8500 m.

In the north, Izu-Ogasawara connects with the Japan Trench, and in the south with the Volkano Trench. In this region of the ocean there is a whole chain of deep-sea depressions, and Izu-Bonin is just a part of it.

6. Kuril-Kamchatsky Trench

This depression was discovered shortly after Izu-Bonin during the same expedition. The maximum depth is 9,783 m. This trough is quite narrow compared to all the others, its width is only 59 m. The slopes of this trough are known to contain ledges, terraces, canyons and valleys that appear up to the maximum depth. The bottom of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench is uneven, divided by rapids into separate depressions. To the best of our knowledge, detailed studies have not been carried out.

7 Puerto Rico Trench

The Puerto Rico Trench is located on the border of the Atlantic Ocean and caribbean. The maximum depth is 8385 m and it is the deepest place in Atlantic Ocean. The area where the trench is located is a zone of high seismic activity. The last disaster occurred here in 2004, when the eruptions of underwater volcanoes caused a tsunami that hit the countries indian ocean. Recent studies have shown that it is possible that the depth of the trough is gradually increasing due to the fact that the North American tectonic plate - the southern "wall" of the trough - is gradually lowering.

An active mud volcano was discovered at a depth of 7,900 m in the Puerto Rican Trench, which erupted rock 10 km high in 2004. A column of hot mud and water was clearly visible above the surface of the ocean.

8. Japanese chute

Japanese chute is also located in the Pacific Ocean, as the name suggests, is not far from Japanese islands. The depth of the Japan Trench, according to the latest data, is about 8,400 m, and the length is more than 1,000 km.

So far, no one has yet reached its bottom, but in 1989, the Shinkai 6500 bathyscaphe with three researchers on board sank to a mark of 6,526 m. Later, in 2008, a group of Japanese and British researchers managed to photograph large groups fish 30 cm long at a depth of 7,700 m.

Mariana Trench

Any high school student, when asked about the deepest place in the World Ocean, will answer without hesitation that the greatest depth is in the Mariana Trench or the Mariana Trench and it is 11,022 meters. Meanwhile, such a seemingly simple question has a completely non-obvious answer. According to the latest data of scientists, firstly, the depth of the Mariana Trench is somewhat less, and secondly, the Mariana Trench is not the greatest depth of the ocean.

The deepest known geographic feature on Earth has so far been considered the Mariana Trench or the Mariana Trench, the deepest oceanic trench in the western Pacific Ocean.

Data on the depth of the Mariana Trench

On many Russian maps the value of 11,022 meters obtained by the Soviet oceanographic vessel Vityaz during the 1957 expedition is still given.

Although, according to the latest data in 2009, when the American deep-sea vehicle Nereus sank to the bottom of the depression, the instruments recorded a depth of 10,902 meters. To the surprise of scientists, in the abyss itself, they found organisms living there - sea ​​cucumbers belonging to the class of invertebrates such as echinoderms.

The Cayman Trench is even deeper

The Mariana Trench, at 10,902 meters deep, is not the deepest place in the world.

And today, researchers had to be even more surprised when they not only discovered another deepest place on Earth, but also unseen animals that live in it. British researchers using a remote-controlled small submarine discovered the deepest volcanic crater on our planet, according to Rosbalt. The top of the discovered crater is located at a depth of five kilometers under the surface of the Caribbean Sea, in the region of the Cayman Trench. Filming of James Cameron's sci-fi thriller The Abyss took place there.

The Cayman Trench in the Caribbean is the deepest place in the world.

For those of you who haven't seen this movie, let's take a look at the plot. US Navy nuclear submarine Montana nuclear weapons on board is wrecked at great depths. The Ministry of the Navy is asking for help from specialists from an underwater research station operating near the site of the submarine accident. With the support of military intelligence, the researchers must find out possible cause tragedy and neutralize nuclear warheads. But underwater they discover strange creatures extraterrestrial origin. And the director of the film, James Cameron, looked into the water. This abyss, indeed, was not lifeless.

According to an official report, the temperature of the water in this crater can reach 400 degrees Celsius, but the high pressure (500 times atmospheric pressure planets) prevents water from boiling. Despite such indicators, many species of animals are found in the volcanic crater. Scientists do not rule out that the unexplored depths of boiling waters may hide animals that have never been seen by man.