Mariana trench is the deepest and the darkest side of the oceanic trench on Earth. Mariana trench is dangerous because of its darkness and depth it is hot and cold inside. It is located on the Eastern side of the Philippines and in the Pacific Ocean. The Mariana Trench formed due to the two tectonic plates collide happened. Here are some of the exciting facts about Mariana Trench:
1. When Was It Discovered?
Image Source: MIT Technology Review
MIT Technology Review The Mariana Trench was first discovered in 1875 during the undertaking of a global circum navigation, and then it was pinpointed in 1951 by the British Survey ship Challenger II. Known as Challenger Deep, it was not visited for nearly ten years.
It is one of the least explored places on earth and so deep to swallow Mt. Everest. Mariana Trench's depth was first measured by depth sounding in 1875 by the Challenger expedition, a scientific effort to lay oceanography's foundation.
From that date, Mariana Trench has been measured and almost 70000 nautical miles the ship went exploring and mapping as it traveled and about 4700 species also have been discovered.
2. Scary facts about Mariana Trench:
Image Source: The What If Show
The What If Show Mariana trench is one of the coldest places in the world. Waters of the Mariana Trench are expected to be freezing cold because It is impossible for the sunlight to go down so deep. The Mariana Trench is believed to be more than 180 million years old. It is also believed that the trench is among the oldest sea beds in the world.
The color of the ocean floor of the Mariana Trench is slightly yellowish because of deposits of decayed plants and animals, as well as shells and animal skeletons In 2011 scientists also discovered that there are lots of giant amoebas present in the Mariana Trench and these creatures have a diameter of about 4 in (10.2) cm ).
The scary part is that there are many other dangerous new species in the Mariana Trench. Also, its enormous pressure can be a threat to human life. Therefore, human research in the Mariana Trench is next to impossible. Mariana Trench holds the deadliest species, more than 35,790 ft. (10,908.8 m) under the oceanic waters, there is a home to different unknown creatures; survival under such terrific and extreme conditions is indeed rare.
3. Facts about Expeditions to the Mariana Trench:
Image Source: Live Science
It is strange to hear but it is true that Mariana Trench has been explored only by three people. The first expedition to the Challenger Deep was successfully completed by engineer Jacques Piccard and Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh in 1960. Both of them stayed there for 20 minutes and came back. The darkness and dust from the seabed made the vision blurry.
So they failed to take any pictures of Mariana Trench. After advancements in science and technology, the Challenger Deep was again visited for ocean exploration in 2012, as the filmmaker, James Cameron decided to explore the Trench all alone with a submarine that was designed by himself. He took pictures but the batteries of his devices died.
4. Strange Facts about the Mariana Trench:
It is strange but interesting to know that if we could put Mount Everest, that is the highest mountain in the world to the deepest point of the Mariana Trench, the Challenger Deep, the peak of Mount Everest would still remain around 1.2 mi (2 km) under the sea.
Now you can imagine how deep the Mariana Trench is! The formation of the Mariana Trench occurred due to the shifting and movement of the Earth’s crust which in turn laid the formation of the oceanic floor.
5. Mariana Trench is home to more than 200 anonymous living microorganisms:
Image Source: Dutch Shark Society
Though Mariana Trench has horrifying darkness, extreme, hot and cold temperatures, and an acidic situation, there are more than 4700 species still living in that place and little creatures like amphipods and crustaceans.In 2009, President George W. Bush named the Mariana Trench the National Monument of the United States.
That’s all for today’s blog, hope you guys enjoyed learning the interesting facts about the Mariana Trench! If you want to share any other facts then do share with us till then #StayDarooon.