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The Mariana Trench sits between the Philippines and Guam and is the deepest part of the ocean.

Of course, as we know, the ocean is a world completely on its own. Even today, we only know about a fraction of the ocean. Just think about how massive the ocean is compared to the rest of the planet.

While ocean adventurers have slowly explored the many secrets that lie within the ocean trenches, there are many secrets the ocean still keeps.

Come dive in with us as we explore the depth of the great Mariana Trench.

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How Deep Is The Mariana Trench In Miles?

As of now, however, we know it as the deepest place on Earth.

To give you a better idea of how deep the Mariana Trench is, consider the fact that it is deeper than the tallest mountain on Earth. When we think of giant mountains, we often think of Mount Everest. Now, think if you placed Mount Everest at the very bottom of the Mariana Trench and saw it swallowed up by water.

Pretty crazy, right?

Essentially, if you were at the very bottom of the Mariana Trench and looked up, what you would be looking at would be the tallest rock formation on Earth.

Unfortunately, this wouldn't be possible, as you'll find crushing depths at the bottom of the deepest part. The pressure would literally crush your body. In fact, the pressure is so heavy that your bones would literally dissolve.

Not something that is too fun to think about, huh?

Plus, there isn't any light down there, so you wouldn't be able to see anything anyway, temperatures are just above freezing, and there the floor vents release bubbles filled with carbon dioxide and liquid sulfur, making it a relatively uninhabitable place for most creatures.

However, we humans love trying to perform the impossible, and some people have been able to explore the deepest part of the ocean in incredibly unique ways.

Exploring the Mariana Trench In The 1960 Challenger Deep Expedition

Based on what we know, the Challenger Deep is the deepest portion of the Mariana Trench. In 1960, Jacque Piccard and Lieutenant Don Walsh reached the Challenger Deep bottom.

These two explorers were only able to spend around 20 minutes at the bottom with their navy submersible, as the pressure was too intense. On top of these extreme conditions, due to there being too much dust from the seafloor upon arrival, they were unable to take any photos.

Suffice to say, the expedition happened successfully and inspired a new generation to begin exploring the ocean's depths. In fact, it inspired renowned filmmaker James Cameron to dive down in his own vessel in 2012, where he was able to spend three hours. Luckily, he captured a video of its perpetual darkness to bring back.

Still, we know very little about the mysteries of the Mariana Trench. If we are ever able to completely explore the Mariana Trench, it will certainly take many years of innovation.

2021 Space-Deep Dive

The point of the expedition was to collect rock samples. However, it didn't quite turn out how the team initially planned. With that said, they were able to take plenty of photographs and collect tons of unique data.

What was slightly terrifying about their measurements is that they noted their submarine shrunk due to the deepwater pressure.

The descent took nearly four hours, which, compared to many adventures into outer space, is much shorter.

How Deep Is The Ocean?

Of course, the ocean holds an incredibly diverse landscape. Most ocean life lives in anywhere from the middle to just below the water's surface.

The average depth of the ocean is around 12,100 feet, which is not much compared to the deepest ocean trench.

Cool Mariana Trench Facts

While there is certainly a lot that we don't know about the Mariana Trench, we still have plenty of cool facts surrounding the Mariana Trench. Not only is this 180-million-year-old part of the ocean the deepest portion of the ocean, it also happens to be one of the oldest seabeds in the ocean.

If you were wondering, the Mariana Trench got its name from the Mariana Islands, to which it lies adjacent. It wasn't discovered until 1875.

The HMS Challenger used special sound equipment to measure the depths. It was during the latter half of the 19th century that people were thirsting for oceanic discovery and new technologies, creating a perfect convergence for oceanic exploration.

The Tectonic Plates of the Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench has a very unique shape unlike anything else in the Pacific Ocean, let alone any ocean around the world. Scientists believe that the unique geographical features and crescent-like shape have to do with the tectonic plates beneath it.

Long, long ago, two tectonic plates moved together and ended up creating the Mariana Islands, a grouping of then volcanic islands. This was influential in the birth of the Mariana Trench.

Many researchers still conduct seismic surveys of the trench, and many note that its deepest parts are continuously dragging down into the Earth's crust. There are subduction zones beneath the ocean floor that are sucking ocean waters down into the core, many miles beneath the surface.

Life In The Mariana Trench

While it might not sound like the most ideal place to live, there are actually many species who make due living in the extreme pressures of the Mariana Trench. One of the most notable deepwater species is the Mariana Snailfish.

The body structure of this small snailfish is so unique that scientists used it as inspiration to create a tiny robot that recently dove 10,900 feet under the surface of the trench. Beyond this snailfish, researchers have found around 200 microorganisms, including an array of crustaceans and amphipods.

Of course, just because animals live in this part of the ocean does not mean that it is a very inviting place to live. Not only is there basically no sign of sunlight, but it is also highly acidic.

One of the reasons so many scientists are so excited to explore this deep portion of the ocean is the potential to discover new marine species. It was surprising enough for researchers to learn that any species could survive, let alone thrive, this deep beneath the water's surface.

Pollution In The Mariana Trench

The sheer fact that we've been able to find plastic and metal at the very bottom of the trench should be alarming, reminding us of how much of an impact we have on the Earth. If we are able to find our waste this far down in the ocean, that means it could be anywhere.

Final Thoughts

Knowing that the Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the ocean, could swallow up the Earth's highest point, is pretty impressive. That is most likely why the United States awarded the trench a National Monument back in 2009.

Of course, this unique geographical anomaly goes far beyond a national monument. In all, it is a new frontier for scientifical, geographical, geological, and biological discovery. We urge you to take what you now know and continue exploring.

Who knows what you might find?

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