Marianergraven

Marianergraven is the deepest known point in the Earth's oceans. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it lies at the southeastern end of the Mariana Islands. The deepest surveyed point within the trench is the Challenger Deep, reaching an approximate depth of 10,984 meters (36,037 feet). This immense depth is a result of the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Mariana Plate.

The extreme pressure at these depths, over 1,000 times that at sea level, makes exploration incredibly challenging. Despite the harsh conditions, unique life forms have been discovered, adapted to survive in this environment. These include specialized microorganisms, amphipods, and other invertebrates.

The Marianergraven has been the subject of numerous scientific expeditions, utilizing specialized submersibles and unmanned vehicles to study its geology, biology, and oceanography. Famous dives include those by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in 1960 aboard the bathyscaphe Trieste, and more recently by James Cameron in 2012 and Victor Vescovo in 2019. The trench represents a frontier of scientific discovery, offering insights into the limits of life and the processes shaping our planet.