Where is the Mariana Trench?

The Mariana Trench has extreme depths and pressures which fascinate the scientists. It has strange animals and amazing rocks showing us how wild the oceans are. Mariana Trench is also the deepest part of the ocean, going way down under the sea. In this article we will learn where is Mariana Trench, what it is and more.

What is Mariana Trench?

The Mariana Trench is a deep crack in the Pacific Ocean near the Mariana Islands. It’s the deepest part of the ocean we know about. It’s home to some of the most extreme conditions such as the pressure and darkness which keeps increasing as we dive deeper into the water. Scientists show a lot of interest in studying it to learn more about the ocean and the Earth.

Where is Mariana Trench Located?

The Mariana Trench is situated near the Mariana Islands, which comes under the territory of the United States. This trench was formed due to the big pieces of the Earth’s surface crashing into each other also known as the collision of tectonic plates. 

The deepest part of the trench is called the Challenger Deep. It stretches for over 1,500 miles. Specifically, it’s located in the east of the Mariana Islands and can be located in the western part of the pacific ocean on the world map. It is located in one of the most remote areas of the ocean which is far from any inhabited land. It’s about 200 miles (322 kilometers) southwest of Guam, the nearest inhabited landmass.

How Deep is the Mariana Trench?

The Mariana Trench is incredibly deep, reaching down more than 36,000 feet (10,971 meters) at its deepest point.

What Lives in It?

In the Mariana Trench, there are lots of interesting species of animals that have adapted to its extreme conditions. Fishes like snailfish and grenadiers, which can live in the dark and under high pressure are found there. It is also home to creatures like giant amphipods and jellyfish and these aquatic animals have developed a bioluminescence feature which makes them glow and helps them survive in the dark.

Interesting Facts

• The pressure at the bottom of the trench is immense and reaches over 1,000 times the pressure which we face at the surface.
• The collision of the Pacific Plate beneath the Philippine Sea Plate forms the trench. It is a crucial site for studying tectonic activity and Earth’s geological processes.
• Just a few times, people have gone down to the bottom of the trench. This includes a famous dive by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in 1960, and another dive by James Cameron in 2012.
• The extreme depth and pressure hinder sound travel in the trench, making it a quieter environment compared to other parts of the ocean.
• The rocks found in the trench are some of the oldest on Earth, dating back millions of years. They provide valuable insights into the geological history of our planet.

Related Links

• How Deep is the Pacific Ocean?
• How did Pacific Ocean Get its Name?