This Incredible Animation Shows How Deep The Ocean Really Is

Summary

The ocean's depths are astonishingly vast, with the highest point on land still a mile above the deepest point when submerged. Oceans hold 99% of Earth's living space and could fill a 685-mile bathtub. From blue whales hunting at 330 feet to the Titanic resting at 12,500 feet, the ocean's depths reveal a world of extremes. The Mariana Trench, Earth's lowest point, reaches 35,797 feet, where few have ventured. Despite our limited exploration, the deep sea teems with undiscovered marine life, inviting further discovery.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The deepest point in the ocean is over a mile deeper than the highest point on land.
• 🌍 Oceans contain 99% of Earth's living space and could fill a 685-mile bathtub.
• 🐳 Blue whales typically hunt at depths of around 330 feet in the well-lit zone.
• 🚢 The USS Triton was the first submarine to circumnavigate the Earth in 1960.
• 🌐 The deepest free dive in recorded history is at 831 feet, where pressure is 26 times greater than at the surface.
• 🐋 Whales can dive to a maximum depth of 1640 feet to hunt giant squid.
• ⚠️ At 2400 feet, it's the danger zone for modern nuclear attack submarines.
• 🏙️ The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, would reach 2722 feet if submerged.
• 🌑 At 3280 feet, it's so deep that sunlight can't reach, entering the midnight zone.
• 🦐 Eyeless shrimp thrive near underwater volcanoes at depths of 7500 feet.
• 🐋 The Cuvier beaked whale has been recorded swimming to 9816 feet, the deepest for any mammal.
• 🛳️ The RMS Titanic rests at a depth of 12,500 feet, where the pressure is 378 times greater than at the surface.
• 🐙 The hadal zone begins at 20,000 feet, with the deepest trenches like the Mariana Trench.
• 🏔️ If Mount Everest were tipped into the Mariana Trench, its summit would be at 29,029 feet.
• 🎬 James Cameron descended to 35,756 feet in 2012, but the record is held by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh at 35,797 feet.
• 🔬 Scientists estimate there are thousands of marine species yet to be discovered.

Q & A

How deep is the ocean compared to the highest point on land?

The ocean's deepest point is more than a mile deeper than the highest point on land, even when submerged.

What percentage of Earth's living space do the oceans occupy?

The oceans harbor 99% of all living space on Earth.

What is the significance of the depth at which the USS Triton circumnavigated the Earth in 1960?

The USS Triton became the first submarine to circumnavigate the Earth at a depth of 700 feet.

What is the record for the deepest free dive in history?

The deepest free dive in recorded history is at 831 feet.

At what depth do modern nuclear attack submarines face the danger of imploding?

Modern nuclear attack submarines face the danger of imploding if they go deeper than 2400 feet.

How deep would the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, reach if submerged?

The Burj Khalifa would reach a depth of 2722 feet if submerged.

What is the name of the zone where sunlight can no longer reach?

The zone where sunlight can no longer reach is called the midnight zone, starting at around 3280 feet.

What is the habitat of eyeless shrimp mentioned in the script?

Eyeless shrimp thrive near scalding hot underwater volcanoes at depths of about 7500 feet.

What is the deepest any mammal has been recorded swimming?

The deepest any mammal has been recorded swimming is 9816 feet by the Cuvier beaked whale.

At what depth does the RMS Titanic rest?

The RMS Titanic rests at a depth of 12,500 feet.

What is the depth of the hadal zone, and what is its significance?

The hadal zone begins at 20,000 feet and is significant as it includes the ocean's steepest trenches, such as the Mariana Trench.

How deep did James Cameron descend during the Deep Sea Challenger mission?

James Cameron descended to 35,756 feet during the Deep Sea Challenger mission in 2012.

What is the record for the lowest point on Earth, and who set it?

The record for the lowest point on Earth is 35,797 feet below the surface, set by oceanographer Jacques Piccard and Lieutenant Don Walsh in 1960.

How much of Earth's oceans have humans explored?

Humans have explored an estimated 5 to 10 percent of Earth's oceans.