Mariana Trench Facts

Who is not interested in knowing, "What goes in the depths of oceans?", especially, if it is about the interesting facts about the Mariana Trench. The Mariana trench facts says that it is deepest among all trenches in the world and lies to the east of Mariana islands, in the western Pacific Ocean. The Mariana trench depth at 'Challenger Deep' point is found to be 10,911 meters; it is the deepest point of this trench. The total length of Mariana trench is 1,580 miles while the average width is just 43 miles. Let us have a look at few more facts about this natural wonder.

Facts about Mariana Trench

The following points include information on various aspects of the Mariana trench.

• The phenomenon of ocean-to-ocean subduction lead to the creation of Mariana trench. Shifting of adjacent earth crusts which form the ocean floor has led to the formation of this trench.
• 'Challenger Deep', the deepest point of Mariana trench is named after HMS Challenger II an exploratory vessel.
• The temperature at Challenger Deep is very low which makes this part of the ocean, one of the coldest areas in the world.
• Hot water vents are an important feature of the ocean floor of Mariana trench. Hydrogen sulfide and many other minerals are emitted from these vents, which form the food of barophilic bacteria.
• Other microbes feed on the barophilic bacteria and fish in turn, consume the microbes.
• Mariana trench being the deepest portion of the Pacific ocean, temperature here is very low; it ranges from 34-39° F.
• Mariana trench is a part of Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc system. The fact that it lies at the edge of Pacific plate, the largest tectonic plate makes the Mariana trench deepest among all the trenches. Shape of the Mariana trench is semi-circular.
• Psychrophilic bacteria are found in the depths of oceans. Such bacteria are also found in the depths of the Mariana trench.
• The pressure exerted by water at the bottom of Mariana trench is 108.6 mega-pascals. It is more than 1000 times the standard atmospheric pressure experienced at sea level.
• Ocean floors which have great depths are known for the deposits of animal skeletons, shells and decaying animals & plants. The Mariana trench is not an exception to it. These deposits impart a yellowish color to the ocean floor.
• The deposits of shells, decaying matter and other things are altogether known as pelagic segment; biogenous ooze is an alternative name used for the pelagic segment. It is known for the high degree of viscosity.

Interesting Facts about Mariana Trench
Here are some of the interesting facts about Mariana trench.

• The places of hydrothermal vents near ocean floors are known for temperature extremes. The creatures present at such depths possess different types of proteins which enable them to survive extreme temperatures.
• The accurate measurement of the Mariana trench was made by a Japanese probe in the year, 1995. It revealed that the Challenger Deep point is actually 10,911 meters in its depth, as opposed to the earlier measurement of 10,916 meters which was recorded in 1959.
• The 'Project Nekton' was an expedition started on October 5th, 1959, which used Trieste, a bathyscaphe (designed in Switzerland), and the depth recorded at Challenger Deep point was 10,916 meter.
• Western edge of the Pacific tectonic plate near the Mariana trench is about 170 million old.
• The time taken by Trieste, the bathyscaphe involved in 'Project Nekton' to reach the ocean floor was 4 hours and 48 minutes.

The Mariana trench facts mentioned above, deal with the geography, sea-life and information about expeditions carried out. The information would prove to useful for readers.