Exploration of the Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench is the deepest spot in the ocean. It is located in the Pacific Ocean near the Mariana Islands. The deepest point, called Challenger Deep, is about 36,000 feet below the surface. Only a few people have ever traveled down to the bottom.

The First Trip Down

In 1960, two explorers made history. Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh rode a special vessel called the Trieste to the bottom of Challenger Deep. The trip down took almost five hours. They stayed on the bottom for about 20 minutes. It was the first time any person had been to the deepest point on Earth.

Modern Dives

In 2012, filmmaker James Cameron dove to the bottom alone in a submersible called the Deepsea Challenger. He spent hours filming and collecting samples. In 2019, explorer Victor Vescovo also made the dive. Each trip teaches scientists more about this strange, dark world at the bottom of the sea.

Fun Facts

• The Mariana Trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
• The pressure at the bottom of the trench is more than 1,000 times the pressure at the surface.
• Tiny shrimp-like creatures called amphipods live at the bottom of the trench.

Did You Know?

If you placed Mount Everest at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, its peak would still be more than a mile underwater.