The Deep Sea: A Mysterious and Fascinating World

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Sophia Xu
Updated: September. 24, 2023 

The deep sea is the part of the ocean that lies beyond the reach of sunlight, at a depth of about 200 metres (656 feet) or more. It covers about 95% of the Earth’s living space, making it the largest and most diverse habitat on the planet. Yet, it is also the most unexplored and least understood environment, despite being home to some of the most amazing and bizarre creatures ever discovered. Here are some mind-blowing facts about the deep sea that will make you appreciate its beauty and mystery.

• The deep sea is deeper than Mount Everest is tall. The deepest point of the ocean is called the Challenger Deep, located in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. It is about 10,994 metres (36,070 feet) deep, which is almost 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) deeper than the height of Mount Everest. Only three people have ever visited this extreme depth: Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in 1960, and James Cameron in 2012.
• The deep sea is pitch black and freezing cold. Because no sunlight can penetrate below 200 metres (656 feet), the deep sea is in perpetual darkness. The only light sources are bioluminescent organisms that produce their own light through chemical reactions. The temperature of the deep sea is also very low, ranging from 4°C (39°F) to -1°C (30°F), depending on the depth and location.
• The deep sea is home to some of the weirdest and most wonderful animals on Earth. The lack of light, food and oxygen in the deep sea has led to some incredible adaptations among its inhabitants. Some of them have huge eyes or no eyes at all, transparent or glowing bodies, enormous mouths or jaws, long tentacles or antennae, and bizarre shapes and sizes. Some examples of deep-sea animals are anglerfish, viperfish, giant squid, blobfish, goblin shark, vampire squid, dumbo octopus and bioluminescent jellyfish.
• The deep sea is full of secrets and surprises. Despite being so vast and important for life on Earth, the deep sea remains largely unexplored and unknown. Scientists estimate that only about 5% of the ocean floor has been mapped in detail, and that there are millions of species yet to be discovered. The deep sea also holds clues to the history and evolution of life on Earth, as well as potential resources for medicine, energy and food.

The deep sea is a fascinating and mysterious world that deserves our attention and respect. By learning more about it and its inhabitants, we can better appreciate its beauty and importance for our planet.