The Mariana Trench is the deepest ocean trench in the world, located in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Japan. This crescent-shaped trench is approximately 2,550 kilometers (1,580 miles) long and 69 kilometers (43 miles) wide. The trench’s maximum known depth is the Challenger Deep, which reaches about 10,984 meters (36,037 feet) below sea level, although some measurements have recorded slightly varying depths.

The Mariana Trench is part of the larger global network of mid-ocean ridges and trenches, formed by tectonic activity. It results from the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the smaller Mariana Plate. The immense pressure and lack of sunlight in this extreme environment create unique conditions that support specially adapted organisms, including extremophiles and other deep-sea species.

Scientific exploration of the Mariana Trench has been limited due to its depth and the technological challenges involved. However, significant milestones include the 1960 manned descent by the bathyscaphe Trieste, piloted by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh, and more recent unmanned and manned explorations, such as James Cameron’s solo dive in 2012. These missions have provided valuable insights into the trench’s geology, biology, and potential for new scientific discoveries.