Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans, located in the western Pacific Ocean near Japan. It reaches a maximum known depth of about 36,070 feet (10,994 meters) at a point called the Challenger Deep. This trench is formed by the process of tectonic plates; one plate is slowly sliding beneath another, creating a deep underwater canyon. Despite its extreme depths and darkness, the trench hosts unique ecosystems with specially adapted organisms. Exploring the trench helps scientists understand Earth's geology, oceanic processes, and life in extreme environments.