Mexico’s Taam Ja’ blue hole is the deepest ever discovered at 1,380 feet, runs even deeper

A ground-breaking discovery has sent shockwaves through the scientific community as researchers unveiled the true extent of Mexico’s Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH), now officially known as the deepest blue hole on Earth.

A recent study published in Frontiers in Marine Science details the immense size of the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole, located in Mexico’s Chetumal Bay off the Yucatan Peninsula. New measurements taken during a December scuba-diving expedition indicate that the blue hole goes down a whopping 1,380 feet (420meters) below the sea level — nearly the height of Trump Tower in Chicago.

The blue hole surpasses the previous record holder, the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also known as the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, by 480 feet, the New York Post reported.

Blue holes, also known as Karst formations, are geological wonders formed by the gradual dissolution of soluble bedrock such as limestone or gypsum, resulting in the creation of vertical caverns submerged beneath the oceans’  surface. However, the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole’s immense depth presents a unique challenge, pushing the limits of scientific exploration to new frontiers.

Blue holes are vertical marine caves that were carved over thousands of years by glacial runoff during the Ice Age, according to Discovery.com.

Even with advanced  technology tools, exploring the blue hole remains a challenge as the lack of oxygen and the presence of harmful hydrogen sulfide gas have stopped researchers from reaching the bottom of the blue hole.

Discovered in 2021, the initial measurements using echo-sounders only reached a depth of 900 feet, unable to capture the full depth of the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole.

A new expedition with enhanced tools, including a cutting edge CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth) profile revealed more about its environment . Despite the advanced technology, the researchers couldn’t reach the bottom as the cable stopped at 1, 380 feet. Scientists theorise that the bottom might consist of an intricate network of caves and tunnels. They also aim to reach the bottom in their upcoming expeditions.

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