Cave of Secrets. The world’s deepest blue hole discovered off the coast of Mexico Posting in CHAT: Russia Oceanologists used unmanned underwater vehicles to explore a depression called Taam Dja, located in Chetumal Bay off the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. They concluded that it was the deepest blue hole ever discovered. And it hides many mysteries for scientists. Beginners should be careful. Blue holes are caves located below sea level and filled with water. In geological terms, these are karst formations formed during ice ages when ocean levels fell, exposing areas of the sea floor, and rainwater seeped through cracks in the limestone, forming underground cavities. Over time they became quite large. But then the ocean rose again, and the depressions filled with water, forming unique underwater caves. Looking at them from above, the contrast between the dark blue water in the depths of the funnel and the light shades of the surrounding shallow water is clearly visible, which is why such formations began to be called blue holes. These mysterious sinkholes, cutting into the seabed, according to scientists, hide many mysteries. The fact is that they are difficult to study - some of the cavities of these caves at great depths can be difficult to penetrate. In this case, the dimensions of the entrance can be so small that it will be impossible to squeeze equipment into it. But this is the most interesting thing - to find out what forms of life live in hard-to-reach places in the ocean. In general, blue hole ecosystems are characterized by biological diversity. These communities include corals, sponges, mollusks, sea turtles and even sharks. In the upper layers, where there is a lot of sunlight, algae and fish live. In the depths where light does not penetrate, you can find blind shrimp and unique species of bacteria. In addition, the chemical composition of the water in these funnels is unique. Blue holes look very beautiful from above and therefore attract diving enthusiasts, but beginners should be extremely careful when diving. Navigation in underwater caves is difficult, the density of the water there changes dramatically, and there are cavities filled with hydrogen sulfide. In addition, some blue holes have strong undercurrents. All this poses a danger to inexperienced divers. Caught by the Dragon Hole Palm In 2021, another blue hole was discovered in Chetumal Bay off the coast of Mexico. The first surveys carried out using echo sounders showed that its depth reaches 274 meters, which made it the second deepest blue hole on the planet at that time. The Dragon Hole in the South China Sea claimed first place - its depth is estimated at 301 meters. The Yucatan Blue Hole is named Taam Ja, which means “deep water” in the Mayan language. Last December, oceanologists from Mexico decided to conduct a detailed examination of it, including using a set of probes mounted on one frame. They were lowered into an underwater cave and received data via cable about the depth, temperature of the water and its various characteristics. It turned out that Taam Dzha has a depth of more than 420 meters. Scientists were unable to determine this indicator more accurately, since the device they used had instrumental limitations. In other words, he couldn't go deeper. Thus, the depth of this sea hole has not been definitively established, but it is already clear that it exceeds the depth of the Dragon Hole by at least 119 meters and takes the top spot. Now Taam Dja is the deepest blue hole in the world. Perhaps it has something to do with the ocean. The surprises for Mexican oceanographers did not end there. They noticed that the top layer of water in the blue hole (down to a depth of 5 meters) is actually the water of Chetumal Bay: it is influenced by the rivers flowing into it, so its temperature and salinity can. change Below 5 meters these parameters are more stable: they change slightly, forming clear boundaries between layers. But at a depth of more than 400 meters, the temperature and salinity of the water suddenly increase sharply. They are approaching the values characteristic of the Caribbean Sea, where, in fact, this blue hole is located. This discovery led scientists to believe that Taam Dja may be connected to the ocean through a network of deep tunnels and passages. They now want to carry out further research to explain the maximum depth of this sinkhole and, if possible, find a system of caves and tunnels. In addition, researchers will study the microbial communities and other organisms living in the world's deepest blue hole. Source link Source link
