Reach Into the Earth
Dorothy Lord | August 28, 2025
Located east of the Mariana Islands, in the crushing depths of the ocean, lies the Mariana Trench. The Marina Trench is formed by a gap in the middle of the tectonic Pacific and Mariana plates. The deepest point of the trench is Challenger Deep. Just what exactly is down there?
The Mariana Trench is about 36, 037 feet, or 7 miles deep. If you were to put Mount Everest at the bottom of the trench, its peak would still be 7, 000 feet underwater. At the bottom of the sea floor, the trench has some volcanic activity from a chain of volcanoes, releasing ash and other debris into the water. Along this chain are hydrothermal vents, which release carbon dioxide and liquid sulfur bubbles into the water. Some of the sea creatures that live in this toxic environment have adapted to and can live with the released gases. The pressure of the trench can be extremely dangerous. Normally, pressure is 14 lbs. per square inch. At the bottom of the trench, it is 14, 000 lbs. per square inch.
Despite the pure darkness and freezing temperatures of the Mariana Trench, which are around 34° to 39° Fahrenheit, animals live in the trench—many are strange looking. Some animals that live here are the Mariana snailfish, the barrel-eye fish, sea cucumbers, anglerfish, and macroscopic xenophyophores, which are marine protozoans. Some of the animals that live here are capable of producing bioluminescence, such as the anglerfish, which has a bioluminescent rod at the top of its head that swings back and forth to lure in prey. Through the Mariana trench and its sea creatures, God’s masterful handiwork is shown.