World's deepest blue hole is discovered in Mexico: Huge abyss extends at least 1,380ft below sea level - and scientists

[Judi Lynn]

World's deepest blue hole is discovered in Mexico: Huge abyss extends at least 1,380ft below sea level - and scientists are yet to reach the bottom of it

• Blue holes are underwater sinkholes that can span the length of skyscrapers
  
• Discovery means the previous record-holder in China is now the second-deepest

By JONATHAN CHADWICK FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 05:22 EDT, 30 April 2024 | UPDATED: 06:52 EDT, 30 April 2024

It's well known that there are black holes outside of our solar system. But equally mysterious features on Earth are blue holes – massive sink holes in our oceans that can span the length of skyscrapers.

Thought to have been formed during the latter ice ages, blue holes are seen as 'ecological hot spots' with an abundance of plant and animal life.
Now, scientists have identified the largest blue hole in the world, located in Chetumal Bay off the coast of Mexico.

Known as Taam Ja', which means 'deep water' in Mayan, it reaches at least 1,380 feet (420 meters) below sea level – and scientists haven't even reached the bottom of it.



Bird's eye shot (left) of the entrance of Taam Ja' - the world's deepest blue hole - as well as subaquatic view of the mouth of the hole (right)



Taam Ja' is located in Chetumal Bay off the southeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

More:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-13365633/Worlds-deepest-blue-hole-Mexico.html