Ever wondered what lies beyond the tons of unexplored waters deep inside our oceans? It is a world full of mysteries and treasures!
World Oceans Day is celebrated on 8 June every year to spread awareness about the important role of oceans in our lives. Apart from oceans being a major source of water for the flora and fauna on the planet, they are also responsible to providing most of the oxygen, food and medicines that we need. The Day strives to educate the people about the adverse effects of human actions on the ocean, and unites worldwide to work on the sustainable management of the oceans.
The oceans hide a vast wonderland beneath the rough waves, with its many bizarre secrets. On the occasion of this day of oceans, let’s take a look at some of the weirdest ocean facts you might not have known–
The Mysterious “bloop” Sound Under The Oceans
Image Credit: curiosity.com
Way back in 1997, the people of South America were intrigued by a curious “blooping” sound in the South Pacific Ocean that was loud enough to be picked up by the Equatorial Pacific Ocean autonomous hydrophone array. Speculations ranged from sea monsters or unexplained sea creatures to natural geological events like earthquakes and volcanoes. In 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration finally attributed the sound to be that of an ice-quake, or ice shelf breaking off many kilometers away. That’s kinda eerie isn’t it?
The World’s Tallest Waterfall Underwater
Image Credit: YouTube
Located between Iceland and Greenland, the ice-cold Denmark Strait cataract plunges down from a height of 11,500 feet from the Greenland Sea right into the Irminger Sea. The underwater waterfall is 160 kilometers wide and carries about 175 million cubic feet of water per second – surpassing any other giant waterfall in the world.
The Brine Pool That Can Kill You
Image Credit: Pinterest
‘The Hot Tub of Despair’ is not any average underwater lake, as it is infamous for its unusually warm temperature (19 degree Celsius), brine waters and dissolved methane. The lake was discovered by the E/V Nautilus, which is a San Pedro-based research vessel. It is located about 3,300 feet below the Gulf of Mexico, is 100 feet in its circumference and 12 feet deep. The water is said to be four times more saline than sea water, making it toxic for most organisms to remain alive.
Coming back to protecting our oceans and marine life, the number one rule is to reduce our plastic consumption. We must believe in sustainable development and conservation of our water bodies so that they remain clean and usable for the next generation as well.
Read Also: What We Are Doing To Our Oceans?
