Great blue hole

A recent expedition has used high-end submarines to explore the Great Blue Hole, a vast and especially stunning marine sinkhole found in Belize. Among the many fascinating discoveries to come out of the dives, one wasthe discovery of “tracks” found out at the bottom of the hole. Although we hasten to add this is not evidence of Godzilla on holiday or anything suspicious, the discovery is still an intriguing insight into the history of the grand marine sinkhole. Advertisement In December 2018, a team of scientists and explorers took part in a mission to survey the Great Blue Hole. Among the crew members were a bunch of scientists and explorers, including the likes of billionaire Richard Branson and Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of French explorer Jacques Cousteau who first brought notoriety to the Blue Hole in the early 1970s. Erika Bergman, the chief submarine pilot on the project and oceanographer, told CNN Travel they had observed tracks on the bottom of the sinkhole that theywere unable to identify and remain “open to interpretation". The Great Blue Hole is the second largest marine sinkhole in the world, followed by the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, with a diameter of over 300 meters (984 feet) and a depth of 125 meters (410 feet).It can be found in the Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll over70 kilometers (43 miles) from the mainlandof Belize.As part of this project, the team also mapped out the whole of the hole using high-resolution multibeam sonar and gathered env...

A blue hole is a large marine Blue holes are distinguished from Description [ ] Blue holes are roughly circular, steep-walled depressions, and so named for the dramatic contrast between the dark blue, deep waters of their depths and the lighter blue of the shallows around them. Their water circulation is poor, and they are commonly The deepest blue hole in the world at 300.89 meters (987 feet) deep is in the The overall largest blue hole (taking into account depth and width) is located 100 kilometers from the coast of Belize. The Great Blue Hole is a massive 300 meters wide and 125 meters deep. Formation [ ] Blue holes formed during past Most blue holes contain freshwater and saltwater. The The means in which blue holes are formed is through Most blue holes are formed through these processes, however, some show no signs of passages or cave systems which are requirements of karst and doline processes. Therefore, these blue holes must have other origins like possibly vertical reef development. Some blue holes however do not experience karst or doline processes during their formation. Some form through bedrock dissolution and collapse Occurrence [ ] Blue holes are typically found on shallow Many deep spring basins formed by Diversity [ ] Many different fossils have been discovered that indicate the type of life forms that existed in blue holes. Other life forms such as marine life and marine fossils have also been noticed; Blue holes have a great diversity of microbes. They c...

Aerial view of the coral reef and deep cave that make up the famous diving spot of the Blue Hole in the Caribbean Ocean off the coast of Belize. Last month, a historic scientific expedition went all the way to the bottom of Belize’s Blue Hole. Virgin founder Richard Branson and ocean conservationist Fabien Cousteau went on the journey, which was broadcast globally on the Discovery Channel. https://twitter.com/Discovery/status/1069352394440339456 It was the first submersible dive to the bottom of the hole, which is found along the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest barrier reef network in the world. The group was also there to support the work of Ocean Unite, which is raising awareness about protecting at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. The group journeyed to the bottom in an Aquatica submarine, where they came across a wall of stalactites, which Branson says shows that the Blue Hole is made up of caves that were originally formed on dry land. According to Because of the depths of the hole and the lack of oxygen, there are no living creatures at the bottom. However, Branson said they did see plastic bottles at the bottom, which he says is another reason to end the use of single-use plastics.

In 1971, famed undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau helped turn Belize into a diver’s paradise when he tagged the Great Blue Hole sinkhole as one of world's top ten diving spots. You'll know it if you see it: a brilliant dark blue pupil 1,000 feet across surrounded by an iris of lighter blue-green, sitting in the middle of the Belize Barrier Reef How did such a perfect circle end up beneath the crystal-clear water? Blame not one, but four collapses. The Great Blue Hole began its life above water during glacial periods as a dry cavern system full of rock columns and stalactites. It sat on what was once Lighthouse Reef Atoll, a limestone plateau. Until it fell in, that is: According to That formation process gave the Great Blue Hole its unique color, says Kirkwood. The sinkhole is about 400 feet deep, surrounded by ten-foot-deep water on top of the now-underwater atoll. The deep water looks dark blue, circled by shallower light blue-green water with a sandy bottom spiked with coral. A stalactite gallery sits under 135 feet of water, above several deeper caverns. Most divers head for the Hole because of its unique underwater landscape, but it's also home to a large and surprisingly robust group of aquatic life forms. The hole is a bit anomalous—the water is mostly shallow and open sea is at least a mile and a half away. Regardless, the sinkhole is filled with large shoals of yellow snapper and Bermuda chub, Caribbean reef sharks (“impressively sized,” according to Kirkwood), ha...

The formation of the Blue Hole began during the last ice age, approximately 15,000 years ago when the sea level was much lower than it is today. At that time, the area was a large, One of the most notable features of the Blue Hole is its deep blue color, which is caused by the depth of the sinkhole and the lack of sunlight penetrating its depths. The walls of the sinkhole are sheer and almost vertical, with an array of fascinating geological formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and other limestone formations. The Blue Hole is also home to a diverse range of marine life, including sharks, barracuda, and other tropical fish species. It is a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkelers, who come from all over the world to explore its depths and marvel at its natural beauty. Overall, the Blue Hole is an extraordinary geological formation that provides a fascinating insight into the natural processes that shape our planet. Its unique features and stunning beauty make it one of the most remarkable natural wonders in the world. Geologic features of the Blue Hole The Blue Hole is a unique geological formation with a variety of features that make it a wonder of the natural world. Some of its most notable geological features include: • Sinkhole: The Blue Hole is a large, circular sinkhole that measures approximately 300 meters (984 feet) across and 124 meters (407 feet) deep. It is the result of the collapse of a limestone cave system that was flooded by rising sea...