The ocean is one of our planet’s mysterious and vast sections. We all know it is a major source of life and natural beauty but along with that it also holds dark secrets that are fascinating and terrifying. From creatures that nobody knows exist to deadly depths, all are the parts of the ocean. In this article, we will talk about the 10 scariest facts of the ocean that are worth mentioning, which will fill your heart with oceanic curiosity and will show you how little we know it.
1. More Than 95% of Ocean is Unexplored
This might sound very untrue that even in 2024, we have explored only 5% of the ocean. The vast majority of the ocean is still unknown. There could be several different circumstances, species, plants, underwater landscapes and whatnot. We can only imagine the possibilities, the rest of everything leads to mysteries.
2. Ocean is the Home of the World’s Largest Predators
Mysterious Ocean is also the home of the largest predators that we could ever imagine. For instance, if we talk about the Great White Shark. They grow up to 20 feet long and are famously known for their powerful bites. Although Shark attacks on humans are extremely rare, with their huge structure, their looks are very terrifying.
A more chilling fact, though, is that sharks are not even on top of the ocean’s food chain. This has been evident through orcas, also known as Killer whales, hunting great white sharks. This proves that the food chain in the ocean is way more dangerous and complex. Other deadly species include the Sperm Whale, Leopard Seal, Giant Squid, etc.
3. The Deepest Part of the Ocean is Like an Alien World
The Deepest part of the Ocean is referred to as the Mariana Trench which lies in the western Pacific east of the Philippines. The depth of this Trench goes down by 36,000 feet beneath sea level which is almost 7 miles. The pressure at such a depth is approximately 1000 times the sea surface.
With no sunlight, huge pressure, and such a harsh condition, creatures living in such depth have developed a bizarre adaption and more terrifying towards their prey. Many of these creatures are unknown or never seen before.
4. Ocean is full of deadly Underwater Mountains and Canyons
Underwater landscapes are more extreme as compared to ground landscapes. Even though from the ocean’s surface you could never imagine that underwater is full of mountain canyons, giant volcanoes, deep valleys etc. These underwater landscapes are very unsafe if someone tries to navigate them because of their rare dangerous terrain that could go beyond our expectations and can make our navigation impossible without the use of advanced technology systems.
Here are some of the known underwater landscapes:
- The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the longest submarine mountain in the world. It lies across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, running about 10,000 miles. It is a continuous range of volcanic mountains formed as a result of tectonic activity around the area.
- Mauna Kea is a volcano in Hawaii that emerges above the ocean surface. But the interesting fact is when Mauna Kea is measured from its base on the ocean floor, it seems to be taller than Mount Everest.
- Emperor Seamounts is a chain of underwater volcanic mountains that is spread across 2000 miles in the Pacific Ocean.
5. Ocean has Dead Zones, Where nothing can survive
Did you know that Oceans have something called Dead Zones? These are regions in the ocean where Oxygen levels are so low that most marine life cannot survive. So they will either die or leave the place. The main cause of dead zones is pollution especially when loads of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen are dumped into the water from various sources like factories, farms or sewage.
Excess of such nutrients leads to excess growth of Algae in the water which is called Eutrophication. And when this Algae dies they settle down in the bottom of the ocean and decompose. The process of algae decomposing uses the oxygen present in the water which significantly reduces the water’s oxygen level or even eliminates it. This process is called Deoxygenation.
Well-known dead zones are in the Gulf of Mexico, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, etc.
6. Hosts 1 Million Underwater volcanoes
Ocean hosts around 1 million underwater volcanoes across the globe. These volcanoes have the potential to bring disruptive tsunamis and majorly impact marine lives as well as humans. One of the most dangerous underwater volcanoes is Krakatoa in Indonesia which has a history of causing massive disruption and tsunami in 1883. Then there is Axial Seamount in the Pacific Ocean, located near the coast of Oregon. It is the most active one in the northeastern Pacific. Similarly, there are Kick-’em-Jenny (Caribbean Sea), Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (Tonga) and Monowai (South Pacific Ocean).
7. Ocean has toxic Lakes beneath the surface
Ocean has lakes various toxic lakes known as Brine Pools. These lakes are extremely salty and toxic. The concentration of Hydrogen sulfide and methane is found too high in brine pools which can kill any creature that goes nearby.
8. The Bloop Mistery of Ocean
In 1997, Scientists recorded very powerful, ultra-low sound frequency in the South Pacific Ocean near the coast of Chile in South America. The sound was picked up by an array of underwater microphones (hydrophones) that were originally deployed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to monitor submarine activity and seismic disturbances in the ocean. Its origin remains a mystery as the speculation is it was caused by some unknown sea creature or maybe a massive underwater icequake.
9. Black Hole of Ocean
The “black holes” of the oceans are swirling water vortices in the ocean. It is a whirlpool that digs into everything around its merry zone, including water, dirt, and marine animals. These enormous whirlpools last for months and have an extremely strong pull, hence not possible to allow anything inside it to escape. They can run up to 90 miles wide and spin so fast that they carry warm water and marine life far from their original locations. Not exactly an actual black hole like those in space, but powerful and mysterious, showing just how wild and unpredictable the ocean can be.
10. Rogue Waves and unpredictable Weather Changes
Rogue waves are enormous and quite sudden, rising over 60 feet (18 meters) high, which can emerge seemingly out of nowhere at times while the sea appears tranquil. Such massive waves are powerful enough to break apart or even sink ships. Such apparitions were believed to be nothing more than a sailor’s tale until modern technology laid it to rest. Finally, the weather of the ocean can shift in a matter of hours from very tranquil to a battlefield of intense storms. High winds and towering waves will toss ships about; lightning storms at sea are incredibly intense, with lightning bolts striking perilously close to the vessel.
Hope you liked this article. Don’t forget to check Life for more such interesting content.
Also, follow us on Instagram @conceptdive and make your social feed shine.
