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In 2023, researchers confirmed that an underwater sinkhole in Mexico’s Chetumal Bay, known as the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole, is the deepest in the world. The mystery of what lies at the bottom of this abyss near the Chicxulub crater, where the dinosaur-killing asteroid struck the planet 66 million years ago, remains unsolved.
Blue holes are formed when water seeps through cracks below the seafloor, dissolving minerals and leading to the creation of sinkholes. The Taam Ja’ Blue Hole surpasses other blue holes in terms of depth and mystery. With a depth of at least 420m compared to other blue holes such as Dragon Hole in South China Sea’s bottom that is approximately 300m deep.
Recent studies have shown that the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole was initially believed to be around 275m deep but further exploration with new technology revealed it to be much deeper. By anchoring a vessel near the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole and dropping a line in December 2023, researchers were able to determine that it is at least 420m deep and potentially even deeper. They found that water within this hole has various layers of temperature and salinity with one layer at approximately 400m having values similar to those of nearby Caribbean Sea.
This discovery suggests a possible connection between these two seas at an underwater seabed, holding potential for unexplored biodiversity and unique physicochemical and geomorphological processes. Researchers concluded that this Taam Ja’ Blue Hole presents an opportunity for further exploration and study of a distinct biotope within its depths.
