On the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, close to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and surrounded by Caribbean waters, is the largest blue hole in the world, Taam-Ja’. Even without reaching the deepest point of the hole, scientists managed to measure more than 420 meters deep, which is equivalent to the height of 11 Christ the Redeemers one on top of the other.
Blue holes are types of underwater holes, similar to holes on land. The study carried out by researchers from Mexico raises the possibility that the site has a hidden underground network that connects the water of Taam-Ja’ with that of other bodies of water.
In September 2021, an expedition on Taam-Ja’ recorded that the site was 274.4 meters below sea level. Therefore, the hole was below the 300 meter depth of the Sansha Yongle sea hole, located in the China Sea.
They had used the echo sounder instrument, which calculates the depth of marine areas by sending a wave to the bottom of the sea and seeing how long it takes to return. This method, however, tends to have limitations in more complex marine environments, such as the holes themselves.
In the new research published in the journal Frontiers in Science on April 29, 2024, researchers used a conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiler. In the new expedition, researchers also failed to reach the end of Taam-Ja’. But the recorded depth was enough to surpass that of Sansha Yongle.
Taam-Ja’ has an almost circular shape that reaches 13,690 m². At the mouth of the hole, the characteristics of the water change significantly. But research also found that, in water layers below 400 meters, the conditions of temperature, salinity and water density increase again.
As a result, they are close to those presented by the surface of the Caribbean Sea, coral lakes and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This suggests that there is an underground connection between these bodies of water and the hole.
Another hypothesis discussed that explains the increase in temperature in layers below 400 meters is geothermal activity. On the surface of the hole there is turbidity, which decreases at a depth of four meters, where it is now possible to see the edge clearly.
The walls of the first few meters of the hole are formed by fragile and brittle sedimentary rocks. Between 25 meters and 30 meters the walls are already firm, but without a biological cover due to the reduction in light penetration. (State Agency)
—
THE TIME reinforces the commitment to quality, professional and Minas Gerais journalism. Our newsroom produces responsible information every day that you can trust.
Follow THE TIME on Facebook, on Twitter and on Instagram. Help grow our community.
