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Oceans cover 70% of the earth and extend to a depth of 11,035
meters (36,200 feet/6.9 miles). Even today exploration of the
vast majority of our oceans is limited. Although we landed on
the moon in 1969, it was not until the late 1970's that reaching
the deepest parts of the ocean in manned craft was feasible.
Once life was thought to exist only with the direct or indirect
aid of sunlight. Deep ocean life was considered unlikely because
of the lack of sunlight and the extreme pressure. In 1977 life
was proven to exist at extreme depths when a crew aboard ALVIN
viewed hydrothermal vents for the first time. They discovered
a whole ecosystem based on food production from chemosynthesis,
rather than photosynthesis.
Explore the links at the right and left to better understand
the dynamic world of the ocean deep.
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