OCEANCLOPEDIA M

Trenches are long, steep V-shaped depths in the seabottom. They arise when two ocean- or earthplates bump against eachother, and one plate shoves underneath the other plate. Often this also brings earthquakes. Trenches are average 2000 till 4000m lower than the rest of the seabottom. Still all sorts of animals live in these icy depths, where no daylight comes and where an enormous pressure is. There live for example sea-anemone, seacucumber and worms. The most biggest trenches you can find in the Pacific Ocean, among which the Mariana Trench.

The Mariana Trench is a trench east of the Marianas. These trench is about 2500km long and follows an arch from the north-east to the south-west. The average width is 70km, but in the south-west near the island Guam the trench reaches a width of 338km. The Mariana Trench is caused by the Pacific plate shoving under the Phillipine plate, which also caused driving up the vulcanic island Guam. The deepest point of the Mariana Trench is at 11035m, called Vitjazdepth. There are more estimations, as people till now gone down "only" 10900m. The deepest point on earth, known till now.