Credit: Unsplash
Exploring the Depths: Mexico’s Taam Ja’ Blue Hole – The Second Deepest in the World!
A new discovery has been made in the deep blue waters off the coast of Mexico. Scientists have identified the world’s second-deepest blue hole in Chetumal Bay. This underwater cavern has been named Taam Ja’, which means “deep water” in Mayan.
Blue holes are essentially underwater sinkholes that can be found in shallow marine waters. They are typically much deeper than the surrounding seawater and have a distinctive shade of blue due to their depth. It is believed that they were formed during the Ice Age when the sea level was much lower than it is today.
According to a report by LiveScience, the Taam Ja’ blue hole is around 900 feet deep and spans an area of 147,000 square feet. This is a significant discovery, but it is still not the deepest blue hole in the world. That title belongs to the Dragon Hole, which was discovered in 2016 in the South China Sea and is believed to be more than 980 feet deep.
The Taam Ja’ blue hole has steep sides with slopes of almost 80 degrees. The mouth of the cavern sits around 15 feet below sea level, which is relatively shallow considering its impressive depth. At the surface, the blue hole is nearly circular and encompasses an area of approximately 13,690 square meters.
Bilim insanları Meksika'nın Yucatan Yarımadası açıklarında 'Taam ja' adı verilen dünyanın en derin ikinci mavi deliğini keşfettiklerini duyurdu. pic.twitter.com/IaZPjGdbRu
— Onedio (@onediocom) April 26, 2023
Further research has been conducted on the Taam Ja’ blue hole and its properties. According to a report published in Frontiers in Marine Science, the water inside the blue hole consists mainly of diluted seawater. Hydrographic profiles show that there is a stratified water column inside the blue hole consisting of a hypoxic layer, a chemocline, and an anoxic layer. This indicates that there are distinct temperature and salinity gradients at different depths in the blue hole.
The discovery of the Taam Ja’ blue hole is important, as it provides scientists with valuable insights into the geological and hydrological features of the ocean floor. It is also a reminder of the vast and mysterious world that lies beneath the surface of our planet. As researchers continue to explore these underwater wonders, there is no doubt that more incredible discoveries will be made in the years to come.
