15 MOST Mysterious Places in the Ocean
15 MOST Mysterious Places in the Ocean
Transcript
00:00While we've mapped everywhere there is to map on land, there are still vast areas of
00:04ocean that remain untouched and unexplored.
00:07What lurks in the depths of the deep, dark seas still remains a mystery.
00:11So for today's video, I'm counting down 15 of the most mysterious places in the ocean.
00:1615.
00:17The Bermuda Triangle The Bermuda Triangle.
00:21Few places on Earth can boast quite as many unexplained disappearances and unsolved mysteries.
00:27But what is it really?
00:28Well, from a geological standpoint, it's an area in the North Atlantic Ocean, and it's
00:33a pretty loosely defined region.
00:35The tips of the triangle are basically Miami, Florida, Bermuda, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
00:41This triangle covers an area of approximately half a million to one and a half million square
00:45miles.
00:46Because like I said, the area isn't really defined.
00:49So it's just a big, widely undefined region in the ocean?
00:53Well, not quite.
00:55You see, stuff goes missing in the Bermuda Triangle, so numerous ships and planes have
00:58disappeared without any explanation.
01:01No distress signals sent, no wreckage found.
01:03Well, now the area is prone to violent weather too, including hurricanes, and that could
01:08account for some of the disappearances.
01:10There's also really strong currents here too, like the Gulf Stream, which can make it hard
01:14for ships to navigate at times.
01:16However, the weather and the currents do little to assuage the beliefs of conspiracy theorists.
01:22To many, it's not the weather nor the currents that are to blame, nope, it's aliens, or time
01:27warps, or doors to another dimension.
01:29You see, some believe that the aliens have, for some reason, situated themselves in this
01:34region, and they occasionally just swipe the odd boat right off the water or a random plane
01:39from the sky.
01:40Others speculate that the Bermuda Triangle could contain portals to other dimensions
01:44or time warps, and that the missing ships and planes simply slipped through one.
01:50Of course, none of these theories have been proven, and none of the odd disappearances
01:53have been explained, so the Bermuda Triangle still remains one of the most mysterious places
01:57not just in the ocean, but in the world.
02:0114.
02:02The Great Blue Hole What could be more mysterious than a massive
02:07blue hole in the middle of the ocean?
02:09Well, that's basically what the Great Blue Hole is, it's a massive underwater sinkhole
02:14located off the coast of Belize.
02:16The hole is about 43 miles from the mainland, and it's actually part of the larger Belize
02:21Barrier Reef System, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
02:25So what makes it so mysterious?
02:26Well, it's perfectly circular, and it has a deep blue color that sharply contrasts with
02:31the turquoise waters that surround the reef.
02:34The hole is about 984 feet across and about 400 feet deep.
02:39The sinkhole was formed during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower, it's
02:43believed to be a collapsed limestone cave system.
02:46At least that's the leading theory, truth be told, its actual formation is source of
02:50debate in the scientific community, and no one really knows for sure how it was formed.
02:55It is a captivating place, full of intrigue, in fact, the Great Blue Hole has earned a
02:58reputation as one of the world's most mysterious diving sites.
03:03Divers flock to the Great Blue Hole to explore the wonders for it themselves.
03:07It's got an eerie beauty about it, plus it's in a pretty remote locale, which only adds
03:11to this intrigue.
03:12Now, the hole may seem to have a bottomless depth, but this place is ripe with marine
03:17life.
03:18Fish, sharks, coral, you name it, they all live in there.
03:22But the real allure is the world of underwater caves.
03:25Exploring the hole is not for novice divers, it requires advanced skills and technical
03:30equipment, and getting there is no cup of tea either.
03:33You have to get permits from the Belize authorities, coordinate transportation and accommodation,
03:38and you have to check the weather before heading out.
03:40But if you're lucky enough to do so, then you can say you dove in one of the most mysterious
03:44places in the ocean.
03:46If those aren't bragging rights, I don't know what is.
03:4913.
03:50Bimini Road Not so much a place as an object, or an object
03:55in a place, Bimini Road is one of the most mysterious objects ever found in the ocean.
04:01It's also known as the Bimini Wall or Bimini Rocks.
04:04It's an intriguing underwater rock formation off the coast of Bimini in the Bahamas.
04:08This road is made up of a series of limestone blocks that are arranged in a near-linear
04:13formation.
04:14The reason it's so mysterious is that it really resembles an ancient paved road or pathway
04:19of some sort.
04:20The road is located in the shallow waters near North Bimini Island, and to add a little
04:24punch to the road, it's in there with the Bermuda Triangle.
04:28So given that theorists have, of course, jumped on the road and its location and claimed that
04:32Bimini Road is obviously the road to the lost city of Atlantis, it's now not proven, of
04:38course, but there are several things about the road that are pretty mysterious.
04:42The limestone blocks that are arranged in such a precision and regularity that people
04:46argue they must be man-made.
04:48They're too perfect to be natural, they say.
04:50However, the most captivating theory that connects Bimini Road to the legendary lost
04:54city of Atlantis comes from Plato's dialogues, Timaeus and Critias.
04:58There, Atlantis is described as an advanced society that existed over 9,000 years ago
05:04before sinking into the sea.
05:06That's pretty much where the theory that Bimini Road is a remnant of this fabled city
05:09comes from.
05:10Of course, there's also a lot of theories that the rocks are perfectly natural, but
05:14that theory isn't as much fun.
05:16In any case, Bimini Road and what it actually is continues to be a pretty controversial
05:20topic with a lot of people sitting firmly on either side of the fence.
05:2512.
05:26The Weddell Sea A sea itself might not seem like the most
05:31mysterious thing around, but the Weddell Sea is not your ordinary sea.
05:36The Weddell Sea is a vast expanse of water located in the Southern Ocean.
05:40It extends into the Southern Hemisphere and surrounds Antarctica's eastern side.
05:45And yes, because of its location, the sea is characterized by its extensive ice cover.
05:49In fact, the sea ice is present for most of the year, as well as large ice shelves and
05:54icebergs.
05:55The Weddell Sea is in one of the most remote and inhospitable regions on Earth.
05:59It's notorious for the harsh weather conditions and very cold temperatures.
06:03These things combined with a thick layer of ice make it almost impossible to explore,
06:08and since it really can't be explored, it really hasn't been studied.
06:12The sea is an integral part of the Antarctic ecosystem.
06:15Marine biologists know that much, but most of the marine life is poorly understood since
06:20scientists can't really access them.
06:22It's not that exploring the sea is hard or expensive, it's just downright dangerous.
06:27Unpredictable weather and high winds are the norm out there on that sea, and because the
06:31sea is really isolated, it takes a lot just to get there.
06:35And to make matters worse, nearby Antarctica doesn't really offer much help.
06:38There's limited infrastructure there, so scientists basically have to travel to a remote continent
06:43with little on it and then out to an even more remote sea?
06:47This is what makes it so mysterious.
06:49We really don't know a lot about this ice-locked location.
06:52Logistically, we're trying to find out more is a nightmare.
06:55So what really lurks beneath the sheets of ice in the Weddell Sea?
06:59We really don't know.
07:0111.
07:02Point Nemo This next mysterious place in the ocean, with
07:06the same name as the adorable little fish who got lost and had to be found, kind of
07:11has a similar story.
07:13Point Nemo is one of the most remote locations on Earth, so finding it really isn't for the
07:18faint of heart.
07:19And if the fact that that doesn't tip you off to how remote this area actually is, then
07:23its other name will.
07:25Point Nemo is also known as the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility.
07:30It's so remote, it is pretty much inaccessible.
07:33It's located in the South Pacific Ocean, and it has the rare honor of being the farthest
07:37point away from any landmass in the world.
07:40The nearest landmass is 1,670 miles away.
07:45You can take your pick since there are three landmasses that are similar distances, Ducey
07:49Island to the North, Mar Island to Antarctica in the South, and Motunui of the Easter Island
07:55to the Northwest.
07:56So Point Nemo is the place in the ocean that is the furthest away from land, surrounded
08:01by miles and miles of open ocean in all direction.
08:05Due to the remote location, Point Nemo is often called the loneliest place on Earth.
08:10Just to put this in perspective, the closest human inhabitants to Point Nemo are the astronauts
08:15on the International Space Station.
08:17The water here is over 13,000 feet deep, and because it's way out there in the middle
08:22of nowhere, the water hasn't really been explored.
08:25Most of the ocean floor under Point Nemo hasn't been mapped.
08:28So basically, it is one of the very last unexplored places on the planet, and since it's so far
08:33away from any land, it's probably safe to say that Point Nemo won't be explored any
08:37time soon.
08:38Which begs the question, what will we find when we finally find a way to explore Point
08:44Nemo?
08:45Because finding Point Nemo is as hard as finding one specific little lost fish in the ocean.
08:5110.
08:53The Gakel Ridge The Gakel Ridge is a mid-ocean ridge that's
08:57located beneath the Arctic Ocean.
08:59It extends from Greenland to Siberia, so it's pretty big.
09:02In fact, the Gakel Ridge is part of the Global Mid-Ocean Ridge System, which is the longest
09:07mountain range on Earth.
09:08However, even though it holds those bragging rights, it's still one of the least explored
09:12places on the planet because it's really remote and covered in ice.
09:17The ridge stretches 1,100 miles along the seafloor of the Arctic Ocean, and it lies
09:21at depths ranging from 9,800 to 18,000 feet.
09:26It's got some pretty rugged terrain, with steep valleys and really high ridges, but
09:30what makes it so mysterious is its inhospitable-ness.
09:33The ridge is located in one of the most inhospitable regions on the planet.
09:37It's really cold there and the region is covered by thick ice, so it makes it pretty hard to
09:41explore it and not much is known about it.
09:44There are active hydrothermal vents there that were discovered along the ridge in 2001,
09:48and that's pretty important because these vents emit superheated, mineral-rich water.
09:52This water can support unique ecosystems and life, so scientists are pretty confident there's
09:57plenty of life down there in that ridge.
09:59The organisms derive energy from chemicals in the vent fluids, as opposed to sunlight,
10:03and it's helped scientists better understand life in extreme environments.
10:07So although we don't know everything that's living down there on the ridge, we do know
10:11something is, and whatever lies down there could possibly help us better understand how
10:15things could live on other planets.
10:17In fact, each exploration mission uncovers new species, a species that's adapted to those
10:22harsh conditions.
10:24So yeah, there's a lot going on in this Gekkel Ridge, we just don't know exactly what it
10:28is...yet.
10:319.
10:32The Greenland Coral Reef Alright, let's get one thing straight, coral
10:35reefs are pretty cool.
10:37With their vibrant colors and otherworldly structures, there's a reason divers flock
10:41to these things, but not all coral reefs are easily accessible.
10:46The Greenland Coral Reef in the North Atlantic Ocean lies within the very cold but very nutrient-rich
10:51waters of the Greenlantic continental shelf, so it's not exactly a hotspot for hobby scuba
10:57divers.
10:58Unlike the tropical coral reefs found in warmer waters, the Greenland Coral Reef is a cold
11:02water system.
11:03It thrives in frigid waters.
11:06Its depths also range from about 980 to 2,900 feet, so yeah, it's pretty deep.
11:11The reef is mostly made up of a species of stony coral, and it provides a lovely little
11:16habitat for a wide range of marine life, marine life that's been hanging around long before
11:21our discovery of the reef.
11:23One of the reasons the reef is so mysterious is we didn't even discover it until 2012,
11:27and it was discovered by scientists from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and
11:31the University of Copenhagen.
11:33So of course, due to its recent discovery as well as its challenging location, much
11:37of the reef is still unexplored.
11:39Cold water corals grow much slower than their tropical counterparts, so the Green Coral
11:43Reef is really vulnerable to environmental change.
11:47If we want to learn more about it, we have to make sure we don't destroy it first or
11:50alter it too much.
11:51Luckily, the location and the temperature make it pretty costly and logistically hard
11:55to explore, so we're not likely to cause the reef too much damage since we can't send swarms
12:00of scientists down there to collect stuff.
12:038.
12:04The Horizon Deep in the Tonga Trench Welcome to the second deepest oceanic trench
12:09in the world, the Tonga Trench, and within it is the deepest part of the trench known
12:14as the Horizon Deep.
12:17This is located in the South Pacific Ocean to the east of the Tonga Islands and extends
12:21from the Kermadec Islands in the north to the Louisville-Semount chain in the south.
12:26Horizon Deep is the second-known deepest point on Earth, so how deep am I talking?
12:31Roughly 35,702 feet.
12:35Yet as you might have guessed, because the trench is so deep, it's really hard to explore.
12:38In fact, Horizon Deep remains one of the least explored parts of the ocean, which is a shame
12:44because the abyssal zone is home to some really unique, highly adapted organisms.
12:48They've learned how to survive under immense pressure as well as complete darkness, and
12:53we haven't, which is why it's really hard for us to explore there.
12:57With specialized equipment, though, and some remotely operated vehicles and autonomous
13:01systems, we've been able to explore parts of it.
13:04The equipment is pretty expensive, though, and sometimes the equipment gets damaged during
13:07the mission, such as the case with the HROV Nereus.
13:11The Nereus conducted groundbreaking missions down to the Horizon Deep and actually captured
13:15some high-resolution images from down there.
13:17Sadly, though, it was lost during a subsequent mission, which goes to show how hard it actually
13:21is to explore down there.
13:23Marine biologists are pretty confident that there are some undiscovered species in the
13:27trench, and if we can discover them, we can learn a lot about how to survive and adapt
13:31to those areas.
13:33It's just a matter of figuring out a way to get to the bottom of the world's second deepest
13:37point.
13:38For now, it remains one of the most mysterious environments on Earth.
13:41Perhaps that will change in the future, though.
13:45Moving on to number 7, Lake Vostok.
13:48Lake Vostok is hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet near the Russian Vostok Station.
13:53It's one of Antarctica's largest known subglacial lakes.
13:57This lake is encased beneath more than 3,700 meters of ice and, as such, is pretty much
14:03inaccessible.
14:04But, because it's inaccessible, Lake Vostok has a preserved, pristine, and ancient environment
14:09that fascinates scientists.
14:11The mystery surrounding Lake Vostok heightened in the late 20th century when Russian scientists
14:15successfully drilled through the ice sheet to reach the lake's surface.
14:19Ice cores extracted from this drilling revealed a record of climate and environmental changes
14:23of the past.
14:25The extreme conditions of the lake, like perpetual darkness, high pressure, and subzero temps,
14:30have sparked curiosity about what might be down there.
14:33Perhaps there's a unique microbial lifeform down there and, if so, discovering these organisms
14:37could provide clues about life's limits on Earth, as well as the potential existence
14:42on other planets.
14:44Scientists to date haven't found a lot yet, but what they've found is millions of years
14:47old, and this is important because scientists could draw parallels between the findings
14:51in Lake Vostok and life in similar extreme conditions elsewhere in our solar system.
14:56Given the fact that the lake's under a thick layer of ice and its remoteness, exploration
15:01is pretty tough.
15:02Plus, there's a risk of contamination, so as it stands, whatever's in that lake is
15:06still pretty mysterious.
15:086.
15:09The Black Sea's Underwater River Beneath the Black Sea, there's a river under
15:17the sea.
15:18Also known as the Black Sea Bosphorus Strait or the Black Sea Cascading Current, this river
15:23flows beneath the surface of the Black Sea.
15:26The Black Sea itself is a small sea that's bounded by Europe, Anatolia, and the Caucasus.
15:31Now unlike typical, ordinary rivers that flow on the surface, the Black Sea Underwater River
15:35flows along the seabed.
15:37It starts or originates from the Bosphorus Strait and then travels into the depths of
15:41the Black Sea.
15:42How does this happen?
15:43Well, it has to do with salt.
15:45The underwater river has a dense saline water, and because the density of the water can be
15:49affected by many things like temperature, the river actually has distinct layers.
15:54It flows because of the currents, and this salty current that flows along the seabed
15:58displaces the less dense freshwater.
16:01And you better believe this underwater river's got some pretty hefty impact on the surrounding
16:04ecosystem, or at least marine biologists think it does.
16:08For example, it might serve as a migration path for a certain species of fish.
16:12It might also carry nutrients with it and disperse them to areas that wouldn't otherwise
16:15have those nutrients.
16:17However, it's important to point out that these are mites, since not a lot is known
16:21about this underwater river.
16:23The seabed here is a treacherous place with steep slopes, deep canyons, and high ridges,
16:28so pretty tough to navigate.
16:29Plus, since the river's at the bottom of the sea, it's hard to access.
16:33Because of this, the exact origin and evolution of this underwater river aren't really known
16:37or fully understood.
16:39More research is needed to uncover the mysteries of this odd and rare underwater river.
16:455.
16:47Twilight Zone Reefs in the Chagos Islands The Twilight Zone Reefs aren't actually named
16:52after the sci-fi TV series, although they do have a science fiction element to them.
16:57Twilight Zone Reefs, also known as Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems, are located around the Chagos
17:02Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
17:04These reefs are found at depths between 100 to 500 feet, and that's important because
17:09it's their depth that they're named after.
17:11They sit below the range of conventional shallow-water coral reefs, but above the dark ocean floor.
17:18This depth range is known as the Twilight Zone.
17:21This zone is characterized by low light conditions.
17:24Those conditions significantly influence the types of coral that can thrive there, as well
17:28as the marine life.
17:29However, because the coral reefs are in this Twilight Zone, it's difficult to study them
17:33with run-of-the-mill traditional scuba gear.
17:36They're just too deep, so instead, the reefs are often explored using submersibles.
17:41These ecosystems are different than the ecosystems of their shallow-water counterparts.
17:45For example, there are species that have adapted to the low light and cooler temperatures,
17:49species you won't find in shallower reefs.
17:51They might have wacky things like elongated polyps or a flatter structure to help capture
17:56more light, and to help soak in that light, a lot of the organisms have these unique pigmentations
18:01so they can better absorb the limited light available.
18:04The Twilight Zone reefs continue to be studied, but today, they're a lesser-known region with
18:08some equally lesser-known marine life, so who knows what other mysterious things are
18:12waiting for us as we enter the Twilight Zone.
18:164.
18:17The Milky Sea Just the name alone of this next entry conjures
18:22up images of space and beyond.
18:24But rest assured, the Milky Sea Phenomenon is where its name suggests, in the sea.
18:30The Indian Ocean, to be more exact.
18:31The Milky Sea Phenomenon is a very rare and mysterious oceanic event.
18:36Large areas of the sea light up.
18:38This light can be blue or white, and it's in the northwestern Indian Ocean, near the
18:42maritime regions of Southeast Asia.
18:45Not to be confused with your typical bioluminescence, which only happens in small patches, these
18:49lights of the Milky Sea can illuminate massive areas.
18:53The glowing effect can last for several hours to several days, and as such, it's been known
18:57to provide a light source that passing ships can see.
19:01So what causes the sea to light up?
19:02That's where the mystery is.
19:04The exact cause of it remains somewhat mysterious, although some believe it could be caused by
19:09bioluminescent bacteria.
19:11Those bacteria emit light through a chemical reaction with a fancy scientific name, Luciferase-mediated
19:17bioluminescence.
19:18Basically, the bioluminescence bacteria respond to changes in the ocean's conditions.
19:23Because they gather in massive numbers in the Milky Sea, the light is visible over huge
19:27areas.
19:28The phenomenon, though, is very rare and even more unpredictable, so it's hard for scientists
19:32to study it.
19:33In any case, the lights from the Milky Sea have been reported for centuries, with the
19:37earliest recorded observation coming from Captain John J. Hurd in 1854.
19:42So the Milky Sea and its milky glow are not new, but they're still elusive and enigmatic.
19:483.
19:49The Sargasso Sea If the Sargasso Sea had a hashtag, it would
19:54be hashtag sea of currents.
19:56Why?
19:57Well, because this area is swimming with them.
20:00The Sargasso Sea is a region of the North Atlantic Ocean, and instead of being bounded
20:04by land, it's bounded by four ocean currents.
20:08These currents form a clockwise circulation pattern.
20:11In the west, we have the Gulf Stream, to the north, there's the North Atlantic Current,
20:15to the east is the Canary Current, and to the south is the North Atlantic Equatorial
20:20Current.
20:21This makes the sea unique and mysterious, since its borders aren't defined by boring
20:26old landmasses.
20:28The sea is named for the seagrass that floats along the surface, Sargassum Seaweed.
20:32Because of the currents, the seaweed forms large floating mats.
20:35This seaweed isn't just for show.
20:37Under the layers of seaweed, myths and legends abound.
20:41One of the most enduring legends here is that of a ghost ship.
20:44Mariners have reported sightings of derelict vessels drifting amongst the seaweed.
20:49But their decks were empty and their sails were tattered.
20:52These ghost ships are often said to be crewed by the spirits of sailors that were lost at
20:56sea.
20:57Some people have also made connections between the Sargasso Sea and the lost city of Atlantis.
21:01Some theorists propose that the remnants of this ancient civilization lie beneath the
21:05calm waters of the sea.
21:07Since there's so much seaweed on the surface, these theorists claim that the ruins of the
21:10lost city might be hiding under the weeds.
21:14For many sailors, fear of being trapped in its windless waters is a phenomenon known
21:18as becalmed.
21:20Ships that are becalmed can be stranded for weeks.
21:22It's an eerie thought, being trapped in an unending, tranquil expanse without any hope
21:27of escape.
21:28These tales paint the sea to be both a place of beauty and of peril, and add to the overall
21:33mystery of this strange, seaweed-ridden sea.
21:372.
21:38The Devil's Sea or The Dragon's Triangle We've already covered the Bermuda Triangle,
21:43but did you know it has a sister?
21:45The Devil's Sea.
21:46It's a region in the Pacific Ocean that forms, you guessed it, a triangle.
21:51The Devil's Sea is located off the coast of Japan, and it stretches from the eastern coast
21:55of the Philippines to the islands of Guam and Yap.
21:58The points of the triangle are Guam, Taiwan, and Japan, and just like its more famous counterpart,
22:04the Devil's Sea is an area shrouded in mystery and myth, and it's been that way for centuries.
22:09It's also known as the Dragon's Triangle, depending on who you ask, and has lost many
22:13a ship and aircraft, and just like the Bermuda Triangle, these disappearances happen under
22:17some pretty mysterious circumstances.
22:21It has always been a hazardous place.
22:23Strong ocean currents, unpredictable weather patterns, and some seismic activity thrown
22:27in for good measure make this region a navigator's nightmare.
22:31These things could also be reasons why ships and aircraft go missing.
22:35However, like the Bermuda Triangle, things have gone missing without distress signals
22:39or any kind of wreckage.
22:41There's also tales of magnetic anomalies, electronic malfunctions, and unusual weather
22:45in the region, all of which fuel more conspiracy theories.
22:49The seas situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is an area known for a lot
22:53of seismic activity, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the like, plus underwater tectonic
22:58activity are all the norm out there in the Devil's Triangle.
23:02These volatile things could, of course, offer up some explanations for missing ships.
23:07Furthermore, the Devil's Sea has some complex currents, shallow shoals, and submerged hazards.
23:12However, it's also entirely possible that sea dragons are lurking beneath the water
23:16and eating passing by ships, or that aliens are beaming up ships to take back to their
23:20home planets for scientific study.
23:22Well, at least they're possible until proven otherwise.
23:26And since the Devil's Triangle is in such a remote and tumultuous part of the ocean,
23:30no one's really rushing out there to explore it.
23:33Things like oceanographic surveys, seismic monitoring, and historical research have all
23:37been conducted to uncover the truth.
23:40So what was the result of all these expeditions?
23:42They were inconclusive, of course, which is why aliens, ghosts, and sea dragons are still
23:48on the table.
23:49In any case, it does seem strange that the world has not one, but two mysterious triangles
23:54in the ocean, and they both have some pretty similar stuff happening in there.
23:58Stuff that doesn't seem to have any other plausible explanations.
24:02Thanks for watching, everyone.
24:03I'll see you tomorrow.
24:06Thank you to our channel members.