The
Challenger Deep is the deepest known point in the
Earth's
seabed hydrosphere (the oceans), with a depth of 10,898 to 10,928
m (35,755 to 35,853
ft) by direct measurement from submersibles and slightly more by
sonar bathymetry. It is located in the
Pacific Ocean, at the southern end of the
Mariana Trench near the
Mariana Islands group. The Challenger Deep is a relatively small slot-shaped depression in the bottom of a considerably larger crescent-shaped
oceanic trench, which itself is an unusually
deep feature in the ocean floor. The Challenger Deep's bottom is about 11 km (7 mi) long and 1.6 km (1 mi) wide, with gently sloping sides.
[1] The closest land to the Challenger Deep is
Fais Island (one of the outer islands of
Yap), 287 km (178 mi) southwest, and
Guam, 304 km (189 mi) to the northeast. It is located in the ocean territory of the
Federated States of Micronesia, 1.6 km (1 mi) from its border with ocean territory associated with Guam.
[2]