Why in News?
- Dragon Hole, the world's deepest known blue hole, is a massive underwater sinkhole in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands.
Key Facts
- Located 9 km north of Drummond Island; measures 301 meters deep and up to 130 meters wide at points.
- Named Sansha Yongle Blue Hole; formed by rainwater dissolving limestone when sea levels were lower, later flooding as levels rose.
- Features steep walls and limited water circulation, creating oxygen-free zones below about 100 meters.
Scientific Significance
- Acts as a natural lab for studying isolated life in oxygen-depleted environments, with distinct microbial layers.
- Chinese teams from First Institute of Oceanography plan further sampling for DNA analysis and comparisons to other blue holes.
- Over 20 new marine species found in initial probes; latest findings focus on viral diversity rather than megafauna.
Download Pdf
Get in Touch
