![]() In 2020, Alvin received an $8 million upgrade, and is now capable of exploring 99% of the ocean floor. Though most of the components of the vessel have been replaced and upgraded over the years, it’s still in use today. Alvin explored the wreckage of RMS Titanic in 1986, and helped confirm the existence of black smokers (one of the weirdest ecosystems in the world). Since 1964, a hard-working research submersible named Alvin has been helping us better understand the deep ocean. In fact, upwards of 80% of those species are endemic, meaning they are unique to that region. In winter, visibility can extend over 30m (98ft) below the surface.īiodiversity: The unique ecosystem of Lake Baikal provides a home for thousands of plant and animal species. In fact, an estimated 22% of all the world’s fresh water can be found in the lake.Īge: Baikal (which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is estimated to be over 25 million years old, making it the most ancient lake on the planet.Ĭlarity: Interestingly, the water in the lake is exceptionally clear. That extreme depth holds a lot of fresh water. There are a number of qualities that make Lake Baikal stand out.ĭepth: Baikal, located in a massive continental rift, is the deepest lake in the world at 1,642m (5,387ft). Deep Thoughts with Lake Baikalĭeep in Siberia, abutting a mountainous stretch of the Mongolian border, is the one of the most remarkable bodies of water on Earth: Lake Baikal. The graphic is packed with detail, so we’ll only highlight a few points of interest. Today’s graphic, another fantastic piece by xkcd, is a unique and entertaining look at everything from Lake Superior’s ice encrusted shoreline down to blackest, inhospitable trench (which today bears the name of the expedition that first discovered it). In fact, it wasn’t until 1875, during the Challenger expedition, that humanity got it’s first concrete idea of how deep the ocean actually was. Sailors have been circumnavigating the high seas for centuries now, but what could be found beneath the sunlit surface of the ocean remained a mystery until far more recently. ![]() Explore the high resolution version by clicking here. Today’s chart is best viewed full-screen.
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