Every country in the world holds something of great interest. Russia is no exception. Hundreds of scientists and researchers invested their time in finding out the enigma of the northwest peninsula of Russia. For more than a decade, the Soviets have been excavating to reach the center of our planet.
They call this excavation site the borehole. However, despite its popularity and success, the operations recently came to a halt, and the hole was sealed. The real reason why they did that soon would shock the whole world.
The Operation Came to an End
What did the researchers unearth in that hole that resorted to ending the operation? After researching and studying the area, there's something that caught them by surprise. This discovery led to the end of their process.
Why people working on this project had no other option but to seal the hole permanently? Something was found there - and actions had to be taken as soon as possible.
The Journey to the Center of the Earth
Did you know that aside from the space race, the two world powers (the US and Soviet) raced to the center of the earth? They were again the pioneers of this exploration. Through their eagerness to bring new knowledge about our planet, they started to plan an experiment by drilling our grounds.
It was an ambitious project to dig deeper than ever before. They wanted to penetrate thirty miles deep in search of discovery.
Uncovering the Earth's Mantle
Were they aware of what they were looking for beneath the earth? For the scientists, conducting a new experiment is amusing and exciting, and that's what they are concerned about the most. As they got to the crust, they began to dig deeper, reaching the mantle.
This inner layer is composed chiefly of silicate rock. It makes up 40% of the mass of the earth. With this much-unearthed territory, what could they have found?
The Fall of US Project Mohole
The United States attempted to take the lead in the exploration by launching their Project Mohole in 1958. Reaching the discontinuity by drilling remains their main scientific objective. The project was located off the island of Guadalupe, Mexico. Unfortunately, the project suffered opposition from all sides.
The Americans were able to reach 600 feet, but after some time, Congress defunded them. Sad to say, it was an unsuccessful operation for the US, and they were never able to reach the mantle.
The Soviets Took the Challenge
Soviet scientists pursued the failed attempt of the US. This group of researchers was brave enough to give it a shot and find discoveries. They started the operation and drilled into the surface of Pechengsky district, near the Russian border.
Later on, the project was named Kola Superdeep Borehole. Unlike before, Russian scientists used a different approach than the Americans.
The Mystery in the Kola Peninsula
With this big project, specific questions flooded the public's minds. What's in the Kola Peninsula? Why did they choose that location? Russia's Kola peninsula is a deserted region, and few people occupy the place.
With that in mind, the inhabitants wouldn't be a problem in operation. The Soviets started the excavation with one goal in mind: to dig as deep as they could into the center of the earth.
A Race Towards the Goal
After the fall of project Mohole, Americans gave it another shot. A producing company started drilling holes to extract oil in Oklahoma in 1974.
The operation created what is known today as the Bertha Rogers Hole. The US and the Soviets continued to dig deeper. The race towards digging deeper into the Earth continued for years.
The Immense Depth
On the one hand, the Bertha Rogers hole reached 31,400 feet below the Earth's surface. On the other hand, the Kola Borehole broke the record after getting 39,000 feet below the surface. The Soviets finally reached their milestone. However, one thing is still not clear.
What is the purpose of digging deep into the Earth? Is it just a mere race to assert dominance? Or are they hiding something from the public's eye?
The Hiatus
After breaking the record of digging the bottomless hole, Soviet scientists were jubilant about their accomplishment that the project was subjected to a temporary break. For a year, the operation was stopped and was opened to the public. Tourists, politicians, and scientists would visit the site and marvel at a depth of the excavation.
And from there, rumors began spreading of what lies beyond that hole. After all, a hole's eternal nature will undoubtedly make us ask existential questions.
The Unsuccessful Restart
After a year, the project was once again reopened. However, it was not a smooth restart. Researchers encountered some anomalies at the site. Upon commencement, they had technical challenges, which led to the hold of the operation. Unfortunately, the project was once again pushed back.
Will this inconvenience hinder them from investigating further? And why did their attempt to restart fail? It turns out that the equipment was left to rot and rust during the hiatus. The drill string was utterly sheared off, which resulted in a failed operation. Left with no choice, they abandoned the area.
Start from Scratch
The researchers left the first borehole and dug up another one. And in 1989, they again broke their record. The second hole was 40,230 feet deep.
This inspired the scientists to dig even further into the pit of mysteries. In early 1993, they reached 49,000 feet. However, the deeper they go, the more challenges they encounter.
Something Lurking Down There
As they reached 49,000 deep below the Earth's surface, they noticed something unexpected. There was something down there in the deep void and was somehow intercepting their whole plan. This discovery made them rethink and reconsider their strategy.
Many might wonder what they could run into. Could it be a supernatural phenomenon? A strange creature? Or something unexplained?
The Sound of the Earth
Before we reveal what went wrong in the Kola exploration, let's look at the experiments done by other scientists on these gaping holes that have been dugout. Some might wonder what does the Earth sound like?
Fortunately, researchers have already come up with an answer to our queries. Is it silent down there? Or can you hear the wailing from the depths of hell? The researchers used the recordings from a geophone and translated them into audio.
A Hellish Situation
What they heard down there left chills running down their spines. They described the sound as roaring thunder. Or a coming tornado ripping its way through the sky. The noise was loud and horrifying, to say the least. So what exactly did the researchers run into?
It turns out they didn't expect that the temperature down there would rise faster. It was way hotter than they expected it to be. Aside from that, the rock is less dense than they imagined it to be. It seems like the conditions down there is nothing like they are expecting.
Miscalculations
The scientists suffered some miscalculations in this project. The conditions below that gaping hole were unpredictable, and their strategies are no longer applicable. After more than two decades of digging, they finally decided to stop the operations.
Their equipment is no longer suitable for harsh environments. From there, they hit a point where they had to shut down the project and seal the artificial hole with concrete.
The Mystery Uncovered
After 22 years of digging in that district in Russia, scientists found discoveries. Kola Superdeep Borehole was a void full of remnants of our past. They found traces of marine plants four miles deep. The planktonic fossils are well-preserved and in excellent condition beneath the rocks. Aside from that, the Soviets found out that the stones are over 2 billion years old.
Their decades of labor eventually became fruitful because of their new findings. They also found out that even the farthest point of the borehole was still granite. If you think these discoveries are already spectacular and groundbreaking, there's something more down there.
Proof of A Biblical Event
The borehole holds a lot more mysteries waiting to be unveiled. A piece of evidence that could support the events of our Christian belief. Deep beneath the surface of the Earth, they discovered flowing water. Miles near the boiling core was mineralized water moving along the rocks and the drill path.
A lot of people believed that the water was proof of the biblical flood. Most Christians think that it was still the water from the surge in the time of Noah. However, researchers claim that the rocks trap the moisture below the surface.
A Portal to Hell
Since the borehole is a famous excavation site, it also attracted a lot of rumors. Humans always have creative minds, and the Kola borehole wasn't spared from this. During that time, the hole was the talk of every town.
They said that the scientists ended the project because they pierced a part of hell and heard the screams of damned souls—an exciting story but not likely. The operation didn't even reach the core of the Earth.
The Closure
The project ended in 1995. And the "portal to hell" was sealed entirely in 2006. People can still visit the site, but there's nothing to look around. The Kola Superdeep borehole was a particular project.
No country has ever beaten the record of the Soviets digging the bottomless artificial hole. The borehole project will remain a legacy and a pride of Russia.
The Race is Still Not Over
Some might think that the shutdown of the project borehole was the end of the race to the center of the Earth. You're mistaken. The race continues even up to this day. Scientists and researchers turned their attention to the oceans.
The International Ocean Discovery Program is still drilling holes in the sea to see what lies beneath the seafloor. This time, the extreme temperatures and technical problems won't hinder the researchers from uncovering the mysteries of our oceans.
Dark Secrets of the Ocean
Aside from reaching the mantle, scientists also investigated the depths of our waters. The ocean is so vast that only a tiny part of it is known to men. Countless trips are made using a submersible to venture into the unknown. There, they've witnessed something that no one has ever seen before. Deep beneath the waves is a new world hidden in darkness.
These underwater missions are the results of years of research and careful planning. Venturing a place unknown to us is challenging and dangerous. That's why only a few are given a chance to see the world underwater. The journey to the depths of the ocean floor is an arduous one.
Arduous journey
They have to defy water pressure, have enough oxygen, and move in darkness. The scientists and researchers have to wait for the perfect timing to carry out their underwater mission. There you can observe how little we know about our ocean. Throughout our history, we've discovered a lot more about space than our vast infinite waters.
We've landed on the moon and other planets named a few stars and space rocks and have clear information about the galaxy that we live in. Yet, the ocean floor remains a mystery for us humans. We've traversed great distances to get to space, but we've never dived deeper into our oceans.
A Dive Into the Unknown
The first part of the ocean that they focused on was the Antarctic. Carrying out the mission in a place filled with enormous icebergs and moving ice is a huge challenge. Nevertheless, they made their first dive into the unknown. Their journey proved that it's not easy to uncover the secrets of our oceans. The researchers encountered a lot of obstacles along the way that made it difficult.
Deep below the uncharted waters of the Antarctic are parts of the ocean that have never been visited. We did not explore the sea at all because of its dangerous conditions.
Beauty in Oddity
Although the submarine is a safe underwater vehicle, the water pressure can jeopardize its safety. Nevertheless, they made their descent before their eyes is a whole new lush ecosystem of aquatic creatures.
Strange and otherworldly creatures occupied the depths of our oceans. Life down there was different. The oddness of their appearance made the researchers marvel at its beauty. Aside from that, these animals can survive extreme freezing temperatures and pressure. The dive into the unknown was the start of having a deeper understanding of our oceans.
Remains unsolved
Even with their effort to uncover the mystery of the world beneath the wave, it remains unsolved. We've only scratched the surface. Deep down, there's more enigma to be discovered. For now, more than 80% of our ocean is unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored.
How about shortly? Hopefully, with the help of technological advancements, we can see the world better underwater.
A Deeper Understanding of the World
Explorations helped us have a better and deeper understanding of the world below and so as above. The mission to the depths of the Antarctic ocean shows that although dangerous and complicated, it's not impossible. Sooner or later, there's no longer a part of our blue planet inaccessible to us humans.
The Kola Superdeep Borehole led to countless discoveries that helped advance our understanding of the Earth. Our planet has a collection of secrets waiting to be uncovered. Hiding in the depths of the Earth or the vastness of space are little surprises the universe set for us to marvel upon. The race to the center of the Earth is still in progress. What do they expect to find there? You might ask. These scientists don't have any idea; that's why they are in a race to find out.