When we talk about space, we always look up. But what if we try to go deep down into the Earth? Have humans ever tried to reach the center of the Earth? The answer is yes, but only up to a limit. Today, we will talk about the world’s deepest hole on Earth — the Kola Superdeep Borehole. This hole is not natural. It was made by scientists who wanted to know what lies beneath our feet.
Let’s go further and understand everything in easy language.
What is the Kola Superdeep Borehole?
The Kola Superdeep Borehole is a man-made hole drilled by scientists in Russia. It is located on the Kola Peninsula, near the border of Norway.
- Started in: 1970 by the Soviet Union
- Final depth: 12,262 meters (around 7.6 miles or 40,230 feet)
- Purpose: To study the Earth’s crust
Why Did Scientists Dig So Deep?
Scientists wanted to understand:
- How the Earth’s crust is formed
- What types of rocks and minerals lie beneath the surface
- How temperature and pressure behave deep inside
- If there is any sign of ancient life deep under Earth
So, they started digging and kept going deeper for many years.
Amazing Facts About the World’s Deepest Hole
- Deeper than the deepest ocean trench:
The Mariana Trench is about 11,000 meters deep, but the Kola Borehole is even deeper. - It took more than 20 years to dig:
Scientists drilled from 1970 to 1992. - It was stopped due to extreme heat:
At 12 km depth, the temperature was more than 180°C, which was hotter than expected. - The hole is sealed now:
It’s closed and welded with a metal cap. You can still visit the site, but it looks like a flat metal plate.
What Did They Find Inside the Hole?
Here are some strange and interesting discoveries:
1. High Temperature:
Scientists expected 100°C, but found over 180°C, which made further drilling impossible.
2. Water deep inside rock:
This was a surprise because it was believed that water can’t exist at such depths in solid rock.
3. Fossils of microscopic plankton:
Fossils of tiny marine life were found even 6 km below the surface. That means Earth’s history is stored deep below.
4. No basalt layer:
Geologists expected to find a basalt layer after granite, but they found only more granite. This changed scientific theories.
Myths and Strange Theories
Many people started believing myths like:
- Sounds of screaming souls were heard from the hole
- The hole reached Hell
But all these are fake stories and have no scientific proof.
Why Is It Important?
Even though it was not successful in reaching the Earth’s core, the Kola Superdeep Borehole gave us valuable information:
- Better understanding of Earth’s crust
- Changes in temperature with depth
- Discovery of ancient water and micro-life
It helped scientists create better models of Earth’s inner structure.
Comparison Table: Kola Borehole vs Other Deep Structures
| Structure | Depth | Location | Natural/Man-made |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kola Superdeep Borehole | 12,262 meters | Russia | Man-made |
| Mariana Trench | 11,000 meters | Pacific Ocean | Natural |
| Deepest Mine (Mponeng) | 4,000 meters | South Africa | Man-made |
| Earth’s Crust Thickness | 30–70 km | Continental Crust Avg. | Natural |
Did They Reach the Earth’s Mantle?
No, they could not reach the mantle. The hole was still inside the Earth’s crust. The mantle starts roughly after 30-35 km below Earth’s surface. They managed to reach only about one-third of that distance.
What Can We Learn from This?
- Earth is much more complex than we thought.
- Temperature and pressure increase faster than expected.
- Even after decades of drilling, we only scratched the surface.
- We need advanced technology if we want to go deeper.
Why Is It Closed Now?
Due to the following reasons:
- Extremely high temperature
- Lack of new technology at that time
- Reduced funding after the Soviet Union collapsed
So in 1992, they stopped the project and sealed the hole.
Can We Try Again?
Yes, many countries are now trying new drilling projects with better tools. But still, no one has reached deeper than the Kola Superdeep Borehole.