Which ocean is the deepest, containing the Mariana Trench and Challenger Deep?

The Pacific Ocean is the deepest ocean on Earth.

Its greatest depth is in Challenger Deep, a depression within the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific. Modern measurements place Challenger Deep at roughly 10,900 meters below sea level, though exact figures vary slightly by survey method and location. The pressure there is immense, yet specialized submersibles have reached the bottom.

The Pacific is also the largest ocean, extending from Asia and Australia to the Americas. Its basin contains the Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity around much of its margins. The ocean’s name comes from Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who called it “mar pacífico,” meaning peaceful sea, after encountering relatively calm waters in part of his voyage.

The Atlantic is often emphasized in world geography because of its major shipping routes, but it is not the deepest ocean. The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica and is climatically important, while the Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean.