The mind-blowing things you didn’t know about the ocean

MIND blowing underwater rivers, giant blockholes and underwater forests. These are all the crazy things lying in the ocean you didn’t know about.

THE ocean covers 71 per cent of the earth’s surface, it has insanely deep points that are full of complete darkness and is home to some of the coolest creatures on the planet.

There’s a whole heap of stuff down there you probably didn’t know about.

1. There are underwater waves, lakes and rivers at the bottom of the ocean.

There are even trees with leaves to compliment these underwater rivers.

Due to different levels of water density, there are parts of the ocean that have their own flowing rivers and lakes with crashing waves. One particular underwater river off Mexico is actually a mix of salt water and hydrogen sulfide, this makes the water much more dense than regular seawater and it sinks to the bottom, forming its own distinct mass that flows like a normal river.

2. There are underwater forests complete with their own logging industries.

The underwater tree industry is estimated to be worth around $40 billion thanks to being preserved by cold water. This preservation has kept away insects and stopped the wood from rotting, making it highly sought after timber for craftsman.

3. The deep sea is the largest museum on Earth

The Titanic is just one of the worlds historical artefacts underwater.

There are more artefacts and remains of history at the bottom of the ocean than in all of the worlds museums combined. From sunken ships, to crashed planes and even entire cities.

Off the coast of Cuba, researchers believe they have found an ancient American city that often gets spoken about in Mayan stories.

But no, it’s not Atlantis.

4. Much of sea life is invisible to the naked eye.

Next time you’re in the ocean, think about the 1 million bacteria you’re swallowing with every millilitre of ocean water.

5. Earth’s longest mountain range is underwater

Mauna Kea in Hawaii is more-than-half submerged.

Called the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, this mountain range is over 56,000 kilometres long and runs through the Atlantic Ocean and into the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The worlds tallest mountain, Mauna Kea is more than double the height of Mount Everest, with more than half of that height underwater.

6. Around 90% of the ocean is still unmapped and we may never map it all

We have better maps of Mars than we do of the ocean. The way water warps light makes it hard to use traditional imaging equipment, and its different atmospheric pressures don’t allow us to go as deep as we need to in most parts of the ocean. Plus it’s freaking huge.

7. Two thirds of marine life are unknown

Maybe this guy with some awesome horns for taking out Krakens is swimming somewhere?

While we know that there’s great white sharks, blue-ringed octopus’ and clown fish, they’re only part of the 700,000 to 1 million species that live in the world’s oceans.

Out of those, two-thirds have yet to be named and described. While that sounds both insanely cool and scary, there probably isn’t any giant krakens lying deep in the ocean, but rather crustaceans, molluscs and other small creatures.

There may also be eight species of whales and dolphins still yet to be identified, they may be cool at least.

8. Around 80% of sharks are unable to hurt humans

In fact, only 32 out of 350 species have been documented in attacks on humans.

9. There are both underwater spiders and underwater birds

Never. Swimming. Again.

If you thought you were escaping the horrendous terror of spiders when you jumped into the water, you’d be wrong. Spiders live there too. No, not just cute little spider crabs or weird sea creatures that scientists put the name ‘spider’ in for no reason.

Real, actual, creepy spiders.

They spend as much time in the water as dolphins do using a special web they weave that acts like an oxygen tank. After they bring down air bubbles in their abdomen they transfer it into its web. The spider then waits for its prey hidden underwater. Not creepy at all.