Oceans, Second-Deepest Point

Oceans, Second-Deepest Point

The Tonga Trench in the Pacific Ocean has what is considered the second deepest point in all the world’s oceans. Located about 75 mi (120.7 km) to the east of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean, the trench itself is about 50 mi wide (80.4 km) and runs north and south for about 850 mi (1,368 km).

The Tonga Trench has an average depth of 20,000 feet (6,096 m). It’s deepest point, known as Horizon Deep, reaches a maximum depth of 35,702 ft (10,882 m) below sea level. Horizon Deep is also the deepest point in the southern hemisphere.

The deepest point in the world’s oceans lies in the Marianas Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean. Known as Challenger Deep, that point is about 36,070 ft (10,994 m) below sea level.