The ocean's average depth is approximately 3,682 meters (about 12,080 feet or 3.7 kilometers), based on satellite measurements by NOAA and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This average accounts for the fact that the ocean floor is uneven and mountainous rather than flat
. The deepest known part of the ocean is the Challenger Deep, located in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean. Challenger Deep reaches a depth of about 10,935 meters (35,876 feet or roughly 11 kilometers), which is deeper than the height of Mount Everest is tall
. Ocean depth varies widely by region and is divided into zones, with the deep sea starting around 200 meters where light begins to fade. The Pacific Ocean is the deepest ocean basin, averaging about 4,280 meters (14,040 feet) and containing the Mariana Trench
. In summary:
- Average ocean depth: ~3,682 meters (12,080 feet)
- Deepest point (Challenger Deep): ~10,935 meters (35,876 feet)
- Deep sea begins around 200 meters depth
- Pacific Ocean is the deepest ocean basin
These measurements are estimates since only about 26% of the seafloor has been mapped in high resolution, so ongoing exploration continues to refine our understanding of ocean depths
