Book 24, Question 5 · Video
What is the deepest hole people have ever drilled?
The Kola Superdeep Borehole in northern Russia reached about 7.6 miles down, after drilling on and off for almost 20 years. That is deeper than the deepest spot in the ocean, which is about 7 miles down. Yet it is just a pinprick in Earth, which is almost 4,000 miles from surface to center. The drill stopped because the rock was hotter and softer than expected.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What is the deepest hole people have ever drilled?
The Big Idea
People once drilled a hole deeper than the deepest ocean. It took almost 20 years! It is called the Kola Superdeep Borehole.
Kola Borehole
Step one: Kola Borehole. The Kola Superdeep Borehole in northern Russia reached about 7.6 miles down. Workers drilled on and off for almost 20 years.
Deeper Than the Sea
Step two: Deeper Than the Sea. That is deeper than the deepest spot in the ocean, which is about 7 miles down. Yet the hole is only about nine inches wide.
Too Hot to Go On
Step three: Too Hot to Go On. The drill stopped because the rock was hotter and softer than expected. At the bottom, it was about 356 degrees Fahrenheit.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! A tall drill rig did the work. The hole was very narrow. The rock got hotter and hotter. Earth goes much, much deeper.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Earth is almost 4,000 miles from surface to center. Compared with the whole Earth, the hole is just a pinprick. The bottom of the hole was about 356 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists found water trapped deep in the rock.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Draw Earth as a big circle. Its center is almost 4,000 miles down. Now mark a hole that is 7.6 miles deep. How tiny does your mark have to be? Share your drawing with a grown-up.
Outro
The deepest hole people ever drilled is the Kola Superdeep Borehole, about 7.6 miles down. It is deeper than the deepest ocean, but just a pinprick in our huge planet. Science is amazing! Keep asking questions! The more you look around, the more wonders you will find, so keep your eyes open! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!