The Kola Superdeep Borehole is located on the Kola Peninsula in Russia, near the border with Norway. It was drilled by the Soviet Union's scientific drilling program, the Kola Science Center, between 1970 and 1994.
The borehole's total depth is 40,230 feet (12,262 meters), which makes it the deepest hole ever drilled by humans.
The purpose of drilling the borehole was to study the Earth's crust, specifically its composition, structure, and properties. The project yielded valuable information about the Earth's deep geology and helped scientists better understand the planet's tectonic activity and history.
However, the drilling stopped in 1994 due to a lack of funding and the difficulty of drilling deeper. Today, the borehole is sealed and inaccessible to the public due to safety concerns.
Another reason why the drilling was discontinued was indeed due to the high temperatures at the bottom of the borehole. At a depth of around 7.5 miles (12 kilometers), the temperature was around 356 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius), which was much higher than what the models had predicted, and was hot enough to melt most metals. This made it difficult for the scientists to continue drilling deeper.
However, despite this setback, the Kola Superdeep Borehole provided scientists with a wealth of valuable information about the Earth's geology. The borehole revealed that the deep rocks were saturated with water, which was unexpected. The discovery of 14 species of fossilized microorganisms was also a significant finding, as it provided evidence of biological activity at such great depths.
In addition, the borehole allowed scientists to study the physical and chemical properties of the rocks at great depths, which helped improve our understanding of the Earth's interior. The discovery of valuable mineral deposits, including gold, copper, and nickel, was also an important finding.
Overall, the Kola Superdeep Borehole was an impressive feat of scientific research and exploration that provided valuable insights into the Earth's history and geology.
The drilling of the Kola Superdeep Borehole led to the emergence of a popular myth and moniker "entrance to hell." This was allegedly triggered by the drill's breakthrough of a layer of rock that revealed a scorching hot cavity, from which a microphone reportedly picked up sounds resembling cries of agony and torment that were believed to be from the underworld. As a result, it is rumored that several scientists abandoned the project after being terrified by the infernal sounds.
It's interesting to note that there have been other wells drilled that have surpassed the depth of the Kola Superdeep Borehole. For example, the Al Shaheen oil field in Qatar is home to a well that reaches a depth of 40,318 feet, while the Odoptu OP-11 well off the coast of Sakhalin Island in Russia has a depth of 40,502 feet.
Lotte Geeven's observation of the sound of the 30,000-foot hole in Windischeschenbach, Germany, could have been caused by a variety of natural or man-made sources, although a lot of people believed it was caused by natural or mysterious phenomena.
Attributions
Nast, C., & W. (2014, January 9). Listen to Strange Sounds Recorded in a Hole 5 Miles Deep. WIRED. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
The “Entrance to Hell” Is the Deepest Human-Made Hole on Planet Earth. (2021, May 21). IFLScience. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
Well to Hell - Wikipedia. (2012, September 1). Retrieved March 17, 2023.
Smith, J. (n.d.). The Legendary ‘Well to Hell’ Is a Russian Borehole Said to Be Filled With Screaming, Tormented Souls. Ranker. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
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