A Massive Blue Hole just showed up near Mexico.

The mysterious world of blue holes just got a bit more intriguing, thanks to the discovery of what is now considered the world's second-deepest blue hole. Guided by tips from fishermen, scientists from Colegio de le Frontera Sur explored a tropical estuary off the southeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and found a blue hole. It spans 147,000 square feet across and dips 900 feet down.

The world's largest blue hole—the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea—isn't much deeper than this newly discovered one. It clocks in at about 980 feet deep. Unsurprisingly, the scientists names their new discovery the Taam ja' Blue Hole, using the Mayan language phrase for deep water.

While the new blue hole was discovered in 2021, the researchers only recently detailed their findings in a study published in Frontiers in Marine Science. With a circular opening near the surface, just 15 feet below sea level, the steep 80-degree-plus slopes form a large conic structure the scientists say is covered by biofilms, sediments, limestone, and gypsum ledges.

Studying the microbial diversity of these blue holes can offer a glimpse into the type of life surviving in the unique environment.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) calls blue holes underwater sinkholes. Made of karst (calcium carbonate rock), they are known as ecological hot spots. "Blue holes are diverse biological communities full of marine life including corals, sponges, mollusks, seat turtles, sharks, and more," NOAA says. "The seawater chemistry in the holes is unique."

Source: www.popularmechanics.com

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