Abyssal Zone

Abyssal Zone
Rob Nelson April 2007
The Wild Classroom

The Abyssal Zone is one of the many benthic zones we have highlighted to describe the deep oceans. This particular zone is found at depths of 2,000 to 6,000 meters (6,560 to 19,680 feet) and stays in perpetual darkness.

Just below the abyssal zone and extending to the bottoms of the deepest trenches is the hadal zone. Very few animals exist in this habitat. Just above the abyssal zone is the bathyal zone and just above that the photic zone where much of the oceans life exists.

Pressure
Because water pressure increases one atmosphere every 33 feet in depth, animals in the abyssal zone must be able to withstand tremendous amounts of pressure. This pressure makes it very difficult for humans to explore the deep ocean. For example, the deep Marianas trench off of the Philipeans is almost completely unexplored. The only submersable that has made these depths is the French bathyscaph Trieste.

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