The Deepest Hole in the World, And What We've Learned From It

SciShow takes you down the deepest hole in the world -- Russia's Kola Superdeep Borehole -- explaining who dug it and why, and what we learned about Earth in the process. Don't fall!
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Written by Dave Loos
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[techtronicman]

Still proud of the hole I dug out on my grandparents farm when I was 7. I thought I could dig deep enough to penetrate the crust and create a man-made volcano (again, I was 7)

Over the course of a summer I got about 8 feet down before my grandpa took the shovel away because I didn't know jack about bracing the walls to prevent collapse. Not bad for a 7 year old. Still have a rock I dug up from that hole.

[CsykKrit]

Russians: *Drill for 24 years*
The Earth: "Is it in yet?"

[GlitterPoolParty]

Russia certainly has some incredible scientists and a amazing spirit of adventure. My hat's off to everyone involved in exploring our earth's depths.... thanks for sharing the knowledge with the world.

[Jackal]

It's a deep shame we, as in humanity, didn't try to make other superdeep boreholes in other locations and comparing results.

[terryf]

I tried to dig to China when I was about 4. I only had my dad's shovel though.

[pickledparsleyparty]

Imagine if the hole were wider and you fell into it. You'd have over 3 minutes to regret the mistake until you were forced to stop thinking in pitch blackness.

That's grim. I need an ice cream.

[InTheNameOfGodIHaveCome]

The way he said how the rock really really deep down acted like plastic is crazy

[ananya.a]

The planet Earth never fails to surprise eager minds with the diversity and wonders it has to offer. There are so many different and beautiful plants and animals living on this planet, and I hope they continue to. ❤

Thank you SciShow for this video! 👍🏻

[yixnorb]

If a second hole like this were attempted then the first one could be known as the a-hole.

[hailervin]

Basically drilling that deep has only shown us how much we don’t actually know.

[scottlivezey]

Based on my subtle experience in digging holes along the beach as a kid for sand castles or in a field as a teenage job for postholes, I’d like to hear how they concluded the unique source(s) of the water at the deepest depths since any underground spring or aquifer would be penetrated on the way you know, the whole gravity thing? 😊

[milesd.]

My first thought was “what if I jumped into it?” and now I can’t focus on the video due to how terrified of that idea I am

[bumrocky]

So after nearly 20 years of dormancy, how much of the borehole is still in tact? Earthquakes and settling probably have collapsed a lot, but I'm curious to know if it's been looked at since?

[Workof]

I love how they just lost interest, went home and let everything crumble

[ziana.lucidswife]

So my 9 year old was asking me about if humans could dig to the center of the earth, and I suggested we YouTube the Russian Bore Hole. I clicked this video because I recognized the content creator Hank Green's channel. YOU LOOK SO YOUNG!!! I see the video is 10 years old- I just wanted you to know it's making me smile

[dieforyou]

I forget how big the earth is since I'm always looking at larger planets and stars.
It's pretty cool

[illdie]

*Drops Nokia down the hole*
...
*Hears echoes of it crashing to the bottom*
...
*Hears ringtone when his friend calls*

[AdolfSpitler]

pfft 12km? I had to walk 10 km in pokemon go so a fucking egg would hatch

[verifiedgentlemanbug]

Manhole drilled for 24 years: *DEEPEST HOLE IN THE WORLD*
vOLcaNo: laUgHs iN LaVA

[jimhenry]

I work for an industrial coatings company, developing coatings for insulating drilling pipe from deep earth thermal temperatures.
Typically 400 F is the hottest we deal with at say 15, 000 ft depths.
We deal with deep sea pressures of 4400 psi maxed up to worst case 6000 psi.
Hats off to the Russians to have embarked on this exploration.