The Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench is the deepest point on the surface of the Earth. The trench is located under the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Philippines.

It is part of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc which is the boundary between two tectonic plates. The deepest point of the 1,580 mile long trench is 7 miles deep. The pressure of the water at the bottom of the trench is 15,000 psi which is 1,000 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level.

The first expedition to reach the bottom of the trench was in January 1960 by United States Navy Lieutenants Piccard and Walsh using a United States Navy submersible named Trieste.

Although it is super-pressured, there are still life-forms that can survive the bottom of the trench. Among the organisms that can be found here are soft-shelled creatures, scale worms, shrimps, microorganisms and algae.

UNICEF - Anthony Lake

Anthony Lake – Executive Director

On 1 May 2010, Anthony Lake became the sixth Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund, bringing to the position more than 45 years of public service.

Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain with a height of about 8,900 metres above sea level. It is located on the Himalayan Mountains near the Nepal-China border.

The only organisms that are able to survive here are insects and birds. The terrain is mainly rocky and full of boulders at the foot of the mountain range. Higher above the base of the mountain, the surface of the terrain is covered with snow. This may lead to avalanches happening in the area.

Climbing the mountain is usually done on foot. There are hiking tracks from the nearest township in Nepal all the way up to the top of the mountain. Along the mountain tracks are stations for climbers to take a break from the mountain trekking journey.

The peak of the mountain is usually cold with low oxygen levels in the air. Climbers usually take along a breathing tank so as to not end up grasping for air at higher altitudes while on the extreme journey. It sometimes gets foggy near the peak of the mountain as clouds start to cover the mountain top. This reduces visibility and makes continuing the journey hazardous. There are also other health hazards related to climbing Mount Everest.