The Mariana Trench is a deep-sea trench in the western Pacific Ocean and is considered the deepest known point on Earth. This geographical feature reaches depths of about 36,000 feet (approximately 10,900 meters), where extreme pressures exist. The trench was formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Mariana Plate. It is of great interest to scientists studying marine biology and geology due to its unique ecosystems and the unknown species that inhabit such extreme environments.