ScienceFeature

Point Nemo: The loneliest place on Earth

A region of 22 million square kilometers (8.5 million square miles), or almost 35 times the size of France, is completely devoid of people

There is a spot on Earth’s surface that is the farthest from land than any other place: deep within the South Pacific Ocean. The most remote and isolated site on Earth is Point Nemo, which is situated roughly 2,688 kilometers (1,450 nautical miles) from the closest landmass.

Point Nemo, which is located at 48°52.6′ south latitude and 123°23.6′ west longitude, is also referred to as the “Oceanic Point of Inaccessibility”. Easter Island is the closest inhabited landmass, located more than 3,090 kilometers (1,670 nautical miles) distant. But only 415 kilometers (258 miles) separate you from the closest permanent settlement, the International Space Station, which flies across the South Pacific several times a day.

A region of 22 million square kilometers (8.5 million square miles), or almost 35 times the size of France, is completely devoid of people. The Latin term “Nemo” means “no one,” which describes how isolated this place is. there are no people for thousands of kilometers in any direction.

Discovery of Point Nemo

Hrvoje Lukatela, a Croatian-Canadian survey engineer, made the initial discovery of Point Nemo in 1992. By determining the point that is located at the same distance from the three closest coastlines. Lukatela, who developed his geospatial software, was able to determine the precise coordinates of the location that is farthest from dry land.

Depth and Ecosystems

At Point-Nemo, the ocean’s depth is roughly 4,000 meters (13,120 ft). Point Nemo offers a unique view into the ocean’s ecosystems and currents, but its position in the center of the South Pacific Gyre has also turned it into a repository for pollution and marine debris.

Point Nemo
Image Source: NOAA’s

Because it is believed that more than 100 abandoned spacecraft are buried nearby, Point Nemo is also known as a “space junk cemetery.” Recently, the Volvo Ocean Race boats passed Point Nemo while they were gathering samples for an innovative scientific study that is taking place there.

Marine Life

There is life at Point Nemo, even despite its great isolation. Diverse marine life, including bioluminescent invertebrates and enigmatic squids, have adapted to live in the deep sea and can be found in the nearby waters. Submarines have also been utilized by scientists to explore the gloomy Pacific Ocean depths close to Point Nemo, where they have found new species and learned more about the underwater environment.

To sum up, Point Nemo is a very remote and mysterious location. Because of its isolation, it is a special location for deep-sea study and space exploration, serving as a reminder of the size and grandeur of our world. We can only speculate as to what other mysteries Point Nemo may have hidden beneath its seas as we investigate and learn more about this mysterious place.

You might also be interested in – Veteran astronaut Sunita Williams return to Earth delayed again

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button