Challenger Deep is the deepest known point in the Earth's oceans, located in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean. It reaches a depth of approximately 36,000 feet (about 10,973 meters). This extreme depth is a result of tectonic plate movements, where the Pacific Plate is being subducted beneath the Mariana Plate. Exploration of Challenger Deep has been limited due to its harsh conditions, including immense pressure and darkness. Notable expeditions include those by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in 1960, and more recently, filmmaker James Cameron in 2012. These explorations have provided valuable insights into deep-sea ecosystems and geology.