Recently, Mexican biologists have discovered a **”blue hole”** in Chetumal Bay, in the **Yucatan Peninsula**, considered the second largest in the world.
This underwater sinkhole, called **Taam Ja’** (which means “deep waters” in Mayan), measures 900 feet deep (over 270 meters).
## Formation and Characteristics of the Blue Hole
Formed during the last years of the Ice Age, these submarine sinkholes concentrate a large amount of plant and animal life. Taam Ja’ has an “almost circular” shape with “steep sides with slopes of up to 80 degrees”, giving it a “conical shape”.
## Research and Discovery
The blue hole was identified in 2021, but its formal existence was recently revealed in a study detailing the maximum recorded depth of 274.4 meters **below sea level**.
Researchers used reflected sound pulses to assess its composition.
## Context and Comparison
Although Taam Ja’ is impressive, the world’s deepest blue hole is located off the coasts of **China**, with a depth of 987 feet (over 300 meters).
## Curiosities of the Discovery
The discovery of Taam Ja’ was achieved thanks to references from local fishermen about the existence of a “cenote” in the sea.
Exploring this sinkhole has been challenging due to its “lack of accessibility, unknown distribution, and abundance”, according to the ECOSUR study (College of the Southern Border).
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