What lies beneath

What do the seven seas and the MSM have in common? Both cover a wide expanse but they're not as deep as once thought. Latest research concludes that the mean depth of the world's oceans is just 2.29 miles (3.69 km):

Interestingly, the researchers report that the world's total ocean volume is less than the most recent estimates by a volume equivalent to about five times the Gulf of Mexico, or 500 times the Great Lakes. The trend toward a progressive lowering of volume estimates is not because the world's oceans are losing water. Rather, it reflects a greater ability to locate undersea mountain ranges and other formations, which take up space that would otherwise be occupied by water.

HT /.