The deepest parts of the ocean are like the last frontier for humans to explore. It is very difficult to get to these places, as it needs special equipment, expertise and money. In 2020, scientists went to the bottom of the Mediterranean. The team used a vehicle called the Limiting Factor and went to a place called Calypso Deep.  This place is one of the deepest spots in the Mediterranean, 5122 meters below sea level.

    The videos they took showed something shocking. There is a huge amount of garbage on the floor of the ocean. The most common type of this garbage is plastic. 88% of the stuff they found was plastic. This is a lot compared to other ocean areas.

    Now, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the scientists did not see any animals being harmed by the trash. The bad news is that The ocean floor is a place where trash goes to die.  This stuff won't just go away. It will be there for hundreds of years.

    Another thing to think about is that even scientists are going in to the depths to see what is happening.  We know that garbage is piling up in areas that are much harder to clean.  Also, scientists are able to see that the ocean is a place where pollution goes to hide. We need to take care of our oceans as they are a huge part of the Earth.

    The people who went on this trip want everyone to know what they found. They found that the ocean needs a lot of help, and so does the planet. People need to change some of their behaviors like changing how much they waste and how they take care of the environment.

    What can you do? You can start by using less plastic and by taking care of the environment. It is also important to think, critically, about how we are all part of the problem. Changing how we think about the ocean is a big step. We need to think about it as a place that needs protection. This is not an easy task, but it is important to get help from everyone.  We can all do our part and help.

Plastic Pollution in the Deepest Part of the Mediterranean Sea: A Hidden Problem

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