China has made its position in deep sea exploration known to the world after officially welcoming its newest deep sea submersible, Jiaolong. This 27-foot, 22 ton sub was designed to reach depths of 23,000 feet (7,000 meters) and already has 17 dives under its belt with the deepest dive to a depth of 12,332 feet (3,759 meters) making China only the fifth country to dive past the 3,500 meter mark.
Plans are also underway to build a research base estimated to cost around $73 million at the coastal City of Quingdao, in Shangdong province to serve as a support station for Jiaolong.
Chinese scientists believe deep sea beds between 4,000 and 6,000 meters hold abundant deposits of rare metals and methane hydrate, a solidified form of natural gas bound to ice, which could help satiate China’s energy appetite.
[New Post] China makes Debut in Deep Sea Science – via @tweetblender http://bomaicruz.southernfriedscience.co…
That is a seriously pretty submersible