The Soviet secret: Why Russia dug the deepest hole on Earth and then sealed it
The Kola Superdeep Borehole was the USSR’s bold attempt to probe Earth’s crust during the Cold War, drilling over 12 km down for pure science. Engineers battled extreme heat, collapsing rock and soaring costs before abandoning the effort. Yet the project reshaped geology, revealing unexpected heat, deep fluids and ancient fossils beneath an ordinary Arctic manhole.
The Kola Superdeep Borehole was the USSR’s bold attempt to probe Earth’s crust during the Cold War, drilling over 12 km down for pure science. Engineers battled extreme heat, collapsing rock and soaring costs before abandoning the effort. Yet the project reshaped geology, revealing unexpected heat, deep fluids and ancient fossils beneath an ordinary Arctic manhole. What's Your Reaction?
