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The Bloop
In 1997, underwater microphones recorded an ultra-low frequency sound from the deep Pacific. It was louder than any known animal. NOAA said icequake. But the profile matched a living creature. Something in the deep made that sound.
1997
South Pacific Ocean
10+ witnesses
The Bloop was one of the loudest underwater sounds ever recorded.
The Recording
Summer 1997:
- NOAA hydrophones
- Autonomous array
- South Pacific
- Ultra-low frequency
- Unprecedented volume
The Sound
What it was like:
- Rising frequency
- About one minute
- Extremely loud
- Heard 5,000 km away
- Never repeated exactly
The Mystery
Why it mattered:
- Profile matched animal
- But too loud
- Larger than blue whale
- No known source
- Speculation began
The Explanation
Official answer:
- Icequake
- Ice shelf calving
- Antarctic region
- 2005 conclusion
- Case closed
The Doubts
But some wonder:
- Perfect animal profile
- Why that region?
- Other unexplained sounds
- Deep ocean unknown
- What’s down there?
The Deep
Context:
- Ocean largely unexplored
- Creatures undiscovered
- Giant squid real
- What else waits?
- Bloop reopened questions