Why the Soviet Union Stopped Digging at 12,262 Meters When They Attempted to Drill Through the Earth

In the 1970s, the Soviet Union embarked on a madcap venture known as the Kola Superdeep Borehole project.

Just hearing this name might not convey its insanity, but put another way, everyone would exclaim: “What on earth were the Soviets thinking?”

In fact, this plan can be summed up in four words: “Drill through the Earth!”

Why did the Soviets undertake this project? Did they succeed in the end? Let’s delve into history today to see what the Soviets did back then and what explanations people have come up with 53 years later!

“Reach for the Skies, Dig into the Earth” Competition

During World War II, the old powers of Europe, in their bid for global dominance, turned their brains to mush and dragged the whole world into warfare. The United States took this opportunity to make a hefty profit from the war, and from then on, secured its place among the world’s superpowers through financial means.

Meanwhile, starting from Siberia, the Soviet Union rapidly expanded outward. In just a few years, the size of the Soviet Union grew significantly, and with its size, so did its ambitions.

As time moved into the 1970s, the Soviet Union and the United States had grown into two great lions. Both wanted to be the undisputed leader of the world, leading to a head-to-head confrontation.

At this time, the shadow of war still loomed over the hearts of people worldwide, but neither superpower wanted to be the one to initiate conflict. Thus, they started competing in various fields such as military, economy, and technology.

Among these, the fiercest battles were fought in the realm of technology. After all, both countries shared the understanding that the 21st century would be dominated by technology, and the nation leading in technological advancement would be the stronger…