The USSR dug the deepest hole in human history—setting the record back in 1979. It capped the hole, known as the Kola Superdeep Borehole, decades ago. When it capped it it had reached 40,230 feet. Now China is attempting to dig its own huge hole in a bid to explore and potentially find new mineral resources. But at a planned 33,000 feet it will have a ways to go if it wants to claim the Kola Superdeep Borehole’s record.