the Soviet Union dig a hole of 12 262 meters deep

The hole you are referring to is the Kola Superdeep Borehole, located on the Kola Peninsula in Russia. It was one of the most ambitious drilling projects ever undertaken, and it holds the world record for the deepest artificial point on Earth, reaching a depth of 12,262 meters (7.7 miles) below the surface. Here are some key facts about the Kola Superdeep Borehole: 1. **Purpose:** The project started in 1970 as a competition between the Soviet Union and the United States to be the first to drill down to the Earth's mantle. 2. **Duration:** Drilling began in 1970 and continued until 1992, when it was officially terminated. 3. **Temperature:** The temperatures encountered far exceeded initial estimates, reaching around 180°C (356°F) at the depth of 11 km, making further drilling much more difficult. 4. **Scientific Discoveries:** The borehole provided important geological insights and discoveries, including the presence of hydrogen gas in large quantities and the existence of ancient microorganisms fossils in rocks that were over 2.7 billion years old. 5. **Closed:** The hole has been sealed since 2008, but it remains an important site for geological research. 6. **Abandonment:** The project was eventually abandoned due to the technical difficulties and high costs associated with drilling at such extreme depths. 7. **Modern Relevance:** Today, the Kola Superdeep Borehole serves as a reminder of the extreme conditions that exist within the Earth's crust and the challenges faced by geoscientists in understanding the Earth's deep interior. While the Kola Superdeep Borehole did provide valuable scientific data, it does not represent an effort to literally "dig through" the Earth, nor could it have achieved such a goal given the immense challenges and distances involved.