There is a rumour that there is an Internet-based network, similar to the dark web (not to be confused with the deep web) called Mariana's Web (after Marianas Trench.)

The Infographics Show discussed the rumours of its existence:

Marianas web the scariest part of the Internet. Marianas web became widely
known because of an iceberg infographic that spread across the Internet. This
infographic divides the internet into different levels ranging from level zero
or the common web that most of us are familiar with to several other hidden
levels. Marianas web is identified as level 5 - the most hidden level of the
internet.

[...]

there is no concrete evidence that clearly proves or disproves its existence

This (machine-translated English, from Portugese via Spanish) Softonic article gives credence to its existence, while dismissing some of the fictitious software required to reach it:

In the fifth layer we would find the so-called Web Marianas. The Mariana Trench, known as the deepest place in the oceans of Planet Earth, may have inspired the name.

In a popular infographic that goes around the internet, in this part of the Deep Web begin with speculations about the use of a tool called "Closed Shell Systems" (closed systems), in addition to another called "Polymeric Falcighol Derivation" (Falcighol Polymer Derivation) ).

All this, however, would be fictitious names and tools, created from nothing. Only some curious new users end up believing them. Leaving the jokes aside, however, it is well known that several websites need programs and settings much more advanced than Tor to be accessed.

These sites are what would form the so-called Marianas Web.

This Engadget article dismisses it as a myth:

Mariana's Web is certainly the definition of spooky BS, especially because it's technically impossible; it's supposedly only accessible through quantum computers -- which currently only exist in science fiction.

Yet to the chagrin of people who love facts, it's slowly starting to be reported as fact.

A question on Quora has received conflicting answers.

Is there any evidence of a network beyond the dark web, called Marianas Web?

NO, it's a 4chan urban legend

"Marianas web" is an expression originating from an infographic first published on 4chan in 2011-early 2012 that attempted to provide a classification of the deep web architecture.

According to this infographic, the web is divided in 5 layers, each more difficult to access, and the deepest is supposed to be "Marianas web"

First of all, it should be noted that the layers chosen are extremely arbitrary, and by no mean is that classification backed by any relevant authorities.

Then, reading the description of the 5th layer shows you need "Polymeric falcighol derivation", described as such :

Shit… I don't really know *****. All I know is that you need to solve quantum mechanics in order to view this on even the normal web, let alone closed servers. Quantum Computation exists, and the government powers have them. So be careful what you do here.

In addition to the fact that the whole "Polymeric falcighol derivation" term is purely made up, Quantum Computing is a very experimental field with no real-world application as of now (let alone in 2012). I believe the existence of "Marianas Web" can thus be dismissed.

According to RationalWiki, the graph was expanded in 2014 where three new levels were added. I'll leave it to you to decide whether those are credible or not.

Sources :

To be honest, explicitly dating an internet phenomenon is quite hard. The earliest source I've found for the infographic dates back to September 2011, and Polymeric falcighol derivation yields only 5000 results, mostly related to deep web topics originating from reddit, quora, or alt-science blogs. Similarly, google trends show a beginning of the trend around October 2011 with a peak in may 2014

By the definition of the infographic, it sort of does exist.

Following the definitions of the infographic, the 'Marianas Web' is something that you need a

• Closed shell system; and


• Polymeric Falcighol Derivation

to access. Lets, for a moment, just pretend that Polymeric Falcighol Derivation just means 'heavy encryption' (of a ... real ... type) and you are basically describing a 'National Asset' information system.

The United States has them, China has them, NATO has them, Five Eyes has them. I would assume most of the larger nations in the world have them. Some of these systems are small, some are large, some are mutually compatible with others; but none of them are physically connected to the outside internet. The concept of operation is just a separate WAN with entirely separate physical infrastructure: routers, DNS servers, underwater cables or satellites, etc.

The most commonly known of these networks would be SIPRnet, which is an internet-like structure used by the US Department of Defense and is classified Secret. Most people who served in the US Military would be familiar with this system, which is identical to the regular internet from the user's perceptive (there are security-related differences in the transport layer).

Now, I imagine these networks have lots of interesting information on them, like minutes from diplomatic conferences, drawings of nuclear bombs and the current location of warplanes; but, obviously, you won't be finding most of the stuff attributed on that silly infographic.

While these networks are certainly hard to hack; and can't be accessed remotely like the infamous Swordfish hacking scene, you can still get in, just by using the oldest trick in the book: bribe or otherwise compromise someone who has access.

So in some sense, this mythical network does exist.