How does data move from one part of the internet to other parts of it? How do I access websites in Europe in under a second from my apartment in the US? I used to think it was just done wirelessly via satellites but moving that much data at high speeds requires a lot more than some sort of satellite uplink.
It turns out that there are actually a bunch of cables that run on the bottom of the ocean's floors to connect all of us around the world so we can send data between continents. What's even more fascinating is that they have been running underwater cables since before 1858 when they sent the first transatlantic telegraph.
This gif shows the underwater cables that connect all of us around the world.
These videos are also a great educational resource for learning how it all works with some good visual aid as well as a view inside of the ships that lay the cable on the ocean floor.
If you want a more in-depth understanding of what the ships look like and how the cables are spooled in the hull of a massive ship, this video provides a great explanation with visual aids.