Vent Fields
Welcome to the InterRidge Global Database of Active Submarine Hydrothermal Vent Fields (the “InterRidge Vents Database”).
To sort the list of Vent Fields, click on a column header.
To view details for a specific Vent Field, click on the Name ID.
To view the subset of Vent Fields that contain a specific category, click on the category (for example, "active, confirmed" in the "Activity" column).
| Vent Field Name ID | Activity |
Tectonic Setting |
Region | Latitude | Longitude | Maximum or Single Reported Depth | Year and How Discovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEIR | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -28.0614 | 74.1733 | 5000 | NotProvided |
| Puy des Folles | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 20.5083 | -45.6417 | 2000 | 1996 submersible Nautile observed only inactive vents |
| Main Endeavour Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 47.9487 | -129.0981 | 2220 | 1984 submersible Alvin; 1982 dredge only |
| Middle Valley, Bent Hill Massive Sulfide | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 48.4341 | -128.6812 | 2440 | 1990 HOV Alvin, 1985 deposits only |
| Galapagos Rift, 95 W | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 2.5000 | -95.1667 | 2600 | NotProvided |
| SWIR, unnamed, Segment 26 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -37.6080 | 50.8527 | 2800 | 2008 dredge only DY115-20 Leg 6 |
| Gakkel Ridge, Site 6 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 86.5333 | 43.0000 | 3000 | 2001 plume only |
| North Cleft, high temperature | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 44.9800 | -130.2000 | 2300 | 1987 camera/CTD tows discovered low-temperature vents; 1988 submersible Alvin sampled low-temperature vents; 1990 submersible Alvin discovered black smoker |
| SWIR, D57 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -52.2240 | 13.7380 | 3517 | 2000-2001 plume and dredge only |
| GEISEIR site 28, segment M6 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -44.7237 | 94.6039 | 2700 | 2009 plume only |
| EPR, 21 40'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.6340 | -114.3010 | 2730 | 1987-1988 deposits only |
| GEISEIR site 17, segment L3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.6498 | 87.3481 | 2500 | 2010 plume only |
| Axial Seamount, CASM | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 45.9892 | -130.0272 | 1580 | 1983 submersible Pisces IV |
| EPR, 30.4 S, Segment E2 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -30.3750 | -111.7640 | 2320 | 1998 plume only |
| Mothra Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 47.9233 | -129.1082 | 2270 | 1996 ROV ROPOS; 1986 plume only |
| MAR, 24 30'N | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 24.5000 | -46.1533 | 3900 | 1987 deposits only |
| Rainbow Bay | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -14.0300 | -14.3400 | 2900 | 2009 towed video did not confirm activity |
| EPR, mid 17 N segment | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 17.0000 | -105.3800 | 2750 | 1997 plume only |
| Tevnia | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 10.3333 | -103.5533 | 2925 | 1994 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity |
| CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -8.2500 | 68.2000 | 3600 | 2010 plume only |
| MAR, 19 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -19.3301 | -11.9421 | 2707 | 2013 plume only |
| EPR, 11 17'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 11.2833 | -103.7583 | 2560 | 1984 Angus camera (or 1985 Argo video) tow with temperature |
| EPR, 16 24'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -16.4000 | -113.0500 | 2640 | 1993 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 4, segment K1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.2025 | 81.0625 | 2800 | 2010 plume only |
| Wagner Basin | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gulf of California | 31.0666 | -114.0833 | 120 | 2007 echosounder and grab samples |
| EPR, 27.7 S, Segment W3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -27.7000 | -112.9170 | 2105 | 1998 plume only |
| Loki's Castle | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 73.5500 | 8.1500 | 2400 | 2008 ROV Bathysaurus |
| Krasnov | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 16.6400 | -46.4750 | 3900 | 2002 or earlier plume only; 2004 TV grab indicated inactive; 2007 ROV Victor indicated inactive |
| SEIR-WXC07 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.2500 | 138.3000 | 2420 | 2015 plume only |
| Chile Rise, Segment N9A | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Chile Rise | -39.0500 | -91.5833 | 3450 | 1998 plume only |