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 Settingsort descending Region Latitude Longitude Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
MAR, 25 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -25.3350 -13.6305 2570 2013 plume only
GEISEIR site 8, segment K3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.8833 81.9816 2800 2010 plume only
W Eye of Mordor inactive mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 1.9707 -91.3900 1600 2005 towed video Medea observed inactive chimneys
E Eye of Mordor inactive mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 1.9058 -91.2310 1600 2005 towed video Medea found inactive chimneys
S AMAR 1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 36.0830 -34.0830 2630 1992 plume only; 1994 plume only
MAR, 16 46'N inactive mid-ocean ridge N MAR 16.7950 -46.3800 3300 NotProvided
Bai Causeway active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -37.9000 48.8000 3000 2014 leg 2 or 3 of the 30th Chinese Cruise
Magic Mountain, 3-km south active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Explorer Ridge 49.7250 -130.2667 1850 2002 AUV ABE plume only
EPR, 17 34'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -17.5667 -113.2333 2600 1994 submersible Shinkai 6500; 1996 Argo II towed video
EPR, 28.7 S, Segment W4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -28.7000 -112.9880 2350 1998 plume only
GEISEIR site 31, segment O1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -46.8956 96.5709 2600 2009 plume only
SWIR, 63.9 E active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -27.8510 63.9230 2759 2009 DY115-20 Leg 7 (need reference to confirm activity)
GEISEIR site 20, segment L3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.9508 87.8008 2400 2010 plume only
EPR, 1.4 S, off-axis active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -1.3690 -102.4560 3000 2008 towed video
MAR, 8 10'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -8.1670 -13.4670 2000 2001 plume only
Gakkel Ridge, Site 6 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 86.5333 43.0000 3000 2001 plume only
SEIR-WXC22 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -50.2500 132.1000 2950 2015 plume only
Salty Dawg Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 47.9822 -129.0756 2200 1995 submersible Alvin, followed by ROV ROPOS
Moytirra active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 45.4833 -27.8500 2900 2011 ROV Holland 1; 2008 plume only MAPRs, ROV Isis buoyant plume, but no visual confirmation
Knipovich Ridge, 75 N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Knipovich Ridge 74.8000 8.4417 3185 2000 plume only
EPR, 2 S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -2.2200 -102.6550 2900 2008 towed video and AUV ABE
EPR, 7 25'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -7.4167 -107.8000 2750 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity); 1998 submersible Alvin
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 4, 10.9 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -10.9000 66.7000 3500 2010 plume only
SWIR, Plume 3, Segment 16 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -30.8500 59.3830 3900 1997 plume only
Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, 64 S segment active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Pacific-Antarctic Ridge -64.5000 -170.0000 2300 2009 plume only
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 6, 14.75 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -14.7500 66.5000 3400 2010 plume only
Medusa active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 9.1404 -104.2065 2580 2007 ROV Jason II; 1991 plume only
GEISEIR site 7, segment K3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.8020 81.8380 2540 1996 plume only; 2010 plume only
Axial Seamount, ASHES active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 45.9333 -130.0140 1540 1984 submersible Alvin
Ribeira Quente active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Terceira Rift 37.7250 -25.3160 10 1986 or earlier, likely from shore or by SCUBA

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