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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEISEIR site 26, segment M4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -43.6901 | 92.8451 | 2500 | 2009 plume only |
| EPR, 21 20'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.3670 | -114.2570 | 2900 | 1981 plume only; 1987-1988 deposits only |
| GEISEIR site 15, segment L1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.2230 | 86.3892 | 2500 | 2010 plume only |
| Aurora | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 82.8833 | -6.2500 | 4100 | 2001 shimmering water in camera tow and sulfide chimney in dredge |
| Don Joao de Castro Bank | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Terceira Rift | 38.2300 | -26.6300 | 45 | 1995 SCUBA |
| EPR, 3.9 N offset | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 3.9170 | -102.2330 | 2875 | 1989 or earlier Deep Tow photographs (cruise RIFTS or PAPATUA) |
| Magic Mountain | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Explorer Ridge | 49.7500 | -130.2667 | 1850 | 1984 submersible Pisces IV |
| Luso | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 38.9833 | -29.8833 | 570 | 2018 ROV Luso |
| Gakkel Ridge, 85 E | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 85.6500 | 84.8333 | 3900 | 2001 plume only; 2007 towed video did not confirm activity |
| Zouyu ridge | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -13.2800 | -14.4100 | 2315 | 2009 towed video |
| Walsh | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Mid-Cayman Rise | 17.8333 | -81.8333 | 4000 | 2009 plume only; 2013 plume only |
| EPR, 9 50'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.8300 | -104.2900 | 2520 | 1989 Argo I towed video |
| SWIR, Plume 6 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -27.7670 | 65.1330 | 3200 | 1997 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 37, segment O4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -47.7483 | 98.1756 | 2800 | 2009 plume only |
| MAR, 27 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -27.1476 | -13.4753 | 3341 | 2013 plume only |
| SESCA | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 40.7500 | -127.5200 | 3300 | 1986 sediments and heat-flow measurements |
| EPR, 10 44.6'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 10.7433 | -103.6500 | 2580 | 1985 Argo video tow with temperature |
| Romanche Fracture Zone | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -0.9767 | -24.5133 | 3100 | NotProvided |
| MAR, 23 35'N | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 23.5833 | -45.0000 | 3500 | 1980 submersible Alvin did not observe hydrothermal activity |
| Aegir | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 72.3440 | 1.5550 | 2600 | 2015 ROV Ægir 6000; 2013 plume only; 2015 AUV |
| Ischia Island, Gulf of Naples | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Italy | 40.7306 | 13.9500 | 10 | 1954 or earlier, from the beach |
| Capo Miseno, Gulf of Naples | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Italy | 40.7833 | 14.0833 | 20 | 1982 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Capo Palinuro | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Italy | 40.0167 | 15.2667 | 30 | 1990 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Prony Bay | active, confirmed | other | -22.3333 | 166.8333 | 50 | 1979 or earlier, likely SCUBA | |
| Punta Banda | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Baja California | 31.7500 | -116.7500 | 30 | 1960's commercial abalone divers |
| Punta Mita, Bahia de Banderas | active, confirmed | other | Coastal Mexico | 20.7700 | -105.5200 | 10 | 1997 photo/video most likely by SCUBA |
| White Point, Palos Verde, California | active, confirmed | other | Coastal California | 33.7000 | -118.3167 | 10 | 1984 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Dorado Outcrop | active, confirmed | other | 9.0800 | -87.0950 | 3000 | 2013 ROV Jason Dive J2-751 | |
| Vema Fracture Zone | active, inferred | other | N MAR | 10.7100 | -42.6800 | 5180 | 2015 plume only |
| San Felipe | active, inferred | other | Coastal Baja California | 31.0000 | -114.8000 | 1 | 1982 or earlier, likely from shore |