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
Snake Pit active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 23.3683 -44.9500 3500 1985 real-time TV and imaging sonar; earlier in 1985 seafloor photographs did not confirm activity
Don Joao de Castro Bank active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Terceira Rift 38.2300 -26.6300 45 1995 SCUBA
GEISEIR site 8, segment K3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.8833 81.9816 2800 2010 plume only
EPR, 8 53'N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 8.9000 -104.2000 2580 1991 plume only
EPR, 7 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -7.0000 -107.5500 2600 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab
AAR KR2 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -60.0000 152.5000 3200 2011 plume only
GEISEIR site 27, segment M5 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -43.9805 93.4571 2700 2009 plume only
SWIR, D62 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -52.2530 15.1030 3990 2000-2001 plume and dredge only
Jade Emperor Mountain inactive mid-ocean ridge SWIR -37.9400 49.2600 1500 2010 video sled, plume survey, and geological sampling all suggest inactive
MAR, 19 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -19.3301 -11.9421 2707 2013 plume only
GEISEIR site 20, segment L3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.9508 87.8008 2400 2010 plume only
EPR, 16 43'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -16.7170 -113.0680 2600 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity)
Gakkel Ridge, Site 7 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 86.9833 55.5000 3800 2001 plume only
EPR, 10 08'N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 10.1300 -104.3300 2580 1983 towed camera and temperature measurements (no direct observations/sampling of hydrothermal fluid)
Animal Farm active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -18.6080 -113.4000 2675 1993 submersible Nautile
GEISEIR site 38, segment O4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -48.0048 98.8232 2800 2009 plume only
Evan active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 37.2667 -32.2833 1775 2006 submersible Nautile
Precious Stone Mountain active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 1.2200 -101.4900 1700 2009 deep-tow video and TV grab
EPR, 23 30'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -23.5333 -115.5667 2600 1987 or earlier [need to check Marchig & Gundlach (1987)]; 2005 submersible Alvin
EPR, 18 26'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -18.4333 -113.3833 2650 1993 submersible Nautile; 1983 seafloor photos, temperature anomalies, and deposits did not confirm activity; 1984 submersible Cyana observed only inactive sites; 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity)
Area JX active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -22.9666 69.1833 3500 1986 plume only (camera tow did not confirm)
EPR, 13 N, Marginal High active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 12.7090 -103.9160 2650 1984 submersible Cyana; 1981 towed camera, dredging, and plume did not confirm activity
Kairei Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge CIR -25.3195 70.0400 2460 2000 ROV Kaiko; 1993 plume only
Tempus Fugit active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 0.7683 -85.9100 2560 2011 ROV Little Hercules
EPR, Ridge 3, 20 40'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -20.3333 -113.6792 3050 1983 Deep Tow camera
GEISEIR site 5, segment K1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.2420 81.1580 2860 1996 plume only; 2007 plume only
EPR, 29.8 S, Segment E1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -29.8000 -111.7300 2580 1998 plume only
Chile Triple Junction active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Chile Rise -46.3000 -75.8000 3000 2010 plume only
Galapagos Rift, 95.5 W active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 2.6700 -95.4500 3200 1990 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity
Rapa Nui active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -21.5620 -114.3000 2845 1999 submersible Alvin; 1987-1988 deposits only

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