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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPR/Tamayo intersection | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 22.9333 | -108.0667 | 3200 | 1979 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity |
| Precious Stone Mountain | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 1.2200 | -101.4900 | 1700 | 2009 deep-tow video and TV grab |
| CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 4, 10.9 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -10.9000 | 66.7000 | 3500 | 2010 plume only |
| SEIR-WXC22 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.2500 | 132.1000 | 2950 | 2015 plume only |
| Puy des Folles | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 20.5083 | -45.6417 | 2000 | 1996 submersible Nautile observed only inactive vents |
| EPR, 17 56'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -17.9400 | -113.3170 | 2620 | 1993 plume only |
| Suakin Deep | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Red Sea | 19.6333 | 38.7333 | 2850 | 1972 deposits only |
| AMAR | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 36.3833 | -33.6500 | 2600 | 1992 plume only; 1994 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 9, segment K3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.9633 | 82.0600 | 2700 | 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 |
| Gorda Ridge, 41 30'N | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 41.5167 | -127.4500 | 3350 | 1984 deposits only |
| EPR, 1 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -0.8000 | -102.4600 | 2800 | 2005 plume only |
| Galapagos Mounds | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 1.4500 | -86.1665 | 2700 | 1977 submersible Alvin |
| MAR, 30.8 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -30.8327 | -13.4690 | 2950 | 2013 plume 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 |
| EPR, 28.3 S, Segment W3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -28.3000 | -112.9830 | 2220 | 1998 plume only |
| EPR, 21 25'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.4333 | -114.2917 | 2850 | 1984 submersible Cyana; 1983 deposits 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 32, segment O2 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -47.1196 | 96.8947 | 2600 | 2009 plume only |
| Landing Stage | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -37.5000 | 51.0000 | 2300 | 2014 leg 2 or 3 of the 30th Chinese Cruise |
| EPR, 16 08'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -16.1300 | -113.0000 | 2640 | 1993 plume only |
| MAR, 33 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -32.9676 | -14.4517 | 2600 | 2013 plume only |
| EPR, 11 45'N, OSC | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 11.7775 | -103.8300 | 2580 | 1984 Angus camera (or 1985 Argo video) tow with temperature; 1988 submersible Alvin dive #2004 (need reference to confirm activity) |
| Lucky Strike segment, southern end | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 37.0500 | -32.4200 | 2600 | 1994 plume only |
| Chile Triple Junction, 10 km north | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Chile Rise | -46.2000 | -75.8333 | 3000 | 2010 plume only |
| EPR, 9 47'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.7750 | -104.2802 | 2560 | 1989 Argo I towed video; 1991 submersible Alvin |
| GEISEIR site 10, segment K4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -42.4770 | 82.7100 | 2500 | 1996 plume only; 2010 plume only |
| Knipovich Ridge, 75 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Knipovich Ridge | 74.8000 | 8.4417 | 3185 | 2000 plume only |
| Ashadze-2 | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 12.9917 | -44.9067 | 3300 | 2007 ROV Victor 6000; 2005 TV profiling, plume, and dredge did not confirm activity |
| EPR, 37 48'S Axial Dome | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge | -37.8000 | -110.9167 | 2200 | 2001 towed video and TV-grab |