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-WXC17 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.3000 | 133.8000 | 2780 | 2015 plume only |
| EPR, 5 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -5.0000 | -106.4000 | 2650 | 1980's camera tows; 1993 and 1998 plume only; 1998 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity |
| GEISEIR site 7, segment K3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.8020 | 81.8380 | 2540 | 1996 plume only; 2010 plume only |
| EPR, 17 47'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -17.7900 | -113.3000 | 2600 | 1993 plume only |
| SWIR, Plume 5 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -27.9170 | 64.4500 | 4000 | 1997 plume only |
| NESCA | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 41.0000 | -127.4917 | 3300 | 1988 submersible Alvin; 1986 dredge and photographs did not confirm activity |
| Calyfield | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 0.8300 | -89.6083 | 1660 | 2002 submersible Alvin |
| MAR, 30 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 30.0333 | -42.5000 | 3400 | 1993 plume only |
| Explorer Deep | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Explorer Ridge | 50.1000 | -129.7500 | 3200 | 1969, deposits only |
| GEISEIR site 4, segment K1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.2025 | 81.0625 | 2800 | 2010 plume only |
| 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 |
| Luso | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 38.9833 | -29.8833 | 570 | 2018 ROV Luso |
| Dellwood Seamount | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Explorer Ridge | 50.7470 | -130.8961 | 800 | 1974 or earlier deposits only; 2018 ROV Hercules inactive |
| EPR, 21 N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 20.8333 | -109.0833 | 2600 | 1979 submersible Alvin; 1978 submersible Cyana discovered mineral deposits only |
| EPR, 20 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -20.0333 | -113.6843 | 3000 | 1999 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity |
| Kebrit Deep | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Red Sea | 24.7233 | 36.2767 | 1590 | 1972 deposits only |
| North Cleft, low temperature | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 44.8833 | -130.2667 | 2250 | 1987-1989 camera/CTD tows |
| EPR, 11 24'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 11.4000 | -103.7800 | 2580 | 1990 submersible Alvin; 1988 submersible Alvin dive #1994 (need reference to confirm activity) |
| Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, 60 S segment | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge | -60.0000 | -152.0000 | 2300 | 2009 plume only |
| Chile Rise, Segment N8 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Chile Rise | -38.7167 | -91.5667 | 3330 | 1998 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 29, segment M6 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -44.9054 | 94.9673 | 2700 | 2009 plume only |
| Lucky Strike | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 37.2933 | -32.2733 | 1740 | 1993 submersible Alvin; 1992 dredge and plume only |
| GEISEIR site 18, segment L3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.7133 | 87.4375 | 2500 | 2010 plume only |
| Aegir | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 72.3440 | 1.5550 | 2600 | 2015 ROV Ægir 6000; 2013 plume only; 2015 AUV |
| East Blanco Depression | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 44.2170 | -129.6250 | 3460 | 1994 ROV U.S. Navy's Advanced Tethered Vehicle |
| EPR, 28.7 S, Segment W4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -28.7000 | -112.9880 | 2350 | 1998 plume only |
| MAR, 30 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -29.9505 | -13.8545 | 3379 | 2013 plume only |
| EPR, mid 17 N segment | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 17.0000 | -105.3800 | 2750 | 1997 plume only |
| Troll Wall | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 71.2833 | -5.7667 | 550 | 2005 ROV BIODEEP-05 cruise |
| Middle Valley, Bent Hill Massive Sulfide | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 48.4341 | -128.6812 | 2440 | 1990 HOV Alvin, 1985 deposits only |