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, 28 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -27.7936 -13.3730 3217 2013 plume only
EPR, 16 08'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -16.1300 -113.0000 2640 1993 plume only
CIR, 19 29'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -19.4830 65.7330 2700 1988 plume only; 2000 submersible Nautile did not confirm activity
Gakkel Ridge, Site 3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 84.4333 2.1333 4300 2001 plume only
EPR 87D1 Seamount inactive mid-ocean ridge N EPR 11.5333 -103.8600 2090 NotProvided
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
Von Damm active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Mid-Cayman Rise 18.3777 -81.7972 2372 2010 AUV Autosub6000 and HyBIS TVG; 2009 plume only
Menez Gwen active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 37.8417 -31.5250 865 1994 submersible Nautile
Gorda Ridge, GR-15 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gorda Ridge 42.9500 -126.5500 3365 1985 plume only
TAG active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 26.1367 -44.8267 3670 1985 towed camera and temperature anomaly; 1986 submersible Alvin
SWIR, D50B active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -52.4200 12.7480 3913 2000-2001 plume and dredge only
Rose Garden active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 0.8058 -86.2267 2550 1977 submersible Alvin; 1976 plume and photographs of clam shells did not confirm activity (note: Rose Garden is used here as the name of the vent field, but Rose Garden vent site itself not discovered until 1979)
Axial Seamount, International District active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 45.9266 -129.9795 1544 1986 submersible Pisces IV
Rainbow Bay active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -14.0300 -14.3400 2900 2009 towed video did not confirm activity
MAR, 12 48'N inactive mid-ocean ridge N MAR 12.8000 -44.7883 2400 NotProvided
EPR, 17 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -17.0000 -113.1170 2680 1993 plume only
EPR, 11 42'N active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 11.7000 -103.8500 2580 1984 Angus camera (or 1985 Argo video) tow with temperature
Nibelungen active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S MAR -8.3000 -13.5200 2900 2006 AUV ABE followed by ROV Quest; 2004 plume only
EPR, mid 17 N segment active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 17.0000 -105.3800 2750 1997 plume only
GEISEIR site 22, segment L3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -42.1130 88.0420 2400 1996 plume only; 2009 plume only
High-Rise Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 47.9666 -129.0894 2200 1988 submersible Alvin
SWIR, Plume 6 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -27.7670 65.1330 3200 1997 plume only
Saldanha active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 36.5667 -33.4333 2300 1998 submersible Nautile
GEISEIR site 35, segment O3 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -47.6179 97.8678 2600 2009 plume only
Brown Bear Seamount inactive mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 46.0333 -130.5500 1500 NotProvided
Galapagos Rift, 94.4 W active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 2.5300 -94.3300 2400 2005 plume only
Puy des Folles active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 20.5083 -45.6417 2000 1996 submersible Nautile observed only inactive vents
MAR, 24 20'N inactive mid-ocean ridge N MAR 24.3500 -46.2000 3200 NotProvided
Squid Forest inactive mid-ocean ridge Kolbeinsey Ridge 68.0000 -17.5000 900 1999 ROV Aglantha
EPR, 21 40'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -21.6340 -114.3010 2730 1987-1988 deposits only

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