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 Activitysort descending Tectonic Setting Region Latitude Longitude Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
EPR, 18 32'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -18.5550 -113.4160 2647 1993 submersible Nautile
Kaikata Seamount active, confirmed arc volcano Izu-Bonin Arc 26.7000 141.0833 930 1988 submersible Shinkai 2000; 1985 dredge only
Futagoyama active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Okinawa Trough 24.8674 123.3081 1270 2016 ROV Kaiko dive 717
Rainbow active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 36.2300 -33.9020 2320 1997 submersible Nautile
Tahi Moana 1 active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -20.6900 -176.1800 2256 2008 commercial ROV; 2004 plume only
Macauley Caldera active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -30.2140 -178.7210 500 2002 towed camera TAN0205 cruise
Animal Farm active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -18.6080 -113.4000 2675 1993 submersible Nautile
Tonga Arc, Volcano 18 active, confirmed arc volcano Tonga Arc -24.5850 -176.9170 1465 2011 ROV MAGNUM; 2003 plume and dredge only
Kodakara-jima active, confirmed arc volcano Ryukyu Arc 29.2166 129.3333 10 1993 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Kos active, confirmed arc volcano Hellenic Arc, Aegean Sea 36.8500 27.2500 10 1983 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Mokuyo Seamount active, confirmed arc volcano Izu-Bonin Arc 28.3200 140.5800 1200 1990 submersible Shinkai 2000
Kilo Moana active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -20.0532 -176.1336 2620 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise
Mariana Trough, 15.5 N active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Mariana Trough 15.4080 144.5090 4196 2015 plume only, 2016 ROV did not confirm
Tangaroa volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -36.3250 178.0333 890 2012 likely towed video or TV grab; 1999 plume only
Banda Api active, confirmed arc volcano Banda/Sunda Arc -4.5250 129.8710 3 1993 SCUBA
EPR, 23 50'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -23.8233 -115.4558 2650 2005 submersible Alvin; 1990 or earlier towed TV camera did not confirm activity
Healy volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -34.9840 178.9990 1370 2005 submersible Pisces V; 1999 plume only
Bubbylon active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 37.8000 -31.5333 1000 2010 ROV MARUM-QUEST, same cruise as plume discovered by multibeam echosounder
Galapagos Mounds active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 1.4500 -86.1665 2700 1977 submersible Alvin
Snail active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Mariana Trough 12.9533 143.6200 2880 2003 ROV Jason II; 2003 plume only
EPR, 9 50'N active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 9.8300 -104.2900 2520 1989 Argo I towed video
EPR, 17 34'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -17.5667 -113.2333 2600 1994 submersible Shinkai 6500; 1996 Argo II towed video
CLSC, A3 active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -18.6000 -176.4500 2500 1990 submersible Mir
Yali active, confirmed arc volcano Hellenic Arc, Aegean Sea 36.6600 27.1300 3 1991 or earlier, from beach
Hinepuia volcanic center active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -26.3900 -177.2600 300 2013 HOV Shinkai 6500; 2004 plume and dredging NZAPLUME III expedition
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)
Mariana Trough, Central Trough active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Mariana Trough 18.0467 144.7533 3676 1987 submersible Alvin
Daikoku volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 21.3240 144.1940 450 2004 ROV ROPOS; 2003 plume only
Starfish Seamount, Tinakula active, confirmed back-arc spreading center New Hebrides back-arc -12.2028 167.6139 1204 2011 commercial ROV; 1989 plume only; 1989 towed camera survey did not confirm activity; 2002 plume and dredge only
White Point, Palos Verde, California active, confirmed other Coastal California 33.7000 -118.3167 10 1984 or earlier, likely by SCUBA

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