Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents

Deep on the ocean floor, there are cracks that shoot out super-hot water. These are called hydrothermal vents. The water can be hotter than 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Strange animals live near these vents even though there is no sunlight. Scientists first discovered them in 1977.

How Vents Work

Cold seawater seeps down through cracks in the ocean floor. Deep underground, hot rocks heat the water. The water then shoots back up through the cracks like an underwater geyser. The hot water carries minerals that build tall chimney-shaped structures. Some of these chimneys are called black smokers because they look like dark smoke.

Life at the Vents

Animals near vents do not need sunlight to survive. Instead, tiny bacteria use the chemicals in the hot water for energy. Giant tube worms, blind shrimp, and strange crabs live around the vents. These animals are found nowhere else on Earth. Scientists think vents might show how life first began on our planet.

Fun Facts

• Giant tube worms near vents can grow up to 6 feet long.
• Some hydrothermal vents are deeper than 10,000 feet below the surface.
• The first hydrothermal vents were found near the Galapagos Islands in 1977.

Did You Know?

Scientists think that moons like Europa, which orbits Jupiter, might have hydrothermal vents under their icy surface.