Hydrothermal vent

Hydrothermal vents are underwater hot springs found along ocean ridges where tectonic plates meet. Seawater seeps into the Earth's crust, is heated by molten rock, and then escapes back into the ocean through openings on the seafloor. These vents emit mineral-rich, superheated water and support unique ecosystems that rely on bacteria converting chemicals like hydrogen sulfide into energy, rather than sunlight. Hydrothermal vents are important for understanding extreme environments and the origins of life, and they host diverse and specialized organisms adapted to these harsh conditions.