Near the summit of an underwater mountain west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, you can see the jagged landscape of towers rising out of the darkness.
The walls and columns of creamy carbonate appear ghostly blue in the light of remote-controlled vehicles sent out to explore.
height range Small stacks the size of mushrooms on giant monoliths It stands at a height of 60 meters (almost 200 feet). This is the lost city.
Discovered by scientists in 2000, more than 700 meters (2,300 feet) underground, The Lost City Hydrothermal Field is the longest-lived ventilated environment known in the ocean. I haven’t found anything else similar to this.
For at least 120,000 years, or more, the protruding mantle in this part of the world has reacted with seawater, releasing hydrogen, methane, and other dissolved gases into the ocean.
Cracks and crevices in field vents supply hydrocarbons to new microbial communities in the absence of oxygen.
A chimney that discharges hot gas at 40°C (104°F) Snails and crustaceans are abundant. Large animals such as crabs, shrimp, sea urchins and eels are rare but still present.
Despite the extreme nature of the environment, it appears to be teeming with life, and researchers believe it’s worthy of our attention and protection.
Such hydrothermal fields may exist anywhere in the world’s oceans, but they are the only ones that remote-controlled vehicles have been able to spot so far.
The hydrocarbons produced in the Lost City vents were produced by chemical reactions on the deep ocean floor, not from atmospheric carbon dioxide or sunlight.
Since hydrocarbons are the building blocks of life, it remains possible that life originated in such habitats. And not just our own planet.
“This is an example of the type of ecosystem that could be active on Enceladus or Europa right now,” said microbiologist William Brazelton. Said Smithsonian 2018, Saturn Moon and Jupiter.
“And maybe Mars In the past. “
Unlike underwater volcanic vents called black smokerThe Lost City ecosystem does not rely on magma heat.
Black smokers produce mainly iron and sulfur-rich minerals, while lost city chimneys up to 100 times more hydrogen and methane.
The Lost City’s calcite vents are much larger than those of the Black Smokers, suggesting they were active longer.
The tallest of the monoliths, named Poseidon after the Greek god of the sea, stands over 60 meters tall.
On the other hand, there is a cliff just northeast of the tower, which has temporarily increased activity.Researcher at the University of Washington Explanation The vents here “tear” with liquid, producing “clusters of delicate, multifaceted carbonate growths that extend outward like the fingers of an upturned hand.”
Unfortunately, scientists aren’t the only ones beckoned by its unusual terrain.
In 2018, Poland got the right Mine the deep sea around The Lost City. While the actual heat field itself cannot be mined for valuable resources, destruction around cities can have unintended consequences.
This is The Lost City, a towering ecosystem in the middle of the North Atlantic. It is completely unique and life is found nowhere else on Earth. And what if someone wants to destroy it? There is nothing you can do about it. There are no laws. No results. Welcome to the high seas… pic.twitter.com/mdG5wOsr5h
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) August 22, 2022
Scientists warn that plumes and emissions caused by mining can easily wash away amazing habitats.
Therefore, some experts ask for List the lost city as a World Heritage Site to protect the natural wonders before it’s too late.
For tens of thousands of years, the Lost City has stood as a testament to its enduring vitality.
It’s kind of like us to screw it up.
A previous version of this article was published in August 2022.