Where are Hydrothermal Vents located in the ocean? * At the shoreline On the ocean floor At the surface of the ocean In the coral reef

Hydrothermal vents are fascinating underwater features found on the ocean floor, typically along mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are diverging. Here, seawater seeps into fissures in the Earth's crust, heats up due to magma below, and then shoots back out, creating these mineral-rich oases in the deep sea. They’re like underwater geysers spewing hot, mineral-laden water! These vents host unique ecosystems thriving in extreme conditions, where organisms such as tube worms and giant clams rely on chemosynthesis instead of sunlight for energy. This ecosystem is a vivid reminder of the resilience of life and has even sparked intrigue about the possibility of life on ocean worlds beyond Earth!