Three scientists fl oat on the Pacifi c Ocean. T ey are inside a small submersible 563 kilometers off the coast of Costa Rica. T e scientists are heading to an underwater mountain called Las Gemelas. T e small ship is called the
DeepSee. When it drops beneath the surface, tiny bubbles stream up all around it. As it sinks, the light turns from bright turquoise to dark blue. Las Gemelas looms below. It is a
seamount, or underwater mountain. And it is many hundreds of meters below the ocean’s surface. T ere is little light to see by. But the ship’s bright lights shine on many living things such as corals and sea fans. T e scientists set the ship down.
Now they are inside a large crater on top of the mountain. T ey turn off the ship’s lights and sit in darkness.
This seamount teems with life such as corals and fi sh.
T e scientists have minutes to
make their observations. T en it’s back to the surface again. One of the men releases water from the bottom of the ship. As the ship rises, water bubbles
bump into tiny creatures called plankton. T e plankton light up. It’s a beautiful end to a fantastic dive.
Volcanic Peaks
Seamounts are found throughout the world’s oceans. Most of them are in the Pacifi c Ocean. To be a seamount, the land must rise at least 1,000 meters above the seafl oor. Many seamounts are taller than that! Seamounts are oſt en the remains
of old volcanoes. T ey’re found near “hotspots” in the oceanic crust. Beneath these spots, melted rock called magma bubbles.
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