In the western reaches of the Atlantic Ocean, far removed from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an extraordinary geological formation dubbed “Lost City” has been detected in the deep sea. This expansive hydrothermal field constitutes a collection of imposing limestone edifices, resembling towering spires and pillars, that ascend from the ocean floor at depths exceeding 700 meters, according to reports from Science Alert.
The tallest of these formations reaches an impressive sixty meters high, a stature comparable to that of a twenty-story building. This astonishing site was first located in the year 2000 through the deployment of submersibles. To date, no equivalent location has been identified in the world’s oceans, which serves only to underscore how singular this place is. The hydrothermal activity here has been continuous for a minimum duration of 120,000 years.
“Lost City” owes its existence to chemical reactions occurring where seawater interacts with rock issuing from the Earth’s interior. These reactions result in the release of gases such as hydrogen, methane, and others. These compounds act as the core source of energy for microbial communities thriving within the fissures and pores of the carbonate towers, all while functioning in complete darkness and an anoxic environment.
Water temperatures in the vicinity approximate 40 degrees Celsius, which is ample warmth to sustain this singular ecosystem. Near these vents reside bacteria, mollusks, and a variety of crustaceans, though larger fauna are seldom observed. Recently, researchers managed to capture new imagery of this distinctive locale on the Atlantic seabed.
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