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Hydrothermal vents are fissures on the seafloor that emit hot, mineral-rich water, supporting unique ecosystems that thrive in the absence of sunlight.

Hydrothermal vents have a dynamic lifespan, typically existing for decades to centuries before becoming inactive due to shifts in geological conditions.

There are two main types of hydrothermal vents: 'black smokers' that emit dark colored minerals and 'white smokers' that emit lighter colored minerals.

Hydrothermal vents were first discovered in 1977 during the exploration of the Galapagos Rift, fundamentally changing the understanding of where and how life could exist.

Hydrothermal vent ecosystems rely on chemosynthesis, where microbes use vent chemicals like hydrogen sulfide to produce energy, forming the base of the food web.

Hydrothermal vent fluids can reach temperatures of over 400°C (750°F), much higher than the average ocean temperature, due to the geothermal energy below the seabed.

Biogeochemical cycles at hydrothermal vents influence global chemical fluxes, including carbon and sulfur cycles, as vent organisms play a role in primary production.