Extraordinary Discovery in the Depths of the Atlantic: The Lost City

Author:

The Lost City hydrothermal field on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, with its towering calcite chimneys and unique ecosystem, offers clues to the origins of life.

Extraordinary Discovery in the Depths of the Atlantic: The Lost City
Image credit: Actualno

Researchers have identified a vast hydrothermal field in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, on the summit of a submarine mountain west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, unlike any other known formation on Earth. Named the Lost City, this system of carbonate chimneys rises from 700 meters below sea level and is considered the longest-lived hydrothermal system yet documented on our planet. It is seen as crucial for understanding how life could originate and evolve under extreme conditions with no oxygen and no sunlight [1].

Poseidon Tower and a Chemical Marvel

This underwater landscape is dominated by calcite chimneys that range in height from just a few centimeters to as much as 60 meters. The most spectacular structure in the area, a massive edifice known as Poseidon, is regarded as a symbol of both geological stability and biological diversity. Unlike typical black smokers, this system forms when seawater reacts with mantle rocks, generating up to 100 times more hydrogen and methane. This distinctive geochemical process sustains microbial communities that can thrive without any dependence on sunlight.

An Ecosystem Thriving Under Extreme Conditions

Despite temperatures that can reach 40 degrees Celsius and immense pressure, the Lost City harbors a microcosm teeming with life. The surfaces of the carbonate chimneys provide sheltered niches for organisms that feed on hydrocarbons, including snails, crustaceans, crabs, shrimp and sea urchins. Scientists note that this stable, long-lived ecosystem also offers a unique model for exploring what potential life forms on other planets might look like.

These striking submarine geological formations inevitably evoke comparisons with drowned ancient cities from human history. One example is the Silk Road settlement discovered in the depths of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, a city believed to have been submerged by an earthquake in the 15th century [5], which is considered one of the most significant cases of human-made underwater archaeology. Similarly, the flooded remains of the ancient city of Juliopolis in present-day Türkiye carry the mysteries of the past into the present [6]. Yet the Lost City in the deep ocean represents a biological legacy that is far older than human history and reaches back toward the very origins of life. For further context and additional reading, see [2] [3].

Sources and further reading

Image & News Source: Actualno / actualno.com