Near the apex of a submerged mountain situated to the west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an intricate formation of spires ascends from the abyssal darkness.
Their pale, calcareous walls and pillars appear ethereal and bluish under the illumination of a remotely operated vehicle dispatched for investigation.
These structures vary in magnitude, from diminutive formations comparable to toadstools to a magnificent central pillar reaching a height of 60 meters (approximately 200 feet). This remarkable locale is known as the Lost City.
First identified by scientific personnel in the year 2000, situated over 700 meters (2,300 feet) below the ocean’s surface, the Lost City Hydrothermal Field represents the most enduring known hydrothermal venting environment in our planet’s oceans. Its uniqueness is unparalleled.
For a minimum duration of 120,000 years, and potentially much longer, the upward movement of the Earth’s mantle in this oceanic sector has facilitated a reaction with seawater, expelling hydrogen, methane, and other dissolved gases into the surrounding ocean.
Within the fissures and cavities of the field’s vents, hydrocarbons serve as sustenance for novel microbial communities, thriving even in the absence of atmospheric oxygen.
Chimneys that discharge gases at temperatures as high as 40 °C (104 °F) harbor a profusion of gastropods and crustaceans. Larger marine fauna, including crabs, shrimp, sea urchins, and eels, are less commonly observed but are nonetheless present.
Notwithstanding the formidable and extreme character of this environment, it appears to be flourishing with life, leading researchers to advocate for its preservation and sustained attention.
In the year 2024, scientific investigations yielded a record-breaking extraction of mantle rock, comprising a core sample measuring 1,268 meters in length, retrieved from the Lost City Hydrothermal Field. It is anticipated that this core sample may offer critical insights into the genesis of life on Earth billions of years ago, under conditions preserved within the rock’s mineral composition.
While analogous hydrothermal fields might exist in other oceanic regions worldwide, this is the sole instance that remotely operated vehicles have successfully located to date.
The hydrocarbons generated by the Lost City’s vents are not derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide or solar energy, but rather from chemical reactions occurring deep within the seafloor.
Given that hydrocarbons constitute the fundamental building blocks of life, this observation raises the compelling prospect that life may have originated in an environment precisely like this one. Furthermore, this possibility extends beyond our own planet.
“This serves as an illustration of an ecosystem type that could be actively functioning on Enceladus or Europa at this very moment,” microbiologist William Brazelton communicated to Anna Kusmer of *The Smithsonian* in 2018, referring to the moons of Saturn and Jupiter.
“And quite possibly Mars, in its historical past.”
In contrast to subaquatic volcanic vents known as black smokers, which have also been posited as a potential early habitat for life, the Lost City’s ecosystem is not reliant on the heat emanating from magma.
Black smokers predominantly discharge minerals rich in iron and sulfur, whereas the chimneys of the Lost City generate upwards of 100 times the quantity of hydrogen and methane.
The calcite vents characteristic of the Lost City also exhibit significantly greater dimensions compared to black smokers, suggesting a prolonged period of activity.
The most imposing of these monoliths, named Poseidon in homage to the Greek deity of the sea, extends over 60 meters in height.
Abutting the tower to the northeast, a precipitous cliff face exhibits intermittent bursts of activity. Researchers at the University of Washington characterized the vents in this area as ‘weeping’ fluid, producing “dense clusters of delicate, multi-pronged carbonate formations that extend outwards resembling the fingers of raised hands.”
Regrettably, scientific curiosity is not the sole force drawn to this distinctive geological formation.
In 2018, it was announced that Poland had been granted authorization to conduct deep-sea mining operations in the vicinity of The Lost City. Although the thermal field itself does not contain exploitable precious resources, the potential disruption of its surrounding environment could have unforeseen detrimental effects.
Scientific experts caution that any sediment plumes or effluent discharges resulting from mining activities could readily encroach upon this remarkable habitat.
Consequently, a segment of the scientific community is advocating for the designation of the Lost City as a World Heritage site, aiming to safeguard this natural marvel before the opportunity is lost.
For millennia, the Lost City has stood as a profound testament to the relentless and enduring power of life.
It would be a profound irony if our own actions were to lead to its undoing.
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