Loki's Castle
Loki's Castle is a field of five active hydrothermal vents in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, located at 73 degrees north on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and Svalbard at a depth of 2,352 metres (7,717 ft). They were the most northerly black smoker vents when they were discovered in mid-July 2008.
| Loki's Castle | |
|---|---|
| An ROV samples fluids at Loki's Castle. | |
The top three feet of a vent chimney almost 40 feet (12 m) tall at Loki's Castle in mid-July 2008. | |
| Location | Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
| Coordinates | 73°33′00″N 08°09′00″E |
| Min. elevation | −2,352 metres (−7,717 ft) |
They are of geological interest as they occur in a relatively stable region of the Earth's crust, one with diminished tectonic forces and consequently fewer hydrothermal vents. They are the host site of a biologically distinct archaea, the Lokiarchaeota.
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