And at the heart of it all black smokers, undersea geysers blasting out superheated water, minerals and the very stuff of life itself. A Deep Sea Journey to the Birthplace of a Planet. A hotspot of volcanic activity, these hydrothermal vents offer a rare glimpse into the geological recipe which produces the earth's crust, as well as an opportunity to view fascinating life forms virtually unknown to man until just twenty years ago. MIR pilots have explored numerous active vent fields throughout the world and in 1998 they worked in the Rainbow area. As the submersible enters this field you'll soon discover the origin of the name.
Black smokers belch out plumes of dark stygian elements.
Mineral deposits spewed onto the seafloor surrounding the vents offer a beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Especially important are the robust and diverse life forms crowding these rare vents. Here are some of the oldest life forms on Earth, unknown to man until just two decades ago, ready to be seen and captured on film for later reflection. The Akademik Keldysh is the most advanced deep-diving support vessel in the world. Owned and operated by the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, its crew of scientists and technicians has worked together for 15 years, participating in deep-dive expeditions all over the world.