Tens of thousands of underwater mountains dot the ocean floor around the world. A few break the surface, such as the Hawaiian island chain. The rest are seamounts, peaks and pinnacles rising from the deep seafloor. Some lie just a few metres below the surface, while others rest deeper.
For many creatures, a seamount is an oasis in the vast open ocean. Deep-ocean currents flow up their slopes, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water towards the surface. These undersea mountains are often home to colourful cold-water coral reefs and gardens of ancient sponges. Fish, turtles, sharks and whales use seamounts as breeding, feeding and migration sites.
