Hodgkins Seamount facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hodgkins Seamount |
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Map of submarine volcanoes on the coast of British Columbia, including Hodgkins Seamount
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| Summit depth | 790 m (2,592 ft) |
| Location | |
| Location | North Pacific Ocean, south of Pierce Seamount and north of Bowie Seamount |
| Coordinates | 53°18′N 136°30′W / 53.30°N 136.5°W |
| Country | Canada |
| Geology | |
| Type | Submarine volcano |
| Volcanic arc/chain | Kodiak-Bowie Seamount chain |
Hodgkins Seamount is a fascinating underwater mountain, also known as a seamount. It is part of a long line of these mountains called the Kodiak-Bowie Seamount chain. You can find it deep in the North Pacific Ocean.
This seamount is located south of Peirce Seamount and north of Bowie Seamount. Scientists believe Hodgkins Seamount had two very different periods of volcanic activity. These periods were separated by a huge amount of time – about 12 million years! Like other seamounts in its chain, Hodgkins Seamount was created by something called the Bowie hotspot.
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Hodgkins Seamount: An Underwater Mountain
Hodgkins Seamount is a great example of a seamount. A seamount is basically a mountain that rises from the ocean floor. But it does not reach the surface of the water. Most seamounts are formed from volcanoes.
What is a Seamount?
Imagine a mountain on land, but completely covered by the ocean. That's a seamount! They are often shaped like cones or domes. Many seamounts are old volcanoes that are now inactive.
These underwater mountains are important for ocean life. They create special habitats for many sea creatures. Fish, corals, and other animals gather around them.
Where is Hodgkins Seamount Located?
Hodgkins Seamount is found in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. It is off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It sits between two other well-known seamounts. These are Peirce Seamount to its north and Bowie Seamount to its south.
It is part of a larger group called the Kodiak-Bowie Seamount chain. This chain is a long line of underwater volcanoes. They stretch across the ocean floor.
How Hodgkins Seamount Formed
Hodgkins Seamount, like others in its chain, was formed by a "hotspot." A hotspot is a very hot spot deep inside the Earth. It melts rock, creating magma. This magma then rises to the surface.
When the magma breaks through the ocean floor, it erupts. This creates an underwater volcano. Over millions of years, repeated eruptions build up the seamount. The Earth's plates move over the hotspot. This creates a chain of volcanoes, like the Kodiak-Bowie chain.
Its Volcanic Past
Scientists have studied Hodgkins Seamount. They found evidence of two very different times of volcanic activity. These two periods were separated by about 12 million years. This means the seamount erupted in different ways at different times in its long history.
Studying seamounts like Hodgkins helps us understand Earth's geology. It teaches us about how volcanoes form underwater. It also shows us how the ocean floor changes over millions of years.
