skip to main content

Deep Sea Dive: Lakes in an Ocean

2 minutes

Now Playing As: Captioned (English) (change)

The seafloor has a diverse landscape, which includes underwater lakes and rivers. How is that possible? Well, these lakes and rivers form when seawater seeps up through thick layers of salt, which are present beneath the seafloor. As the water seeps up, it dissolves the salt layer, causing it to collapse and form depressions. The dissolved salt makes the water denser, and because it is denser than the water around it, it will settle into the depressions, forming a river or lake. Part of the "Deep Sea Dive" series.

Media Details

Runtime: 2 minutes

Map of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding landmasses with the coastlines highlighted. Underwater images of craggy rocks and deep fissures. Caption: scientists have nicknamed the area the "Ring of Fire."
Deep Sea Dive
Episode 4
2 minutes 10 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Long, spindly legs protrude from an extremely narrow body and other strange creatures. Caption: It's not like life like we're used to on the surface.
Deep Sea Dive
Episode 5
2 minutes 10 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Depressions in the sea floor with noticeably different liquid in them. Caption: They're very similar to lakes and rivers on land.
Deep Sea Dive
Episode 6
2 minutes
Grade Level: 7 - 12