The seamounts. Doors open to the interior of the planet.

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Under the surface of the sea hides a different relief from the one we can see out of the water. Abyssal plains, ocean ridges and seamounts make up a landscape that was unknown until the mid-20th century. Since then we have used sound to explore the ocean floor imitating dolphins and sperm whales and since then we have advanced much faster in the knowledge of marine geology. The sum of the surface of the great seamounts of the planet is estimated to be 10,079,658 km2, approximately the same area as that of the tropical humid forests. Today we know that seamounts are a source of fishing and mineral resources but also that they are in a delicate ecological balance. Its exploration and study is one of the most important scientific challenges in oceanography. Talk given by Jesús Rivera, graduate and doctor in Marine Sciences. 30 'duration. Audience age: from 12 years.