Exploring the deep ocean floor: Hot springs and strange creatures The ocean floor is home to many unique communities of plants and animals. Most of these marine ecosystems are near the water surface, such as the Great Barrier Reef, a 2,000-km-long coral formation off the northeastern coast of Australia. Coral reefs, like nearly all complex living communities, depend on solar energy for growth (photosynthesis). The sun's energy, however, penetrates at most only about 300 m below the surfa ...

The Journey of the Trieste gives a detailed account of the legendary descent to the deepest point of the sea, almost seven miles below the surface. To view the animation, the free Flash plug-in is required. The Deep Sea Simulator presents objects and creatures as they venture into the deep. Find out what they experience at various depths -- and why. To view the animation, the free Flash plug-in is required. Clip 1: A survivor of the 1950 Truculent disaster explains ho ...