A recent expedition by the Catholic University of Chile and the Schmidt Ocean Institute led by a Uruguayan scientist explored the seamounts along the Nazca and Juan Fernández ridges. They believe they have found a biological treasure submerged between Chile and Rapa Nui.
Seamount chains are perhaps one of the least explored ecosystems in the world. These are volcanoes that, through millions of years of geological history, have been rising from the 4,500 meters depth that the region's ocean generally has.