The Atlantic Ocean (including the Norwegian Sea) is located on two earth crust plates moving apart at a speed of 10 - 25 millimetres per year. Magma (molten rock) comes from the interior of the earth to the seabed, where it "freezes". Sea water circulating down to a few kilometers below the seabed becomes heated, and returns to the seabed as superheated fluids which can be up to 300° C - three times the temperature needed to make water boiling at home! This is possible because of the extreme pressures at these water depths (several thousand metres). An unprotected human body would be be totally squeezed here.

The Atlantic Ocean (including the Norwegian Sea) is located on two earth crust plates moving apart at a speed of 10 - 25 millimetres per year. Small volcanoes are created non-stop on the mid-Atlantic Ridge. Magma (molten rock) comes from the interior of the earth to the seabed, where it "freezes". Sea water circulating down to a few kilometers below the seabed becomes heated and brings metals. "Black smokers" like these are created when the heated sea water spews out, becomes cooled, and metals and minerals form these chimney-like features.