Deep Rising
Bowie Seamount © Neil McDaniel / WWF-Canada
Deep Rising: Underwater Volcanic Mountain
Off the coast of British Columbia, an underwater mountain rises in the open ocean. It's unusual. It's among the shallowest in the world, reaching up to within 24 metres of the surface. The Haida call it "Supernatural Being Looking Outward." Others call it Bowie Seamount.
| Map of Bowie Seamount |
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| Map of Bowie Seamount (PDF) |
Like most of the world's seamounts, Bowie remains largely unexplored. Humans pushed to protect it – but what have they protected? What exists deep, deep down on this mountain? A nursery? Strange ecosystems? One-of-a-kind creatures?
Will we ever discover this Supernatural Being's secrets?
Supernatural seamount an enigma
Many compare the open ocean to a desert. These lonely, endless waters hold few signs of life, above the deep undersea mountains and valleys. Perhaps that's why a certain mystique encircles the underwater mountain, looming 180 kilometres off the coast of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). It's enormous – if it were on land, it would be taller than Whistler Mountain – and thick with life, like a tropical jungle. This is Bowie Seamount: an oasis in the midst of the desert open ocean.
Despite the mystique surrounding Bowie Seamount, seamounts are actually not unusual. They are found throughout the world's oceans, including the Pacific. Bowie gets special attention because it's one of only five shallow, offshore peaks in the Northeast Pacific. In fact, it's the shallowest seamount in Canadian waters.
| Interesting fact: The oldest known rockfish on the B.C. coast, an ancient 208-year-old fish, was caught off Bowie Seamount. |
It's a great move, by Canada and the Haida. Around the world, seamounts are being cleaned out by industrial fishing operators. It's unfortunate, because productive nurseries absolutely need protection. Those who protected Bowie did the right thing.
But this mysterious seamount still holds secrets. Scientists have only sent Remotely Operated Vehicles (like underwater robots) 150 metres down Bowie's slopes and divers can only descend so far. Much of it remains hidden in a deep, dark, chilly ocean.
What weird wonders haunt Bowie? Surely, there are some surprises down its slopes. If scientists catalogued every nook and cranny, would they find something fantastic, something rare, some key to ocean health? Would someone discover a strange creature or an incredible ecosystem?
| Red Irish Lord on Bowie |
 Photograph by Neil McDaniel
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The first name
A certain aura wraps itself around Bowie Seamount, thanks to the Haida – whose islands of Haida Gwaii are this undersea mountain's closest neighbour. They call it "Sgaan Kinghlas," which means "Supernatural Being Looking Outward."
Should we uncover this supernatural seamount's secrets? Is it worth the expensive research?
Perhaps more clues will help you decide.
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