Did you know that there are mountains two miles below the Arctic Ocean? Scientists are just starting to learn about them. But it isn’t easy.
Scientists can’t travel to this mountain range for three reasons. First, the Arctic Ocean is covered by a thick sheet of ice. Second, the mountains are so deep that divers and even submarines can’t travel there. And third, there is no light. The water is pitch-black.
How do scientists study this place? Special robots help them explore deep below the ocean.
Scientists drop the robots into the water through a hole in the ice. The robots travel to the bottom of the ocean. They take pictures and collect information. Hours later, they find their way back to the hole in the ice so the scientists can pick them up. And they do this all by themselves!
The scientists have learned a lot from the robots. They’ve learned that the mountains are volcanoes. The volcanoes erupt deep under the ocean.
Scientists have also found strange animals there. One is an octopus with flaps on its head. The flaps look like elephant ears.

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