DEEP SEA BRINE LAKES

Under the sea in the Gulf of Mexico, at >10,000 ft, and beneath the 2 mile ice shelf of Antarctica lie supersaturated saline lakes

Formed by salt tectonics, the lakes are denser than the surrounding seawater and feature internal waves and shorelines much like those on land, and are rich in unusual microbial life forms.

Samples are currently being collected by Samantha Joye using the deep-sea submersible Alvin.