Today we went to Death Valley National Park and stopped at Badwater, which is the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere.
282 feet below sea level makes it the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere
It looks lifeless, but there is a thriving community of eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria growing in a layer several millimeters below the surface of the salt crust. Eukaryotic organisms have cells with a nucleus and organelles - they are completely different from cyanobacteria which don't have them.
Cutting into the salty crust to find life
A few millimeters below the surface there is a green layer, protected by the salt crust
The salt crust transmits light but traps moisture below the surface, keeping the algae hydrated. Also, the white upper surface of the salt crust reflects a lot of sunlight in the middle of the day, keeping the algae cool. Even an inch down, the soil is noticably cool to the touch.
Look at all that chlorophyll!
So, the algae are happy down there being moist, cool, and partially illuminated. The salt crust is just like a greenhouse window!
In fact, the part of the crust that has been trampled flat by people's feet provides a better habitat for the algae than the undisturbed crust.
This stuff is slightly damp, so it really sticks
That's 11,000 foot Telescope Peak in the distance
They taste good, but leave a metallic aftertaste