6. The Subsurface Brine Lakes
Under Uyuni's salt crust sits a sophisticated system of brine lakes with some of the most mineral-rich waters on Earth.These underground ponds have notable concentrations of magnesium, potassium, and boron in addition to sodium chloride.The delicate mineral balance maintained by the brine lakes over thousands of years produces distinct chemical conditions that sustain particular bacteria.Representing one of the most hostile settings on Earth, this secret aquatic habitat offers researchers important new perspectives on how life can survive in like circumstances on other worlds.
