Wednesday, October 8, 2008

World's Deepest Fish



Scientists have discovered fish living nearly 5 miles below the surface of the ocean. There is no light at this depth, and the pressure is enough to easily crush nearly any living thing. The pressure is about as much as the weight of 1,600 elephants. The water temperature is nearly freezing. It seems impossible that anything could survive in these conditions, yet there is life here.

This species of snailfish is able to thrive in large numbers in this extreme environment. Scientists had to specially design the camera equipment so it wouldn't be destroyed by the crushing pressure. It was previously inconceivable that anything could live at such depths, but it seems that no matter where we search on earth, there is always life.

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