Slide Images: A collage consisting of four Soap Lake images. Soap Lake is one of National Science Foundation's microbial observatories.
In the top left corner is an overview photo of Soap Lake, taken from the cliffs overlooking the western shore. On the right side is a photo looking into the shallow water of the lake and showing the calcium carbonate that is colonized by microbes. The sky is reflected on the water's surface.
In the lower part of the slide are two microscope images of organisms living in the extreme conditions of the lake.
The image on the lower left shows microscopic Alkaliphilic "black yeast" fungus (optimum growth pH 9.2 (7.0-10.8), Hortaea sp).
On the right is a scanning electron microscope image of Strain 5BCVA, which is probably a new genus between Azoarcus and Thauera. The organisms are rod-shaped.

Credit: Brent Payton, Washington State University