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Biology

Viruses, Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi

Where are bacteria found?

Bacteria inhabit every place on Earth—including places where no other organism can survive. Bacteria have been detected as high as 20 miles (32 kilometers) above the earth and 7 miles (11 kilometers) deep in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. They are found in extreme environments, such as the Arctic tundra, boiling hot springs, and our bodies. Heat-tolerant bacteria have been found at a gold mine in South Africa at a level of 2.17 miles (3.5 kilometers) below Earth’s surface where the temperature in the mine was 149°F (65°C).



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