A reef of glass sponges, creating a deep-sea oasis 650 feet below the surface, was discovered for the first time in U.S. waters off the Washington coast.
The sponges are so rich with marine life that scientists call them "a kindergarten or living hotel." All variety of baby organisms thrive among the reef of yellow and orange sponges, which look something like hollowed-out, supersized Cheetos. These "Manhattans of the sea floor" house a diversity of starfish, crabs, shrimp, rockfish, worms and snails.