Scientists Found the Largest Underground Thermal Lake at the Bottom of a Subterranean Abyss
Researchers discovered the largest underground thermal lake in the world at the bottom of an 'abyss.'
The lake holds more than three Olympic swimming pool's worth of water.
Future explorations hope to map and 3D-model the record-breaking find, as well as investigate any life that may have established itself in the environment.
There's nothing more luxurious than mother nature's jacuzzi: hot springs. Hot springs are one of many ways geothermal features present on Earth's surface—heat from the planet's core warms the water and, in active volcanic zones, springs may even produce waters superheated to dangerously high temperatures. And scientists may have just found the biggest one yet… well, sort of.
A team of scientists from the Czech Republic has discovered the world's largest underground thermal lake, located in southern Albania. They first stumbled upon the lake (and the elaborate cave system it's a part of) in 2021, but didn't have the proper equipment to properly study it, according to a press release.
What they did have, however, was a promising visual. By following a column of steam down into the limestone, the team was able to locate 'an abyss over 100 meters deep,' according to Marek Audy, the head of the expedition. They named the cave Atmos.
Pushing further into the cave, the team discovered something even more exciting—a 'strong thermal inflow and a vast lake' sitting at the bottom of the massive chasm. 'In order for Czech science to present this phenomenal discovery, however,' Audy said, 'it is necessary to conduct scientific research and precise measurements.'
Upon securing funding from a company known as the Neuron Foundation, which aims to 'raise the profile of Czech science, develop modern philanthropy, and connect science and business'—the researchers were eventually able to return to the cave. Once there, they concluded that the lake—now called Lake Neuron after their benefactors—measured in at a whopping 345 meter circumference. Scientists calculate that the lake holds about 8,335 cubic meters of thermal mineral water. For comparison, an Olympic-size swimming pool holds 2,500 cubic meters.
'This success demonstrates how crucial it is to support scientists directly in the field, where they can bring completely new knowledge thanks to their knowledge and commitment,' Monika Řasa Vondráková, director and co-founder of the Neuron Foundation, said in the press release. 'Expeditions like this are crucial for the development of science and deepening our understanding of the world around us.'
The Neuron Foundation also sponsored an expedition responsible for finding a 'lost Mayan city' in Guatemala in 2023, according to a press release. Researchers named the city Yax Balam (which translates to 'Jaguar' in English), and field work suggests that it thrived primarily in the Middle and Late Preclassic period, from 850 B.C. to 150 A.D.
As for the future of this thermal lake, the team intends to study it further in the upcoming year. The hope is to bring back a full map of the finding, including a 3D map of the entire crevasse and samples of any flora and fauna that may have taken root. The lake is an exciting find, but the real exploration is just beginning.
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