The Most Studied Lakes by Scientists
Roughly 71% of Earth's surface is covered in water. Some of those waterways are so rare that scientists devote millions of dollars and even more hours to studying the life within them, as well as the unique chemical compounds of the water itself. Each lake forms a natural laboratory where the smallest forms of life can be studied. Information gathered in these aquatic laboratories answers essential questions about human existence through the study of biological preservation, adaptation, and outright resilience. Keep reading to dive into the world's most intriguing lakes studied by scientists.
Lake Vostok (Antarctica)
Hidden beneath over 3.5 kilometers of Antarctic ice, Lake Vostok has been isolated for approximately 20 million years. The body of water is also significant in size, at about 250 km long and 50 km wide, making it the world's largest subglacial lake. Millions of years ago, the lake was sealed with ice, turning it into a biological time capsule. Researchers are deeply interested in the lifeforms, sediments, and potential microbial life captured long ago and preserved in the icy water, as this isolation could offer insights into how organisms adapt and survive in extreme environments. Sediments found under the lake surface also provide clues about Earth's biological and climatic history from a time when Antarctica was ice-free and connected to other landmasses.
Lake Natron (Tanzania)
This pink lake that can be seen from outer space is a graveyard to most animals except pink flamingos, creating a surreal, otherworldly landscape in East Africa. It is one of the most caustic bodies of water on Earth, with pH levels up to 10.5-12. That’s around the strength of household bleach. High alkaline conditions here are due to sodium carbonate and related minerals that are concentrated by intense evaporation within its endorheic basin. Hot springs that are packed with minerals feed the lake, which has no outlet, further intensifying the chemical concentration.
The flamingos that inhabit this seemingly enchanted lake chose it because of its harsh chemical conditions, which keep predators away and create a safe haven for the birds, particularly when it comes to breeding. This in itself makes for a great study in the food chain and the different limitations of various biological forms. Adding to the surreal nature of Lake Natron, animal carcasses seem to turn to stone around the shores. This is because the corpses are coated with natron salts from the lake that effectively mummify the body.
Lake Nyos (Cameroon)
This dangerous lake rests within a volcanic crater, saturated with carbon dioxide from the magma beneath. Because the lake is within a volcanic crater, dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂) accumulates in the deep water layers. It can then be released catastrophically in a process called a limnic eruption, a natural phenomenon of great interest to some environmental scientists. These gases are incredibly deadly and actually killed more than 1,700 people and 3,500 livestock in 1986 when a limnic eruption created a cloud of carbon dioxide that hung over the nearby village. This disaster led to scientific efforts to safely degas the lake and study limnology and the risks associated with volcanic gas.
Lake Baikal (Siberia, Russia)
Surrounded by steep mountains, this 25-million-year-old lake is the oldest on Earth. This ancient waterway is also the deepest lake ever discovered, with depths up to 1,700 meters. Moreover, Lake Baikal contains 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater. Due to its age, depth, and freshwater combination, the lake is extremely rare and, therefore, valuable to evolutionary scientists. Lake Baikal contains so much endemic flora and fauna to study, including species not found anywhere else on Earth, which sheds light on how lineages diverge from their relatives, leading to further studies in biological adaptation.
Lake El’gygytgyn (Siberia, Russia)
Lake El’gygytgyn lies 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle and sits within a crater formed from a meteorite impact about 3.6 million years ago. To add to its geological uniqueness, the lake is one of the few known impact craters formed in acidic volcanic bedrock. Unlike most water bodies in Siberia's frigid climate, this lake has never been overridden by glaciers, allowing uninterrupted sediment buildup over millions of years. Because of the uninterrupted sediment, researchers can use Lake El’gygytgyn to reconstruct timelines and examine the longest continuous climate record in the Arctic, essentially tracking the history of climate change over the past few million years.
Holloman Lake (New Mexico)
Though relatively small, this lake in the Chihuahuan Desert has become a natural laboratory providing research on PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals”. For this reason, Holloman Lake provides a stark case study of persistent chemical contamination and pollution. The man-made reservoir is part of a chain of wetlands fed by wastewater. Extremely high levels of these chemicals have been found in every part of the lake's ecosystem, from algae to fish, as well as small reptiles and birds. Since Holloman Lake is near Holloman Air Force Base, the chemicals are attributed to the Air Force's long-term use of firefighting foams, which contain PFAS. The lake serves as a rare real-world lab in which to study the transport of chemicals and the effect of these contaminants on their environment, all of which have an effect on biological health.
From a bright pink surface that expels lethal toxins to glacier homes of Antarctic sediment, this article proves that lakes aren’t as simple as they may seem on the surface. While being visually striking portals to the past, they hold key information about the future of humanity on Earth. Ancient microorganisms, from which all humans descend, contain valuable intel regarding evolution and adaptation. This is an increasingly important subject to study as the Earth’s climate continues to change.
