Antarctica's subglacial lakes

Antarctica’s subglacial lakes are bodies of liquid water trapped beneath thick ice sheets, often kilometers deep. Despite the freezing temperatures above, these lakes remain liquid due to pressure and the insulating ice layer, which lowers the water’s freezing point. They are isolated ecosystems that may contain unique microbial life and preserve ancient environmental records. Studying these lakes helps scientists understand extreme environments, potential extraterrestrial life, and climate history, offering insights into Earth's geology and biology in one of the planet’s most extreme and least accessible regions.