Subglacial Lakes

Subglacial lakes are bodies of liquid water that exist beneath ice sheets or glaciers, often hundreds to thousands of meters below the surface. Despite the crushing weight of the ice and extreme pressure, the melting point of water can be lowered, allowing water to remain in liquid form. These lakes are important for understanding ice sheet dynamics, climate history, and potential habitats for microbial life. They can influence ice movement and stability, and some, like Lake Vostok in Antarctica, have remained isolated for millions of years, offering unique scientific insights.