Scientists discover the largest underground thermal lake in the world in Albania!
Located in southern Albania, the lake stretches 138.3 meters in length and 42 meters in width, holding about 8,335 cubic meters of mineral-rich thermal water. Scientists had to descend 127 meters underground to reach the lake, making it one of the most extraordinary geological finds of recent years, according to Czech media outlet Prague Morning.
The journey to this groundbreaking discovery began in 2021, when Czech scientist Marek Audy suspected the presence of a rare thermal cave system in the Vromoner area of Albania. His experience with similar formations in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico fueled his theory that hydrothermal activity in Albania could have created similar underground chambers.
That summer, during a family trip, Audy and his wife explored a cave known as the Sulphur Cave, accessible from the Sarandaporo River.
“We weren’t the first people inside, but I had a strong feeling that this cave was unique,” he recalls. Despite promising his wife a hot spring experience, the water was only 26°C, making it lukewarm in the August heat. However, his scientific instincts pushed him further. “With the scorpions, the spiders, the heat and a huge stench, I wouldn’t exactly call it a romantic cave,” Audy joked.
The discovery was made possible in part due to Albania's isolation during the communist era under dictator Enver Hoxha, which left many of its natural wonders unexplored, writes Prague Morning.
However, it wasn't until 2022 that they noticed something extraordinary - a plume of steam rising from an unexplored location, visible in drone footage. Following this clue, the team found the Atmos Cave, a vast underground cavern that held what would become a milestone in Czech scientific exploration.
Despite the risks, the Czech team successfully measured the lake, confirming that it is the largest known underground thermal lake on Earth. Its dome-shaped cave is almost three times larger than the main hall of the Prague National Theatre.
The discovery has sparked discussions about safety protocols for future expeditions, as scientists develop new methods to explore dangerous underground environments without risking lives.
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