Antarctica’s hidden lake reached at last
Scientists have reached Antarctica’s largest icebound freshwater lake hidden for millions of years under miles of ice.
A team from Russia’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute reached Lake Vostok on Sunday after more than two decades of drilling.
The discovery has been avidly anticipated by scientists around the world, who hope that the lake, comparable in area to Lake Ontario, may contain microbial life and provide a clue in the search for life on other planets in similar conditions.
The project had aroused fears that lubricants and antifreeze used in the drilling may contaminate the pristine lake.