Lake Vostok

Discovered in 1996, Lake Vostok is a subglacial lake that lies 13,000 feet below the Antarctic ice sheet.  Roughly the size of Lake Ontario, Lake Vostok is known to consist of fresh water supersaturated with oxygen and, based on samples of the ice sheet above the lake, is believed to be more than 500,000 years old.  How a liquid fresh water lake exists in this environment remains a matter of speculation.  Scientists also speculate that life exists in this harsh environment, but what kind of life exists is a mystery at this time.  The resources below examine the facts and possibilities of the mysterious Lake Vostok.