Lake Under Antarctic Ice Bigger Than Estimated

A freshwater lake far beneath the ice in Antarctica is about 50% bigger than previously thought, stretching about as large as Lake Ontario, researchers report.

Scientists had first detected Lake Vostok about 20 years ago. It’s by far the biggest known lake under ice, scientists say in the June 20 issue of the journal Nature.

The lake lies under about 2.5 miles of ice. Its water is deep, averaging 400 feet or more, and in some places it is about 1,000 feet deep, the researchers reported. Scientists believe it may contain ancient bacterial life.