If you’re into ice diving, then you may, likewise, be into the story of “90ºE” and “Sovetskaya.” These are the names of two sub-Antarctic lakes that have recently been described. Although not as substantial as Lake Vostok – the largest subglacial lake in the world – both lakes are miles below the surface.

Named for their locations (the first, for its longitude; the second, for the Russian research station built directly above it), scientists speculate that the lakes may be home to exotic ecosystems sealed off from the rest of the planet for millions of years. Counter-intuitively, the lakes are relatively warm: the 2-mile-thick layer of ice over both lakes traps in heat and keep the water at roughly –2ºC (28ºF). I think this is amazing, especially since the research station above the lakes has the dubious honor of having recorded the coldest temperature on the planet: -128.6ºF. Yikes!

Interestingly, some scientists want to penetrate the lakes, to determine if any heretofore unknown life exists there. However, other scientists oppose this idea, claiming that any investigation might contaminate the lakes and, potentially, destroy that which has survived for millennia. Hard to believe an ROV could destroy an ecosystem, but you never know… What I DO I know is: I think exploring these lakes sounds like a grand time to break out the “Ninety Degrees South”!