Russian polar explorers invite Belarusian researchers to study Lake Vostok together

Russian polar explorers are interested in the joint study of subglacial Lake Vostok together with Belarusian partners, head of the Russian Antarctic Expedition Valery Lukin told reporters on 16 July, BelTA has learnt.

According to Valery Lukin, the study of Antarctica’s biggest subglacial lake can be a joint project if Belarusian scientists are willing to join it.

The scientists are determined to drill down to Lake Vostok for the second time during the Antarctic expedition this year. “Now the winter is in full swing in Antarctica, while the summer will last from December to February. We will do it in the summer, as ice will melt during this period,” Valery Lukin said.

After many years of drilling, the Russian researchers managed to reach the lake during the Antarctic expedition of 2013. The subsequent research yielded important discoveries, including a DNA of an unknown bacterium. “This DNA was not listed in the international database that contains genetic materials from all over the world,” Valery Lukin informed.

Lake Vostok is Antarctica’s biggest subglacial lake located about 4,000 meters beneath the surface of the ice. The lake is 250km long, 50km wide and over 1,200 meters deep. This lake is unique first of all because it was isolated from the surface of the Earth for several million years.