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Lake Vostok
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Map of Antarctica highlighting the location of Lake Vostok in the eastern part of the continent, southeast of the South Pole. Major surrounding seas, ice shelves, and islands are labeled, with a small inset map in the top right corner showing Lake Vostok's position within Antarctica. Artist's cross-section of Lake Vostok beneath Antarctic ice, showing the lake's position under thick ice and a drilling core. Inset map highlights Lake Vostok's location in Antarctica.
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Map of Antarctica highlighting the location of Lake Vostok in the eastern part of the continent, southeast of the South Pole. Major surrounding seas, ice shelves, and islands are labeled, with a small inset map in the top right corner showing Lake Vostok's position within Antarctica.
Lake Vostok, Antarctica

Lake Vostok

lake, Antarctica
Also known as: Lake East, Subglacial Lake Vostok
Written by
John P. Rafferty
John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to...
John P. Rafferty
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Lake Vostok, largest lake in Antarctica. Located approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) beneath Russia’s Vostok Station on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS), the water body is also the largest subglacial lake known. Running more than 150 miles (about 240 km) long with a maximum width of about 31 miles (50 km), the lake is roughly elliptical in shape, and it holds nearly 1,300 cubic miles (5,400 cubic km) of water. After decades of speculation...

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