Czech Scientists Discover Albanian Treasure! The World’s Largest Underground Thermal Lake Found in Southern Albania

A team of Czech scientists has discovered the world’s largest underground thermal lake in southern Albania, which they have named “Lake Neuron.” The lake was named by the foundation that funded the scientific expedition leading to this discovery.

Within the valleys of the mountainous border regions between Greece and Albania, Czech scientists have been exploring complex underground structures for years. In the Vromoneri region, on the Albanian side of the border, they discovered a vast cave system in 2021, which they later explored in detail.

The system contained multiple heat sources emitting high columns of steam. Tracing the source of the steam led the scientists to a chasm over one hundred meters deep, which they named “Atmos.” At the bottom of this chasm, they discovered the lake, which was confirmed as the largest known underground thermal lake to date. It measures 138 meters in length, 42 meters in width, and has a perimeter of 345 meters, holding 8,335 cubic meters of hot water. To create a comparison, the size of the lake’s space is three times that of the main hall of the National Theatre in Prague.

Mapping the cave system and confirming this discovery required advanced technological equipment, which was provided by the Neuron Foundation. The Czech scientific funding organization supported the expedition with nearly one million crowns (approximately 39,000 euros), secured from private donors. For this reason, the lake was named “Neuron,” in honor of the foundation that made the exploration possible.

Richard Bouda, a photographer and speleologist, described the lake’s discovery process, which is expected to attract significant attention in the future. “During the initial exploration, we created a basic map with the equipment we had available. We knew we had discovered something extraordinary. Thanks to the Neuron Foundation, we were able to use a LiDAR mobile scanner, which allowed us to measure the entire cave and lake area. We are also collaborating with hydrologists to study the underwater part of the lake using sonar, a system that identifies objects underwater by emitting and measuring the return of sound pulses,” he explained.

The latest technologies were used by the Czech team, including GeoSlam, a 3D scanning system that created accurate models of the cave. The formation process of this cave is also unusual. The mineral water of the lake is rich in hydrogen sulfide, which, when in contact with air, oxidizes and produces sulfuric acid, turning the limestone rock into soft gypsum.

The Czech team’s work in Albania will help gain a deeper understanding of this rare geological phenomenon, as well as enable further exploration and discoveries. According to Bouda, this discovery could also contribute to protecting the surrounding area. “Thanks to the scientists we are working with, we know that the surrounding springs are supplied with water from the lake. This discovery could help in environmental protection and a better understanding of the area’s hydrology, as it is still unknown exactly how these underground waters connect to the surface,” he concluded.

CREATED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”