A team of Czech scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery in Southern Albania, uncovering the world's largest underground thermal lake. Named "Lake Neuron," the discovery was announced by the Neuron Foundation, which funded the expedition, as reported by "Czech Radio."
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For several years, Czech researchers have been exploring the complex underground conditions of the mountainous border regions between Greece and Albania. In 2021, they encountered an extensive cave system in the Vromoneri region, on the Albanian side of the border. Since then, they have been meticulously mapping the area in detail.
The cave system features numerous hot springs that emit towering columns of steam. Tracking the source of the steam led the scientists to discover a chasm over 100 meters deep, which they named "Atmos." At the bottom of this chasm, the team confirmed the presence of the largest underground thermal lake ever recorded.
Lake Neuron boasts impressive dimensions: a length of 138 meters, a width of 42 meters, and a perimeter of 345 meters. It holds approximately 8,335 cubic meters of hot water. The lake's chamber is three times larger than the main hall of Prague’s National Theatre.
Mapping the cave system and identifying the lake required advanced technical equipment, made possible by the financial support of the Neuron Foundation. The Czech scientific funding organization provided nearly 1 million Czech koruna, donated by private benefactors. As a tribute to its support, the newly discovered underground lake was named Neuron.
Richard Bouda, a photographer and speleologist, described the discovery process: "During our initial exploration, we created a basic map using the equipment we had. Even then, we knew we had found something truly extraordinary."
"Thanks to the Neuron Foundation, we acquired a mobile LIDAR scanner, which allowed us to measure the entire cave and the lake area accurately. We will also collaborate with hydrologists who will use sonar technology to measure the lake's underwater portion," he added.
The Czech team utilized cutting-edge technology, including "GeoSlam," a 3D scanning system, to create precise models of the cave.
The geological formation of the cave containing the lake is also highly unusual. The lake’s mineral-rich water is saturated with hydrogen sulfide, which oxidizes upon contact with air to produce sulfuric acid. This chemical reaction continuously transforms the limestone rock into soft gypsum.
Bouda emphasized that the Czech team’s work in Albania will contribute significantly to understanding this rare cave formation process and acknowledged that much research remains to be done. "Thanks to the scientists we collaborate with, we now understand that the surrounding hot springs are fed by water from the lake."
He further highlighted the broader significance of the discovery: "We believe this finding can also contribute to protecting the entire area and better understanding its hydrology. To this day, no one fully knows how these underground waters are connected to the surface."
This discovery marks an important milestone in speleology and hydrogeology, shedding new light on the underground landscapes of Albania and their intricate water systems.