Rahul Somvanshi
Scientists have confirmed the discovery of Lake Neuron, the world’s largest known underground thermal lake, hidden within a cave system along the Albania-Greece border. The lake stretches 454 feet in length and 138 feet in width, holding enough warm water to fill three and a half Olympic swimming pools.
Czech researchers first spotted the lake in 2021 when they noticed an unusual sight – a tall column of steam rising from limestone mountains near the town of Leskovik, Albania. Following this natural marker led them to a 330-foot-deep cave entrance.
“During our initial exploration, we created a basic map using our equipment and immediately realized that we had discovered something extraordinary,” said expedition photographer Richard Bouda. However, their early measuring tools couldn’t capture the lake’s full size – the measuring laser simply reached its limit at 328 feet.
In 2024, the team returned with advanced 3D scanning technology. The new measurements confirmed Lake Neuron’s record-breaking size, with a volume of 294,350 cubic feet of thermal water. The lake is classified as thermal due to geothermal processes, making it naturally warmer than typical underground water bodies.
The location’s political history makes this discovery even more remarkable. The cave system sits in what was once a restricted border zone between Albania and Greece. “It remained closed due to the fear of the Albanian government from a possible invasion or the escape of citizens,” explained expedition leader Marek Audy. This area only became accessible for research after Albania’s political changes in the 1990s.
“It’s something that could have a huge impact on understanding underground ecosystems and geological processes,” Audy noted. The lake’s unique environment could reveal new insights about how life adapts to these hidden, warm-water environments.
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The research team plans to return for more detailed studies. They aim to collect samples of animals and plants from the lake and its surroundings, while creating detailed 3D maps of the entire cave system. This work could help scientists better understand how underground thermal waters interact with cave formations and support unique forms of life.
The Neuron Foundation, which funded the expedition, sees this as just the beginning. “We realize that top scientists need to research in the field and have the latest technologies,” said Monika Vondráková, the foundation’s director and co-founder. The specialized scanning equipment used to measure Lake Neuron will be available for loan to other Neuron Expeditions.
According to Reuters reports from 2008, Lake Neuron takes the title of largest underground thermal lake from a previous record holder discovered beneath Turkish baths in Budapest, Hungary. This discovery reminds us that significant natural wonders continue to be found, even in well-studied regions.
