A team of Czech scientists has discovered the world's largest underground thermal lake in Albania, Czech media reported, quoted by the Anadolu Agency.
The discovery comes after years of research led by Czech speleologist Marek Audi, who suspected the existence of a hidden system of thermal caves in the southern Albanian region of Vromoner, Radio Prague reported.
While mapping the area near the Greek border and observing steam from numerous hot springs, the scientists discovered a chasm 100 meters deep. At its bottom, they found a lake that is 138 meters long, 42 meters wide and with a total circumference of 345 meters.
Scientists say they already know that the surrounding hot springs are fed by water from an underground lake.
“We believe that this discovery can also contribute to the protection of the entire area and a better understanding of its hydrology, since to date no one knows exactly how these underground waters are connected to the surface,“ said scientific team member Richard Bouda, a photographer and speleologist.