Putin praises Antarctic lake breakthrough
Source: Agencies |
February 11, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PRIME Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday praised the Russian scientists who have reached a gigantic freshwater lake in Antarctica hidden under more than 3.2 kilometers of ice, a pristine body of water that may hold life from the distant past.
On national television, Russia's natural resources minister gave Putin a canister of water from melted ice at the bottom of the boreshaft near the surface of Lake Vostok.
Putin hailed reaching Lake Vostok as a "great event" and said the research team members will receive national awards.
After more than two decades of drilling, the Russian team reached the lake on Sunday.
Lake Vostok, the largest of nearly 400 subglacial lakes in Antarctica, is expected to hold living organisms that have been locked in icy darkness for 20 million years, as well as clues to the search for life elsewhere in the solar system.
Scientists believe that microbial life may exist there in conditions similar to those believed to be found under the ice crust on Mars, Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus.
On national television, Russia's natural resources minister gave Putin a canister of water from melted ice at the bottom of the boreshaft near the surface of Lake Vostok.
Putin hailed reaching Lake Vostok as a "great event" and said the research team members will receive national awards.
After more than two decades of drilling, the Russian team reached the lake on Sunday.
Lake Vostok, the largest of nearly 400 subglacial lakes in Antarctica, is expected to hold living organisms that have been locked in icy darkness for 20 million years, as well as clues to the search for life elsewhere in the solar system.
Scientists believe that microbial life may exist there in conditions similar to those believed to be found under the ice crust on Mars, Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus.
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