A team of Czech speleologists has discovered the largest underground thermal lake in the world.

Located in southern Albania, the lake stretches 138.3 meters in length and 42 meters in width, holding an estimated 8,335 cubic meters of mineral-rich thermal water.

Scientists had to descend 127 meters underground to reach the lake, making it one of the most extraordinary geological findings of recent years.

A Discovery Years in the Making

The journey to this groundbreaking find began in 2021, when Czech speleologist Marek Audy suspected the presence of a rare thermal cave system in Albania’s Vromoner area. His experience with similar formations in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico fueled his theory that hydrothermal activity in Albania might have created similar underground chambers.

That summer, during a family trip, Audy and his wife explored a cave known as Sulfur Cave, accessible from the Sarandaporo River.

“We weren’t the first people inside, but I had a strong feeling this cave was unique,” he recalled. Despite promising his wife a thermal spring experience, the water was only 26°C, making it lukewarm in the August heat. Nevertheless, his scientific instincts took over.

“With scorpions, spiders, heat, and an overwhelming stench, I wouldn’t exactly call it a romantic cave,” Audy joked. “But I was already reaching for my notebook.”

Albania’s Untapped Potential

The discovery was made possible in part due to Albania’s isolation during the communist era under dictator Enver Hoxha, which left many of its natural wonders unexplored.

However, it wasn’t until 2022 that they spotted something remarkable—a plume of steam rising from an uncharted location, visible in drone footage.

Following this clue, the team found the Atmos Cave—a vast underground cavern that held what would become a milestone in Czech scientific exploration.

A Landmark in Speleology

Despite the risks, the Czech team successfully measured the lake, confirming that it is the largest known underground thermal lake on Earth. Its dome-shaped cavern is nearly three times the size of the main hall of Prague’s National Theatre.

The discovery has prompted discussions about safety protocols for future expeditions, as scientists develop new methods to explore hazardous underground environments without jeopardizing lives.

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