Elgygytgyn Lake
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| Elgygytgyn Lake | |
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| Location | Chukchi Peninsula, north-east Siberia |
| Coordinates | |
| Lake type | impact crater lake, oligotrophic |
| Primary outflows | Enmyvaam |
| Catchment area | 293 km² |
| Basin countries | Russia |
| Max. length | 12 km |
| Max. width | 12 km |
| Surface area | 110 km² |
Lake El'gygytgyn (Russian Эльгыгытгын) is located on the Chukchi Peninsula in north-east Siberia. It is approximately 15 km in diameter and has a maximum depth of 175 m. The lake is centered within a meteorite impact crater with a rim diameter of 18 km that formed 3.6 million years ago (Pliocene).
The lake is of particular interest to scientists because it has never been covered by glaciers. This has allowed the uninterrupted build-up of 400 m of sediment at the bottom of the lake, recording information on prehistoric climate change.
[edit] Fauna
The conditions in the El'gygytgyn lake are extremely severe for fish life. Therefore there are only three species permanently inhabiting the lake's harsh aquatic environment. These are three types of char: Salvelinus boganidae, S. elgyticus (Small-mouth char) and Salvethymus svetovidovi (long-finned char). The two latter species are endemic to the El'gygytgyn lake. The golets (голец) has been introduced recently.
[edit] External links
- Dr. Matt Nolan at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Polar Expedition to Siberian Lake will Yield Details of Past Climate PhysOrg.com.
- Fisheries; char species in the lake: [1]
- Species survival: [2]
- Arctic char introduction: [3]
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