This Lake Could Kill 2 Million People Without Warning

[00:00:00]Lake Kivu is a ticking time bomb.

[00:00:02]Massive pockets of carbon dioxide and methane are trapped deep below. They've been building up for hundreds of years, and if they ever burst to the surface, it could trigger the most powerful limnic eruption on Earth.

[00:00:16]That's an insanely rare event where toxic gases erupt from deep lake waters without warning.

[00:00:23]If it happens at Lake Kivu, it could blast 2.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide into the air.

[00:00:30]This toxic fog would fill the surrounding valley and suffocate anyone who walked into it. People wouldn't scream or ask for help. They just collapse within a minute. [music] This is especially concerning as nearly 2 million people live near Lake Kivu, and the scary part is no one really knows when it will happen.

[00:00:51]That's because a lot of things could trigger this catastrophe. [music] Basically, anything that stirs up the deepest layers of the lake, like rock slides, lava pouring from nearby volcanoes, or, ironically, even the very things authorities are doing to prevent it.

[00:01:08]Because to make Lake Kivu safer, they need to install pipes that slowly release the gas from the bottom. That sounds like a win-win, since the methane they pump out can power Rwanda's electric grid. And estimates say the methane in Lake Kivu could be worth up to 42 billion dollars over 50 years. But this plan [music] is also controversial.

[00:01:32]Numerous studies say that methane extraction might not be safe, >> [music] >> and some scientists worry it could disturb the lake and trigger the very eruption this [music] plan is supposed to prevent.

[00:01:43]Truth is, this process is really new, and we still don't know how the lake will behave. So people living nearby are worried, scared, and anxious that a disaster could happen at any time.

[00:01:56]They say there are warning signs around the lake, but no real evacuation plan if disaster strikes.

[00:02:03]And the danger [music] just keeps growing with more and more buildings popping up along Lake Kivu's shores.

[00:02:10]We know this isn't just science fiction because it's happened before, more than once actually.

[00:02:17]In 1984, Lake Monoun, an isolated lake in Cameroon, suddenly released gas and took the lives of 37 people. Then in 1986, Lake Nyos did the same thing on a much larger [music] scale.

[00:02:32]A toxic white mist spread through the area and by morning over 1,700 people had lost their lives.

[00:02:41]In both cases, scientists didn't see it coming and probably because they thought it was impossible. This is a rare event and back then nobody really understood it. But now we have no excuse. [music] And if nothing changes around Lake Kivu, we could end up witnessing the biggest disaster of its kind.

[00:03:01]>> Hm, on the outside, the surface of this lake looks like the aftermath of a disaster. Empty tree trunks spike out of the turquoise waters. The lake is surrounded by mountains, making it a quiet but unsettling place. But those who dare to swim under these dangerous waters will soon discover a whole new world. This isn't the beginning of a fairy tale, it's the actual story of Kaindy Lake located in Saty, Kazakhstan.

[00:03:29]Back in 1911, an earthquake caused a major landslide in this location. The valley created eventually filled up with rainwater, [music] practically submerging the forest. The trees that are located above the waters might look very sad, but beneath the surface, they remind you of an underwater forest.

[00:03:47]>> [music] >> Since the waters are crystal clear most of the time, you can still see this fascinating view even from its shores.

[00:03:53]The ice-cold water makes this lake so tricky and, at times, even dangerous.

[00:03:59]And, don't forget about all the algae, plants, [music] and submerged trees that can rapidly become risky obstacles.

[00:04:06]Hey, I enjoy a steamy hot bath, but this boiling lake, I'll tell you about now, is really the stuff of scary dreams.

[00:04:15]It's located on the Caribbean island of Dominica, and its waters have temperatures between 180° and 197° Fahrenheit. And, that's just around the edges, since no one has ever dared to reach the middle of the lake to measure its core temperature. It's true that the heat can go down from time to time, but you never know when these waters may start to boil again. The place is also dangerous because of the gases it releases, such as carbon dioxide. It doesn't smell nice, trust me, but that's mostly because of the sulfur stuck in the steamy air.

[00:04:49]This seemingly calm lake also carries a dangerous surprise. Lake Monoun, located in West Province, Cameroon. It's one of the few erupting lakes on the whole planet, similar to a volcano, and most of the time, it does so without any warnings. Its last eruption dates back to 1894, when it caused serious damage. The chemical mechanism of such lakes works like a can of soda that you shake before opening. There are risky gases on the bottom of the waters, so any disturbance on the surface may trigger their eruption.

[00:05:23]Natron Lake in Tanzania may be beautiful to watch because of its unique reddish coloring, but it's definitely not a place you'd want to take a swim in.

[00:05:33]While the water is extremely salty, it also combines with algae, which, by the way, are responsible for the coloring.

[00:05:41]And, that's not even the riskiest thing about it. Natron Lake has pH levels so high that they become corrosive. If you dampen a piece of dyed material in this lake, it'll soon be stripped of its color. These high levels of acidity can also cause serious problems to the human skin.

[00:05:58]It's not all bad for some creatures as Lake Natron is the only home to over 2 and 1/2 million small flamingos. These acidic and brackish waters support their survival, so it's no wonder they like to stick around.

[00:06:12]Lake Nicaragua's danger factor has less to do with chemistry and more to do with its inhabitants. It's located on the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua and is the largest freshwater lake in Central America. When you first look at it, you won't think it can be dangerous, but because of the bull sharks inhabiting it, I wouldn't recommend taking a swim. Sharks tend to be unpredictable and at times intimidating creatures. Plus, they will eat everything if needed. Scientists initially believed this species of shark was only found in this lake, but they soon discovered [music] that people had seen the same sharks in the Caribbean Sea.

[00:06:50]These astonishing [music] creatures not only cross a distance of over 120 miles to get here, but can also adapt to freshwater, something not all fish can do.

[00:07:00]Belize's Great Blue Hole may seem alluring to divers. I mean, it has a gorgeous [music] deep blue color and is pretty close to the mainland, about 62 miles. The problem is that beneath the surface of these tranquil waters is a mixed-up series of tunnels which contain many types of coral and other wildlife.

[00:07:18]These caves are what makes diving through the Great Blue Hole tricky. More so, specialists discovered [music] that deeper into the waters, there are fewer and fewer creatures. Why? Because of a hidden layer of hydrogen sulfide that spans over the whole width of the sinkhole. Since there's no oxygen, no creature can ever survive this deep into the hole.

[00:07:41]Lake Lanier is the largest lake in the state of Georgia. It has a lot of visitors each year, about 11 million.

[00:07:48]So, that's [music] about the same number as visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris.

[00:07:52]Despite its popularity, a lot of accidents happen on this lake and nobody knows for sure why. One of the explanations may lie beneath the surface of this mysterious lake. There's a lot of debris and rubble in there, along with random objects that have been tossed in, like boats, lawn chairs, and even fishing wire. All this creates a tricky underwater obstacle course. With the added low visibility on the surface of the lake, this place can become risky to navigate.

[00:08:22]Another one of those lakes that looks like someone might have overdone with editing is the Grand Prismatic Spring, located in Yellowstone National Park, which stretches into the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

[00:08:35]Swimming here is completely prohibited.

[00:08:37]Why? It's 189° F in the center, almost close to boiling temperatures, and the outermost ring reaches around 131.

[00:08:46]Hence, the colors. Since the center of the water is way too hot for any life to make it, there's nothing clouding the surface. The lack of any living organisms here creates that vivid blue that looks almost painted over.

[00:09:00]On the small Mediterranean island of Cyprus, there's not a lot of rain during the summer. That's why some bodies of water here become so dry that in certain areas, they get covered in a layer of baked salt. It's the case for the Larnaca Salt Lake. Now, don't be fooled by the eerie landscape. These lands can easily become a trap. That's because it's easy to get confused about what's actually a dry surface and what's just a thin layer of salt on top of water or mud. More so, underneath the crust are salt crystals, which can cause problems for people's skin.

[00:09:36]Sam Misan Hole is one of the most dangerous places to swim in the whole of Thailand. It's because it's very deep, reaching 280 ft and gets extremely dark.

[00:09:47]At certain points, as divers get lower, they can even reach places with zero visibility. No wonder a lot of people get confused and can't seem to find their way up anymore.

[00:09:58]The largest lake in Africa and the third largest lake in the entire world is called Lake Victoria. Not all of its waters are unsafe for people, but some regions can rapidly cause problems. Why?

[00:10:11]Particularly because it has its own isolated weather system and that makes the weather really unreliable. It can go from bright and sunny to terrible in a matter of seconds. I mean, who would want to get caught swimming in the middle of a storm, right?

[00:10:26]Pistol Lake is located in Siberia. So, I'm guessing I don't need to tell you the waters here get extremely cold. But, if you look at the lake, there's nothing out of the ordinary with these waters.

[00:10:38]Hmm, is that completely true? Yeah, most likely not. And people tend to avoid swimming here at all costs, even if they can resist the freezing cold waters. So, what makes Lake Pistoli so mysterious and dangerous?

[00:10:52]Well, nothing seems to want to live here and scientists have yet to discover why.

[00:10:57]They tried to fill the lake with many types of fish and various plant species to see if they could survive in the waters, but the results were hmm, disappointing. Since we don't know exactly what makes it so difficult to survive here, don't go running for your swimming trunks just yet. It's best if you stay away. Hey, you don't have to tell me twice.

[00:11:19]Let's check out one interesting [music] town surrounded by mountains and woods in upstate New York. This place sits right on a big lake and the city is called Lake George. [music] People like to come here to go fishing, boating, and take up other water activities. [music] You can meet many fishers, athletes, and a screaming man standing by the shore.

[00:11:39]>> [music] >> Lake George is one of the most popular places in the northern part. Wait a minute. What? A screaming man? What does it [music] mean?

[00:11:47]Yeah, people come to the shore, look towards the lake and the mountains, and just scream loudly. It looks pretty weird [music] from the outside. Here's a young guy screaming, then he leaves, [music] and a girl stands in his place.

[00:12:01]She starts screaming, too, and then she offers you to do the same. Okay, you come to the spot where she was standing, >> [music] >> turn towards the water, and shout. Wow!

[00:12:12]The sound of your voice echoes back to you. You hear yourself as if the sound wave passed through a giant megaphone.

[00:12:19]Your scream sounds [screaming] distorted. It's unbelievable.

[00:12:23]You get [music] closer to the shore and start screaming [screaming] again, but this time the magic is gone. You hear your usual scream. You return to that [music] point, and here's the sound [screaming] of your cry rising to you again with an echo. But how does [music] this happen?

[00:12:39]"Look where you're standing," the girl tells you.

[00:12:42]You're standing [music] on a round concrete platform with an engraved image of a compass.

[00:12:48]Right on the compass, you see a blue map of the lake. In the center [music] of this pattern, two compass lines intersect and form the X symbol.

[00:12:57]Anyone who [music] stays in this exact spot and [screaming] shouts towards the lake will hear an incredible echo of their voice. It's as if your scream is [music] coming back to you from another dimension.

[00:13:08]But the most exciting thing is that people standing nearby >> [music] >> don't hear it. They see you as just a screaming person with an ordinary voice.

[00:13:18]They can hear the echo only in this [music] X spot.

[00:13:22]Scientists still can't explain this acoustic phenomenon or figure out the reason for this [music] behavior of the sound waves. All they have is guesses and theories. The concrete platform [music] is surrounded by a small curved wall from the lakeside. Some people think [music] that your voice resonates from this wall and creates this sound effect.

[00:13:42]Many places [music] have similar semi-circular walls, but they can't play such an acoustics trick.

[00:13:48]Another theory says that mountains and water somehow [music] create the echo effect.

[00:13:53]There's also an old legend according to which a magical creature appeared at this spot. It shouted [music] towards the water, and its wisdom has echoed throughout the lake ever since.

[00:14:05]I still think the sound resonates from the wall, but let's move on. We have more places to go.

[00:14:12]The next incredible location we're going to drop by is in [music] California.

[00:14:16]Welcome to Lake Berryessa. Just stand on the shore and watch. Everything seems normal, beautiful nature, [music] clean calm water, but there's a huge deep hole in this lake, into which millions of cubic feet of water are pouring per second. But, don't worry. This is not a natural anomaly or a tunnel to the underworld. It's the glory hole, and people created it.

[00:14:42]Lake Berryessa is in the area where the farming town of [music] Monticello used to stand. In the last century, people built a dam next to the lake.

[00:14:51]During the rains, the water level rose and overflowed beyond the [music] edges of the dam. To solve this problem, engineers built a vast hole. To give you an idea of how vast it is, imagine [music] an ant standing on the edge of your bathtub with water flowing through the drain hole. [music] The glory hole is as big for you as the drain hole would be for the ant.

[00:15:14]The water goes through a long horizontal [music] tunnel and enters the nearest bay. The glory hole is a local attraction and a popular place for tourists. [music] Now, let's move to the Caribbean region for another fascinating [music] location. Here, among the clear blue sea, you can find a unique lake on one of the dreamlike islands. Its entire [music] territory looks like a giant concrete platform, but don't swim [music] in it. Steam emanates from the lake surface because of high temperatures. Almost all the water here is liquid asphalt. Pitch Lake [music] is the largest asphalt deposit in the world. Its depth is 250 [music] ft, which means that a passenger Boeing can fit there in an upright position.

[00:16:00]Scientists haven't yet studied the lake thoroughly. They think there's a fault in the Earth's crust [music] underneath it. Natural gases and oil pass through this crack and mix with water. Then, all this liquid [music] goes through many chemical reactions and turns into asphalt. The lake contains [music] about 10 million tons of hot material, according to rough estimates.

[00:16:22]Theoretically, no life can exist [music] in such conditions, but scientists discovered a colony of microbes there.

[00:16:29]This means that life outside of our planet can exist. Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has many hydrocarbon [music] lakes on its surface, similar to Pitch Lake. And if the simplest forms of life can exist here, in the asphalt [music] lake, they may also survive on Titan.

[00:16:48]Our next unusual lake is in a pretty unexpected place, in the driest region on Earth. And these are not hot dunes and lifeless [music] plains. This region is in Antarctica. A dry area is not where it's hot, but where there's almost no precipitation. [music] The desert is not heat and sand, but the absence of life. Some areas of Antarctica meet these two criteria. It's so cold here [music] that a mug of tea can freeze in a minute. but the lake we want to see doesn't freeze. Although, it's not even a lake, but a pond because of its tiny size and depth of several inches. [music] It resembles a large puddle of icy water. It doesn't freeze because Don Juan Pond is one of the saltiest reservoirs on the planet. [music] Salt prevents water from turning into ice, but the most interesting thing is the lake's origin. Scientists still don't know how it appeared here.

[00:17:47]Our next stop is in the southern part of Tunisia. In 2014, a strange lake appeared out of nowhere, right in the [music] middle of the desert. No one knows when the lake was born since this part of the region is sparsely populated and people don't live in the area around the lake. Shepherds passing by were the first to have noticed the lake. They told the [music] locals about it. A few hours later, hundreds of people came to the place to swim in the clear cool water. The lake became a popular [music] place, but after a few days, something strange happened. The water turned dark green. The locals didn't care about this and continued to bathe in the lake. But when scientists and geologists arrived [music] at the place, they immediately declared that the water was dangerous.

[00:18:34]They said the lake was stagnating. It didn't refresh itself from underground streams and the rains [music] didn't feed it either. The water became moldy and dirty and then turned green. The lake contained algae and a lot of harmful bacteria dangerous to the human body.

[00:18:50]Scientists also found out that the land in this region had phosphate deposits.

[00:18:54][music] This substance can decay and become radioactive.

[00:18:59]But the locals didn't take the scientists' word seriously. Just imagine that you're wandering [music] in the desert under the scorching sun and notice a cool green lake. Few people will refuse to jump in there.

[00:19:11]The origin of this lake remains a mystery. Some experts think that heavy rains have filled a hole in the ground with water. Water has probably accumulated in the shadow of rocks surrounding the canyon.

[00:19:24]But another, more frightening theory says that an earthquake formed the lake.

[00:19:28]The seismic activity must have torn the earth's crust above the water table.

[00:19:33]Then, underground springs spilled out of the depths and filled this crevice.

[00:19:38]This means that all the water that came here can pour back [music] out. Imagine pulling the plug out of the drain hole in a bathtub.

[00:19:46]Any small earthquake can make the lake's plug fly out. In this case, the gap [music] can take all the water back underground. So, let's hope there won't be any swimmers in the lake at that moment. That's it for today. So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends. Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the bright side.