Location: Map
Lake Labynkyr, also spelled Labynkyr Lake, is a remote and enigmatic freshwater body located in the Oymyakon Highland of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia. Situated near the northern hemisphere's Pole of Cold, it is one of the coldest inhabited regions on Earth, with extreme environmental conditions that make it both a scientific curiosity and a site of local folklore. The lake's isolation in eastern Siberia contributes to its mystique, blending natural beauty with tales of mythical creatures and ongoing ecological research.
Geographically, Lake Labynkyr lies at an elevation of approximately
1,020 meters above sea level, covering an area of about 44 to 44.7
square kilometers. It stretches 14.3 kilometers in length and reaches a
maximum width of 4.15 kilometers, with its maximum depth recorded at 52
meters in the southern section, though some reports mention an average
depth around that figure as well. The lake is of tectonic-glacial
origin, formed through geological processes involving tectonic shifts
and glacial activity, which have shaped its elongated basin.
One of
the lake's most intriguing features is an underwater trench reportedly
reaching depths of up to 80 meters, which remained unexplored by divers
as of 2013. Scientists have speculated about a possible underground
tunnel connecting Labynkyr to the nearby Lake Vorota, about 20
kilometers away, based on observations that both lakes maintain
identical water levels. The water is exceptionally transparent, with
visibility extending up to 16 meters, classifying it as
ultraoligotrophic—a nutrient-poor environment that supports limited
biological productivity but high clarity. The lake is surrounded by
rugged, sparsely populated terrain, with the nearest settlement being
the small village of Oymyakon, known for its record-low temperatures.
The region around Lake Labynkyr experiences some of the most severe
weather on the planet. Winter air temperatures can plummet to -60°C
(-76°F) or lower, earning Oymyakon the title of the coldest permanently
inhabited place. The lake is ice-covered for about 240 days a year, with
ice thickness often exceeding 1-2 meters, making access challenging
outside of summer months. Summers are brief and mild, with temperatures
occasionally rising above freezing, allowing for limited vegetation
growth in the surrounding taiga forest. This extreme cold preserves the
lake's pristine state but also limits human activity, contributing to
its status as a protected natural area in the Oymyakonsky Ulus.
The
ultraoligotrophic nature means the water has very low nutrient levels,
supporting a sparse ecosystem. However, this environment is ideal for
studying cold-adapted organisms, such as diatoms—microscopic algae that
form the base of the food chain.
Historical records of Lake Labynkyr date back to the 19th century,
primarily from indigenous Evenk and Yakut peoples who inhabited the
region. Early accounts focused on its inaccessibility and the harsh
conditions, with explorers noting its potential for fisheries despite
the cold. The lake gained modern attention through scientific
expeditions, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries.
A notable
milestone occurred in March 2013 when the Russian Geographic Society and
the Diving Sport Federation of Russia conducted a joint expedition.
Divers achieved a record-breaking under-ice dive to 59.6 meters, braving
air temperatures as low as -50°C. The primary goal was to collect water
and soil samples from various depths to compare with those from Lake
Vorota, testing the underground connection hypothesis. Secondary
objectives included studying human physiology and diving equipment in
extreme conditions. Earlier expeditions in the 20th century mapped the
lake's bathymetry, revealing its trench-like features.
Flora and
Fauna
The lake's ultraoligotrophic status limits biodiversity, but it
hosts specialized species. Diatoms dominate the microbial level, with
genera like Aulacoseira and Cyclotella prevalent in ice and water
samples. Aquatic fauna includes fish such as pike, perch, and possibly
char, adapted to the cold depths. Surrounding terrestrial flora consists
of hardy taiga species like larch and dwarf shrubs, with limited
mammalian life due to the harsh climate—reindeer, foxes, and birds are
common.
The local Yakuts believe that some huge animal lives
in the lake - the "Labynkyr Devil", as they call it. According to the
descriptions of the Yakuts, this is something of a dark gray color with
a huge mouth. The distance between the eyes of the "devil" is equal to
the width of a raft of ten logs. According to the legend, the “devil” is
very aggressive and dangerous, attacks people and animals, and is able
to go ashore.
Scientists became interested in the Labynkyr
monster after the report of the geologist V.I. Tverdokhlebov, who
observed a large moving object in the lake. A number of expeditions,
however, did not bring any convincing results.
From the records
of the expedition of V. Tverdokhlebov on July 30, 1953:
The object
floated quite close. It was something alive, some kind of animal. It
moved in an arc: first along the lake, then straight towards us. As it
drew closer, a strange numbness that made me feel cold inside took over
me. A dark-gray carcass, the eyes of an animal, slightly towered above
the water, and something like a stick was sticking out of the body ...
We saw only a small part of the animal, but a huge massive body was
guessed under the water ...
After the scientific interest in
Labynkyr and its mysterious inhabitant faded in the 70s, the only
inhabitant of those places was a certain Trotskyist fisherman named
Alyams, who was exiled to Yakutia during the repressions and did not
want to return. It was his incredible stories about the sacrifices he
allegedly made to the devil that rekindled curiosity in the late 80s. In
1993, Alyams fell seriously ill and was taken to the nearest hospital.
In delirium, he said that Labynkyr would not forgive him for separation
and would kill him. The fisherman was returned to the lake, where he
died suddenly.
Cryptozoologists put forward various hypotheses
regarding the nature of the "devil": a giant pike, a relic reptile or an
amphibian.
Locals also reported sightings of the "devil" in the
nearby Gateway Lake, but an expedition to this lake was able to prove
that there were no monsters in it.
In 2005, the TV program "Searchers" organized an
expedition to the lake, during which they conducted a series of studies
and measurements. In particular, with the help of an echo sounder, an
anomalous crack was detected at the bottom of the lake, and with the
help of a deep-sea telesonde, remains of the jaws and vertebrae of
animals were found at the bottom.
In February 2013, a dive was made
to the bottom of the lake, the air temperature on the surface is −46 °C,
the water temperature is +2 °C. The organizer was the Federation of
Underwater Sports of Russia and the Russian Geographical Society, the
expedition was called the Pole of Cold. The main objective of the
project was to study the flora and fauna of Labynkyr, as well as testing
the capabilities of the human body in extreme conditions. The
researchers took water samples from different depths of Labynkyr, as
well as soil samples from the bottom of the lake.
From February 26 to
March 14, 2014, the second stage of the expedition was carried out.
In 2016, an employee of the Russian Geographical Society, an extreme
traveler from Voronezh Andrey Solovyov spent more than 100 days on the
lake, collected evidence from local residents and a helicopter pilot who
saw from the air a reptile about 5-7 m long. Andrey Solovyov also noted
damage to the networks (multi-meter holes), the origin of which is
difficult to explain, if we exclude the impact of a very large animal.
Lake Labynkyr stands as a testament to nature's extremes, offering a window into glacial geology, polar ecology, and human fascination with the unknown. While its legends add a layer of mystery, scientific efforts continue to unravel its secrets, balancing myth with empirical discovery in one of Earth's most unforgiving landscapes.