Vostok Lake is a large subglacial lake located beneath Antarctica's East Antarctic Ice Sheet. It is one of the largest lakes in the world, measuring about 250 kilometers (160 miles) long and 50 kilometers (31 miles) wide. The lake is covered by approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of ice, making it one of the most isolated bodies of water on Earth. Discovered in the 1970s, Vostok Lake has drawn significant scientific interest due to its unique ecosystem and the potential for discovering ancient microbial life. Researchers believe that the lake has been sealed off from the outside world for millions of years, providing a unique environment for studying extremophiles and understanding climate change.