At the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico lies a saltwater lake so toxic that it has earned the nickname “Bath of Despair.” The conditions in this deadly lake are so harsh that only bacteria and a few select animals can survive in its waters. Researchers stumbled upon this ominous lake during a 2015 expedition to study cold vents in the deep waters of the bay. These cold vents release hydrocarbons from the seafloor into the water column.
The “Bath of Despair” got its name after researchers discovered the lifeless bodies of crabs and other creatures inside its basin-shaped walls. Located nearly 1,000 meters below the sea surface, the blowhole of the lake is 30.5 meters in circumference and 3.7 meters deep. The toxic brine inside the lake is the result of hydrocarbons seeping up through buried salt slabs, creating water that is four times saltier and denser than the surrounding seawater.
The extreme salinity and high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and methane make the lake a deadly environment for most biological organisms. Only a few creatures like mussels can tolerate these harsh conditions. The lake is surrounded by steep walls adorned with colorful streams of red, yellow, and white minerals, as well as oyster beds. Inside the lake, the mummified remains of unfortunate animals serve as a grim reminder of the lake’s lethal nature.
Despite the harsh conditions, the mussels inside the lake are praised for their role in keeping the walls intact. The fascinating yet forbidding “Bath of Despair” highlights the unforgiving and mysterious world that exists at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.