The Most Dangerous Lake on Earth
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Date: 2025-06-28
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Comments and reviews: 20
Raz. C
Re - Cloud o Methane
Ok, it's a GOOD thing that the methane is flammable! If the lake were to belch forth a killer cloud of Carbon Dioxide as well as Methane, then sure, it sounds bad. But it's much better than you think!
See, there are VERY likely to be fires burning nearby that would cause the methane to ignite. This would combust the methane (CH4) into forming Carbon Dioxide and water. But it would also generate a LOT of heat. That heat would mean that the cloud of Carbon Dioxide wouldn't just settle into the lowlands, but would instead be heated and carried into higher atmospheric layers, where it could safely dissipate.
Realistically, then, anyone who isn't burned by the igniting cloud of methane, could breathe easy, knowing that the heat will carry away the CO2 that would otherwise have prevented them from breathing easy.
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Re - Cloud o Methane
Ok, it's a GOOD thing that the methane is flammable! If the lake were to belch forth a killer cloud of Carbon Dioxide as well as Methane, then sure, it sounds bad. But it's much better than you think!
See, there are VERY likely to be fires burning nearby that would cause the methane to ignite. This would combust the methane (CH4) into forming Carbon Dioxide and water. But it would also generate a LOT of heat. That heat would mean that the cloud of Carbon Dioxide wouldn't just settle into the lowlands, but would instead be heated and carried into higher atmospheric layers, where it could safely dissipate.
Realistically, then, anyone who isn't burned by the igniting cloud of methane, could breathe easy, knowing that the heat will carry away the CO2 that would otherwise have prevented them from breathing easy.
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pechudin9086
Researcher working with a team investigating a lake in Croatia (Europe) here. We have a relatively small lake in Croatia which sometimes degasses hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell. Similarly, but not catastrophic like here, there is a bottom layer of water which does not mix with the upper one, and this lower layer is full of sulphur and has no oxygen.
When the upper layer cools suddenly, then they mix and the entire lake's oxygen depletes, killing everything in it. The reason the lake does not mix always in the autumn and spring, even though it is NOT in the tropics, is that the lake is salty, so salty, heavy water is below lighter, fresh-er water. But if there is no rain in the summer, then evaporation makes the upper layer as salty as the lower, so a sudden air temperature change can mix them.
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Researcher working with a team investigating a lake in Croatia (Europe) here. We have a relatively small lake in Croatia which sometimes degasses hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell. Similarly, but not catastrophic like here, there is a bottom layer of water which does not mix with the upper one, and this lower layer is full of sulphur and has no oxygen.
When the upper layer cools suddenly, then they mix and the entire lake's oxygen depletes, killing everything in it. The reason the lake does not mix always in the autumn and spring, even though it is NOT in the tropics, is that the lake is salty, so salty, heavy water is below lighter, fresh-er water. But if there is no rain in the summer, then evaporation makes the upper layer as salty as the lower, so a sudden air temperature change can mix them.
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Jondiceful
Great video! I had never heard of this phenomenon before and find it genuinely terrifying and simultaneously mystifying. I will challenge the repeated assertion that this is the biggest natural disaster risk facing humanity. If Yellowstone ever blows, it will dwarf even Kivu's destructive power. And if you include asteroids, comets, and supernovae the list gets longer and less probable. There's also the possibility that an eruption of Kivu might not release all of its gasses dialing back the intensity potential of the event to where it might only rival the tsunami 20 years ago. Either way, I wouldn't want to be anywhere nearby when it blows!
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Great video! I had never heard of this phenomenon before and find it genuinely terrifying and simultaneously mystifying. I will challenge the repeated assertion that this is the biggest natural disaster risk facing humanity. If Yellowstone ever blows, it will dwarf even Kivu's destructive power. And if you include asteroids, comets, and supernovae the list gets longer and less probable. There's also the possibility that an eruption of Kivu might not release all of its gasses dialing back the intensity potential of the event to where it might only rival the tsunami 20 years ago. Either way, I wouldn't want to be anywhere nearby when it blows!
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MrLoobu
High carbon dioxide/low oxygen is probably the best way to go, but terrifyingly one of the hardest deaths to see coming. You can still breathe normally and don't react immediately, but your cells are dying of oxygen deprivation as if you started holding your breath. You quickly become tired and confused and then can't move and never wake up. You could probably fight this effect for a couple of minutes if you knew about it and had an adrenaline rush to turn around. otherwise, you'd just lay down after a minute or so. Very random and sad
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High carbon dioxide/low oxygen is probably the best way to go, but terrifyingly one of the hardest deaths to see coming. You can still breathe normally and don't react immediately, but your cells are dying of oxygen deprivation as if you started holding your breath. You quickly become tired and confused and then can't move and never wake up. You could probably fight this effect for a couple of minutes if you knew about it and had an adrenaline rush to turn around. otherwise, you'd just lay down after a minute or so. Very random and sad
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martinguillot5312
Excellent video on the subject. There are however some large errors around 16: 22 about the conditions of formation of these kind of lake. They are not all found in the tropics at low altitude (although they are certainly more frequent and the most dangerous. A counter example would be Lake Pavin in central France, who is located 1100m above sea level and is thought to have exploded a few centuries ago. It's much smaller and well monitored so there is no danger anymore now.
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Excellent video on the subject. There are however some large errors around 16: 22 about the conditions of formation of these kind of lake. They are not all found in the tropics at low altitude (although they are certainly more frequent and the most dangerous. A counter example would be Lake Pavin in central France, who is located 1100m above sea level and is thought to have exploded a few centuries ago. It's much smaller and well monitored so there is no danger anymore now.
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TheSnoeedog
you need oxygen to burn. If a cloud of CO2 and methane displace all the oxygen rich air, how would the cloud combust
Also, you repeatedly referred to these events as explosions. You also used eruptions, which is correct. They are not explosions, because again, there was no combustion.
I'm not trying to be a pedantic jerk. But you're producing informative content and have maintained a high bar, based on my experiences. precision is important.
Live well
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you need oxygen to burn. If a cloud of CO2 and methane displace all the oxygen rich air, how would the cloud combust
Also, you repeatedly referred to these events as explosions. You also used eruptions, which is correct. They are not explosions, because again, there was no combustion.
I'm not trying to be a pedantic jerk. But you're producing informative content and have maintained a high bar, based on my experiences. precision is important.
Live well
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bhunivelze6704
It would be cumbrous to give a detailed, consecutive account of our wanderings inside that cavernous, aeon-dead honeycomb of primal masonry; but our sensations can be imagined from the pictures already outlined. The mindless enormity of the thing, the feeling of utter alienage and desolation, and the self-imposed exile from every recognizable part of the globe, all combined to form a terrible impression of a hidden, hitherto unknown world of death.
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It would be cumbrous to give a detailed, consecutive account of our wanderings inside that cavernous, aeon-dead honeycomb of primal masonry; but our sensations can be imagined from the pictures already outlined. The mindless enormity of the thing, the feeling of utter alienage and desolation, and the self-imposed exile from every recognizable part of the globe, all combined to form a terrible impression of a hidden, hitherto unknown world of death.
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Userhfdryjjgddf
Its actually scary how almost every step of human history. Older scientists and of course the sheeple scientists laugh at the new persons idea and shun them. Only to find out years or deaced they were right. Science is no better than religion in stifling new ideas. Wonder what the common denominator is Oh humans and if those same humans go into politics instead. They act the same but with power and money
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Its actually scary how almost every step of human history. Older scientists and of course the sheeple scientists laugh at the new persons idea and shun them. Only to find out years or deaced they were right. Science is no better than religion in stifling new ideas. Wonder what the common denominator is Oh humans and if those same humans go into politics instead. They act the same but with power and money
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Raz. C
Ya know, the rampant superstition in Africa makes me think that there were probably more than a few stories describing a Warlock casting a spell of death, over the whole village, for some imagined/ real slight. There were probably even survivors on the very perimeter of the cloud, who swore black and blue that they saw the Warlock on the shore, casting his spell, but they thought he was a fisherman, or some such.
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Ya know, the rampant superstition in Africa makes me think that there were probably more than a few stories describing a Warlock casting a spell of death, over the whole village, for some imagined/ real slight. There were probably even survivors on the very perimeter of the cloud, who swore black and blue that they saw the Warlock on the shore, casting his spell, but they thought he was a fisherman, or some such.
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drewmur
I like how you freely admit that no one is entirely sure what will happen or when.
This is a part of science that a lot of people hate, but it is how things work. 40 years ago no one knew these things were possible. Given the rarity and isolated location of the events it is difficult to study them. The important thing is that there are scientists working on it and trying to refine what they know.
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I like how you freely admit that no one is entirely sure what will happen or when.
This is a part of science that a lot of people hate, but it is how things work. 40 years ago no one knew these things were possible. Given the rarity and isolated location of the events it is difficult to study them. The important thing is that there are scientists working on it and trying to refine what they know.
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shrunet
As per your earlier video on Rwanda and DRC the EU is paying Rwanda for mining operations in DRC.
Rwanda both has ambition and proven aptitude to deal the the DRC's 5 million citizens in this area.
From the perspective of the DRC the projected eruption may be the best outcome of the conflict, crippling Rwanda and limiting the DRC's casualty rate to 40%.
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As per your earlier video on Rwanda and DRC the EU is paying Rwanda for mining operations in DRC.
Rwanda both has ambition and proven aptitude to deal the the DRC's 5 million citizens in this area.
From the perspective of the DRC the projected eruption may be the best outcome of the conflict, crippling Rwanda and limiting the DRC's casualty rate to 40%.
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TheIppus
It's unlikely that the methane would ignite, because that would require mixing at just the right concentration with oxygen. And the thing about a limnic eruption is that the denser-than-air CO2 asphyxiates people because. It replaces the normal air near the ground, making oxygen unavailable.
Still likely to kill everyone anywhere near the lake though.
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It's unlikely that the methane would ignite, because that would require mixing at just the right concentration with oxygen. And the thing about a limnic eruption is that the denser-than-air CO2 asphyxiates people because. It replaces the normal air near the ground, making oxygen unavailable.
Still likely to kill everyone anywhere near the lake though.
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JIJCrow
In the 1800s, The Monsoons in India might cause problems in the future that could result in millions of deaths
The British: Well there's an opportunity to make money
This lake could trigger a problem that could lead to millions of deaths
The British: Mmmh what did we learn from IndiaAh yes! to make money from such mate.
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In the 1800s, The Monsoons in India might cause problems in the future that could result in millions of deaths
The British: Well there's an opportunity to make money
This lake could trigger a problem that could lead to millions of deaths
The British: Mmmh what did we learn from IndiaAh yes! to make money from such mate.
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GrimReaper_sGhost
We don't have to speculate to see this happening often back in time when the planet was it's normal, ice free state and many lakes in the world were always warm like this. It could explain the existence of certain dinosaur fossils we find which are un-scavenged, even by insects and seem to die healthy and uninjured.
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We don't have to speculate to see this happening often back in time when the planet was it's normal, ice free state and many lakes in the world were always warm like this. It could explain the existence of certain dinosaur fossils we find which are un-scavenged, even by insects and seem to die healthy and uninjured.
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manavestnation
Why would they remove the CO2 just because it was a risk
It was only a risk due to people did not know and it was a small area where it would be specific routes.
Every person would know about the deadly cloud and if it did happe, they could have observed it.
Well that chance to observe nature was screwed huh
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Why would they remove the CO2 just because it was a risk
It was only a risk due to people did not know and it was a small area where it would be specific routes.
Every person would know about the deadly cloud and if it did happe, they could have observed it.
Well that chance to observe nature was screwed huh
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TheDirtyShaman
It's entirely possible that the lakes could erupt without any precursor event, as the upper boundary layer of water can only contain a limited pressure. Once the dissolved gases reach a pressure beyond of what the upper layer is able to contain, it would all be released in a chain reaction.
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It's entirely possible that the lakes could erupt without any precursor event, as the upper boundary layer of water can only contain a limited pressure. Once the dissolved gases reach a pressure beyond of what the upper layer is able to contain, it would all be released in a chain reaction.
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richardlovato6301
The funny part about this rerun is how climate change fks going to try to write this in to there narrative its going to be difficult cause the reality of it is earth does this no matter what current nats live on her skin it has history of global more that climate fks theory
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The funny part about this rerun is how climate change fks going to try to write this in to there narrative its going to be difficult cause the reality of it is earth does this no matter what current nats live on her skin it has history of global more that climate fks theory
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mattkelly2004
I have always wondered about underground caves that are still blocked off and not been discovered yet for whatever reason, they would be just a big shotgun tube essentially full of this gas quietly building up over millions of years and like these lakes, all of a sudden boom.
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I have always wondered about underground caves that are still blocked off and not been discovered yet for whatever reason, they would be just a big shotgun tube essentially full of this gas quietly building up over millions of years and like these lakes, all of a sudden boom.
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reallifelore
The gas attack ide is resonable. Gas weapons need to be transported and an accident could spread a chemical weapon at the wrong place. Now this turned out to be a natural disaster but if it had been a weapon it would perfectly resonable for that roadstrip to be hit.
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The gas attack ide is resonable. Gas weapons need to be transported and an accident could spread a chemical weapon at the wrong place. Now this turned out to be a natural disaster but if it had been a weapon it would perfectly resonable for that roadstrip to be hit.
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SorewaHimitsu-g7y
You don't have to say p. m. at night or a. m. in the morning. Saying p. m. already means it's at night, and a. m. already means it's in the morning. The fact that you don't know this makes the viewer wonder if you know what you're talking about at all.
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You don't have to say p. m. at night or a. m. in the morning. Saying p. m. already means it's at night, and a. m. already means it's in the morning. The fact that you don't know this makes the viewer wonder if you know what you're talking about at all.
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