The Licancabur Project: Exploring the Limits of Life in the Highest Lake on Earth as an Analog to Martian PaleolakesThe Licancabur volcano (6017 m) hosts the highest and one of the least explored lakes in the world in its summit crater. It is located 22 deg.50 min. South / 67 deg.53 min. West at the boundary of Chile and Bolivia in the High-Andes. In a freezing environment, the lake located in volcano-tectonic environment combines low-oxygen, low atmospheric pressure due to altitude, and high-UV radiation (see table). However, its bottom water temperature remains above 0 C year-round. These conditions make Licancabur a unique analog to Martian paleolakes considered high-priority sites for the search for life on Mars.
Document ID
20030110696
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cabrol, N. A. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Grin, E. A. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
McKay, C. P. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Friedmann, I. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Diaz, G. Chong (Universidad Catolica del Norte Antofagasta, Chile)
Demergasso, C. (Universidad Catolica del Norte Antofagasta, Chile)
Kisse, K. (Hungarian Academy of Sciences Hungary)
Grigorszky, I. (Kossuth Univ. Hungary)
Friedmann, R. Ocampo (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Hock, A. (California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)