A sub-glacial lake in the last un-researched part of Antarctica probably harbors a plethora of alien or new life forms either trapped underneath layers of ice for 25 million years or thriving in its frigid ecosystem.

The newly-discovered lake cuts through a massive canyon system along Antarctica's eastern coast in Princess Elizabeth Land claimed by Australia. It's thought to be 87 miles long and 12 miles wide, which would make it the second largest subglacial lake behind Lake Vostok, which is also in Antarctica. It's located some 2.2 miles beneath the surface of the ice sheet covering Antarctica.

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The existence of the lake was surmised based on satellite and aerial photographs that all provided evidence of the huge underground lake. Scientists expect to confirm the lake's existence in May.

Biologists are thrilled at the idea the lake might harbor living ancient life forms that can be studied. They believe the lake might be home to only microbial life but are hopeful they might find some higher forms of life, as well. Among the latter might be alien but complex organisms that have used evolution to survive in the harsh and deadly Antarctic cold.

Their optimism at discovering life forms in the new lake is based on experience gained in the survey of Lake Vostok by Russian scientists that yielded over 3,500 different DNA sequences. These belonged to bacteria, eukaryotes and other single celled organisms. The Russians reported that some of the new organisms were so alien they didn't match any existing life form on Earth.

Some 170 million years ago when it was part of the supercontinent called Gondwana, Antarctica had a tropical climate. It was heavily forested and harbored a multitude of ancient life forms. Antarctica turned cold 25 million years ago when Gondwana splintered.

TagsSubglacial Antarctic Lake, Antarctica, Princess Elizabeth Land, Lake Vostok