In the middle of this hot spell that we’re having in Sri Lanka right now, wouldn’t you love it if a lake suddenly appeared in your backyard? That’s right. Not a puddle. Not a pond. A lake.
Well that’s what happened in the Tunisian Desert around 3 weeks ago. Locals of the Gafsa region in Tunisia were more than surprised to find a lake suddenly appearing in the middle of the desert. Not just any lake, but one that was approximately 60 feet deep and covered a land area of 2 acres. No one knows exactly when it appeared, as not many people live in this region of Tunisia, so the lake could have just been sitting there for weeks or months without anyone noticing!
But how did it get there? At this point scientists are only speculating, but it could be one of many reasons. Some theorize that a small earthquake fractured a natural dam holding an artificial underwater reservoir (aquifer), allowing the water to come to the surface.
Although it may seem like a blessing to the locals who live in a region where temperatures can soar into three digits (Fahrenheit), scientists have warned swimmers not to take a dip, because the water may be radioactive due to a Phosphorus mine close to the area. There is also a chance that the water may go back into the ground through the cracks it came from, sucking swimmers underground with it. Yikes!
Fun Fact: The Lake is not far from where the original Star Wars was filmed. Maybe the Force is responsible for this mysterious appearance.
References:
www.weather.com
Image Source –
www.ndtv.com