Canada Last Epishelf Lake Has Disappeared for Good Study Confirms
Canada last known epishelf lake has disappeared permanently after the 2020 breakup of the Milne Ice Shelf in the High Arctic according to a new study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers say the freshwater ecosystem drained into the Arctic Ocean within months of the ice shelf collapse and has shown no signs of recovery.
The Milne Fiord epishelf lake was located on northern Ellesmere Island in Nunavut. Epishelf lakes form when an ice shelf acts as a natural dam, trapping freshwater above denser seawater that remains connected to the ocean. The unusual environment supported freshwater microorganisms near the surface while marine species lived in the seawater below.
In July 2020, the Milne Ice Shelf broke apart, losing about 45% of its area. The collapse removed the ba...









