In the depths of Lake Beloye in the Ryazan Region, scientists from Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences made a discovery: according to their research, this lake is the deepest in Russia's Central Federal District, with its bottom reaching 54 meters below the waterline. This depth significantly exceeds previously known lake depths in the region, including Deep Lake near Moscow, which reaches 31 meters.

The survey was carried out by staff from the Bottom Sonar Laboratory and Lisitsyn Laboratory of Physical and Geological Research of the IO RAS, with the participation of the Meshchera National Park, within which the lake is located. The aim of the work was to expand the testing facilities for underwater equipment developed at the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, under natural conditions at depths of up to 50 meters and more.

The work was carried out using the unmanned hydrographic boat "Kalan". This boat was developed by the Fort XXI company specifically for autonomous bathymetric surveys. The obtained mapping results made it possible to construct the first detailed 3D map of the bottom of Lake Beloe.

In addition to hydrographic surveys, scientists conducted hydrological sounding and hydrochemical monitoring. They collected phytoplankton and hydrochemical samples from several horizons of the lake's water column, as well as bottom soil samples. It was established that the lake is undergoing intense spring convective cleansing following the winter's heavy saturation of deep horizons with hydrogen sulfide.

"We recorded a rare phenomenon: spring water mixing acted as a 'natural filter.' This is important not only for science but also for environmental monitoring," concluded Nikolai Demidenko, a senior researcher at Lisitsyn Laboratory of Physical and Geological Research at the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Thanks to the measurements we conducted, we were able to determine the coordinates of the water area optimally suited for conducting relatively deep-sea testing of the underwater technical equipment being developed by the Institute of Oceanology while meeting the necessary environmental requirements," noted Anton Olenin, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Bottom Sonar Laboratory of the IO RAS.

"We are sincerely grateful to the management of the Fort XXI company for the opportunity to use the Kalan boat. We also extend a huge thanks to the management of Meshchera National Park for the opportunity to survey the bottom of Lake Beloye. We very much look forward to continuing our research and installing our first hydrological equipment in this lake in early autumn," concluded Anton Olenin.