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Cryptodepression

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Cryptodepression

A cryptodepression is a lake which has its water surface above sea level and its deepest point below sea level. The term is derived from the Ancient Greek word κρύπτoς ('hidden') and depression.

Contents

Description

A cryptodepression is often due to creation of a rift valley or a glacial lake.

Lakes are often long and narrow. Further, the surrounding landscape and the shore of the lake can be very steep.

Examples

Simple calculation example: Lago O'Higgins/San Martín Surface elevation 250 m - Maximal depth 836 m = _________________________________ Cryptodepression -586 m
  • Glacial lakes and moraine-dammed lakes: major prealpine lakes in Italy have cryptodepressions created by erosion. In other parts of the Alps, Swiss, Bavarian and Austrian lakes, cryptodepressions are not found because the lakes have significantly higher elevations. In North America, the Finger Lakes in New York are another example.
  • Rift valleys: the deepest known cryptodepression on Earth is in Lake Baikal (-1200 m).

    • References

    Cryptodepression Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA