Lake Washburn (Antarctica)

It formed when climatic changes and an expansion of ice caused the flooding of the valley, between 23,000 and 8,340 radiocarbon years ago.

[11] Water levels reached an elevation of 300–336 metres (984–1,102 ft) and its shores featured deltas and shorelines with algal mats.

[16] The ice dam existed between 23,000-8,340 radiocarbon years ago[5] and the extent of the lake fluctuated in response to climatic and glacier changes, but they are poorly documented.

[5] Occasionally, during summer strong winds blow from the Antarctic Ice Sheet through the valleys to the sea; these winds warm as they descend into the valleys and can melt the ice, causing water levels to rise.

[28] There is evidence that during the last glacial maximum, these lakes expanded in size despite drier and colder conditions; several different mechanisms ranging from more effective melting of glaciers during drought, increased temperatures,[27] supply of subglacial water from the Ross Ice Shelf[29] to more intense winds that warmed the valleys, inducing ice melt, have been proposed.

[30] The water in these lakes would have been prevented from discharging to the sea by the expanded Ross Ice Shelf, which at that time penetrated the valleys[31] and blocked the outlet at Explorers Cove.