New York has a unique lake: each layer is filled with different organisms that never cross

Most lakes follow seasonal cycles as temperatures change, in which the waters mix. Some mix water only once a year, others several times a year, often in regular cycles, says Only In Your State.

However, the much rarer meromictic lakes contain well-defined layers that never mix. There are only about 20 famous lakes of this type in the US, and we are lucky to have several of them in New York.

One of the largest is Lake Ballston, hidden in the city of the same name. The lake has a long narrow shape and is a popular fishing spot.

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The layers of a meromictic lake are highly defined, which results in each layer having vastly different habitats for the organisms living in the lake.

Because the bottom water levels in a meromictic lake never rise to the surface, there is little to no oxygen at lower levels. This leads to a harsh environment in which to thrive certain bacteria, those that don't require much oxygen to survive.

Meromictic lakes are usually formed by high levels of saline in the lower layers of the water (resulting in a much higher density than the upper layers), or are lakes with unusually high shores.

Since there are few sediments at the bottom of a meromictic lake (no organism lives in the lower layers), they are very useful to scientists. Scientists can study sediments and track changes in temperature over the years.

Address: Ballston Lake, NY 12019, USA