# Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP)

PLRP is a science and exploration effort to explain the origin of freshwater microbialites in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia, Canada.

Active Mission

Fossil microbialites represent some of the earliest remnants of life on Earth and were common from ~2.5 billion to 540 million years ago. Today, microbialites are found in harsh environments. However, the microbialites in Pavilion Lake provide a new environment to study. This lake demonstrates microbialites can also live in non-extreme environments that also support fish, plants and other species. The microbialites are relevant to our understanding of ancient microbiaites that were once common and diverse on early Earth. 

Mission Type

location

### Mission Overview

      - Location: British Columbia, Canada
      - Environment: Underwater
      - Hazards Tested: Isolation
      - Description: PLRP is a science and exploration effort to explain the origin of freshwater microbialites in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia, Canada. Fossil microbialites represent some of the earliest remnants of life on Earth and were common from ~2.5 billion to 540 million years ago. Today, microbialites are found in harsh environments. However, the microbialites in Pavilion Lake provide a new environment to study. This lake demonstrates microbialites can also live in non-extreme environments that also support fish, plants and other species. The microbialites are relevant to our understanding of ancient microbiaites that were once common and diverse on early Earth. 
      - Research: Pavilion Lake has become an exciting field site for Earth scientists and astrobiologists who are interested in the application of the PLRP research to the search for life in our solar system and beyond.
      - Learn More:          - http://www.pavilionlake.com/analogue-research-101.php
        - http://www.pavilionlake.com/blog/
        - http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/subs/deepworker/deepworker.html 
      - Social Media          - Tweets by PavilionLake
        - http://www.facebook.com/pavilion.lake
        - http://www.youtube.com/user/pavilionlakeblog
        - http://picasaweb.google.com/pavilion.lake 

Featured Story

# Pavilion Lake, Canada

NASA MMAMA SMD funded Pavilion Lake Research Project team completed the project’s first Phase 3 field deployment.
Read the Story

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-  									Page Last Updated:								  								May 03, 2023								 
-  									Page Editor:								  									Heather Deiss								 
-  								Responsible NASA Official:							  								Abigail Bowman