Welcome to the world's freshwater laboratory

IISD Experimental Lakes Area is one of the most influential freshwater research facilities on Earth.

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These 58 lakes are like no others on the planet

IISD Experimental Lakes Area is the world’s freshwater laboratory—the only place in the world where scientists can manipulate real lakes to understand what human activity does to fresh water.

Discover the Lakes and the Faces That Make Us Who We Are

Our Impact

As one of the world’s most influential freshwater research facilities, we conduct experiments on real lakes and ecosystems—one of the only places in the world you can do this.

Here’s what people are saying about us and how we respond to their fresh water challenges.

A unique facility! Nothing like it in the world.

Margaret Atwood, Canadian poet and novelist

Working with nets at the ELA
Working with kids at the ELA

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