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In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we journey high into the Andes in Argentina, to a toxic lake that is home to microbes that provide a window to our planet’s past—and a key to securing its future.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.

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