Lake Virellia

The flora of Lake Virellia utelize chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis due to a lack of sunlight and a healthy amount of underwater hydrothermal vents. The hydrothermal vents are caused by a permanent magma pocket that is under the bedrock of the lake bottom and it spans the entire bottom of the lake. This results in also warming up the water to a comfortable tropical temperature. The lake does exhibit a slight thermocline.

The lake is brackish, but the salinity is very low. It is easy for freshwater flora and fauna to thrive and while possible for saltwater flora and fauna to live, it is normally only the heartier species that stay long-term.

This combination of features created a perfect ecosystem for the Ribbets of Nymwaddle to make Lake Virellia their home. They have integrated with the cycles of nature and become an integral part of the overall balance of the lake's ecosystem.

Due to the warming of the water from the underwater hydrothermal vents, the water is warm enough that it creates a tropical humid climate inside the cave. It creates a microclimate as the water evaporates off the surface, rises to the ceiling of cave, condensates and then precipitates back down to the surface. The cycle is such that it "rains" consistently every single day, twice per day at the same time in the late morning and late evening. (Granted, telling time in Plover Cave is nearly impossible due to the lack of a day/night cycle with the sun.)

Though Lake Virellia has quite the biodiversity, it is known for a handful of more impressive creatures.

• Raindeer