Editorial photo #13203648 Science and Technology

Marble Lake - Solidified Magma And Cooled Dykes In India

Marble Lake, also known as Durga Bera, Tarpania Lake, Blue Dam, or Patal Dam, is an artificial body of water located in Ajodhya Hills, Purulia, West Bengal, India. It forms from the abandonment of an open-pit mine during quarrying activities for the Purulia Pumped Storage Project (PPSP) and other excavations in the region. Discovered during blasting for the region's hydroelectric project, the lake is surrounded by white marble-like rocky outcrops and features deep blue water. Recent geological research identifies these areas, along with their surroundings, as featuring ancient, cooled dykes—vertical sheets of solidified volcanic magma—and is a geologically rich region containing Proterozoic, Precambrian, and metamorphic rocks. Many tourists visit this risky area, especially in winter, but entry is prohibited during the monsoon season due to the risk of flash floods. This photo is taken in Ajodhya Hill, Purulia, West Bengal, India, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)