During the Antarctic summer of 1960–61, limnological data were collected from a series of meltwater ponds and permanently ice‐covered lakes in the area of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica (77°51′ S, 166°37′ E). All ponds were basic and more saline than typical fresh‐water lakes. Primary production, measured in two ponds by the “light and dark bottle” technique, varied from 326 to 1008 mgC/m3/day. High intensity of light inhibited photosynthesis in shallow water. Lake Bonney in Taylor Dry Valley and Lake Vanda in Wright Valley lie in a large ice‐free area in South Victoria Land on the west side of McMurdo Sound. Each lake is covered with 3.4–4.2 m of permanent ice and is meromictic. The mixolimnion of Lake Bonney varied from 0.3°–8°C; the monomolimnion was below 0°C. The mixolimnion of Lake Vanda varied from 0.7°–9.6°C; the monomolimnion was warmed to 22°C. The lakes are probably warmed geothermally. No zooplankton was found in any of the lakes, but 7 genera of Ciliata, 4 of Rotifera, and one each of Nematoda, Turbellaria, and Tardigrada were collected from the littoral fauna of the meltwater ponds and around the edges of Lakes Bonney and Vanda.

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