This was the last lake of its kind in Canada. Now it's gone.

The breakup of Canada's last intact ice shelf caused the freshwater lake to drain away in just a few months.

Canada's last epishelf lake — made up of freshwater floating on saltwater — is gone, along with the unique ecosystem it supported, scientists confirm. Here's what made the lake special, and what it disappearance says about the transformation of the Arctic in a warming climate.