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The IISD Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) is a research facility in northwestern Ontario consisting of 58 lakes and their watersheds used for whole-ecosystem experiments. For over 50 years, the facility has provided long-term data sets used for global climate modelling and has influenced environmental policies, such as those restricting phosphorus to prevent algal blooms. Current and past research focuses include the impacts of climate change, oil spills (specifically diluted bitumen), microplastics, pharmaceuticals (such as synthetic estrogen), and other contaminants like mercury and acid rain.