- For the biome, see Starting Valley.
Lakes is the 6th Terraformation stage. In this stage, lakes and other bodies of water will slowly accumulate around the map as the Terraforming Index rises. The Starting Valley will submerge over time during this stage. It stops at Y=25 or roughly around 4 living compartments on top each other.
Once an area is submerged, it is no longer possible to build there (except Foundation Grids), and sunken machines will stop working. However, the player is able to dive under water and pick up any resources left behind, enter living compartments (although they no longer replenish the player's oxygen) and interact with storage.
Oxygen consumption remains unchanged while the player is underwater in the early stages, due to a lack of oxygen in the atmosphere and having Oxygen Tanks equipped. However, even if Breathable Atmosphere is reached, or if an Air Filter is equipped, the player will continue to lose oxygen below the water surface.
This stage leads to the 
Moss stage.
The Starting Valley at the beginning of flooding that occurs during the Lakes stage.
Requirements[]
To unlock this stage, you will need a Terraformation Index of 50 MTi.
Unlocks[]
The following items are now rarely added to the 
Treasure Crates:
