With their still surfaces and varying shades of color, lakes showcase some of the most captivating qualities of water. the most beautiful lakes in the world — true works of art from generous Mother Nature. And although they may have different names (lake, lagoon, reservoir), they are all equally stunning and worth a visit.
10. Laguna Colorado, Bolivia
Folklore attributes the scarlet color of Laguna Colorado's water to the spilled blood of the gods. However, this mineral lake's unusual hue is due to the presence of red algae. Flamingos that flock to the lake also contribute to the various shades of red.
Laguna Colorado is surrounded by volcanoes, hot springs and bizarre rock formations.
9. Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia
The largest lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world (3,821 meters above sea level), it is a place of sparkling blue water, cozy villages and snow-capped mountains.
It's very popular with tourists and home to the Uros tribe, who create entire islands out of reeds. These islands don't "wander" around the lake; they're attached to a large rock or log driven into the bottom.
8. Lake Geneva, Switzerland
If you are heading from Geneva Airport to the Swiss Alps, you will have the pleasure of seeing one of the most beautiful lakes on Earth.
The events surrounding it, as well as its beautiful views, have inspired many creative minds, including artist Mikhail Erassi, the band Deep Purple (the song "Smoke on the Water"), and the "mother of Frankenstein's monster," writer Mary Shelley.
7. Xihu, China
One of the most beautiful lakes in the world and the surrounding area in the city of Hangzhou have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. The organization states that West Lake "has inspired famous poets, scholars, and artists since the 9th century.".
6. Crater, USA
This crater lake is the deepest in the United States (594 meters). It formed in the crater of the now-inactive Mount Mazama volcano and is composed entirely of glacial runoff and precipitation, which gives it its clarity and deep blue color.
5. Nakuru, Kenya
Among the top five most beautiful lakes in the world is a place favored by hundreds of flamingos. Lions and leopards are also common sightings there.
Rising water levels in Nakuru over the past few years have led to a decline in the number of pink birds. However, the area remains a popular tourist attraction due to the diversity of fauna it attracts. It is protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
4. Tasman, New Zealand
In some lakes, water can exist in more than one state of matter. A striking example of this is Lake Tasman, located in the heart of Mount Cook National Park, at the foot of the Tasman Glacier. The lake was formed as a result of the glacier's relatively recent northward retreat.
Ice floes regularly fall into Tasman, where they "hide" for several weeks as icebergs and gradually melt. Visitors to the national park can book day tours of the lake on special boats that will navigate between the icebergs, skirting their sharp edges and allowing them to admire this rapidly disappearing beauty.
3. Inle, Myanmar
A boat trip on freshwater Lake Inle is one of the highlights of a visit to Burma. And not only because of the lake's beauty. Local rowers are known for their unique rowing technique—they hold the oar with one foot.
The lake also boasts a floating market where you can buy handicrafts, silver jewelry, fabrics, and other goods. Locals also grow food in floating gardens—mini-islands made of fertile marshland held in place by sharp poles.
2. Blejsko, Slovenia
Clear cobalt-blue water, stunning views of the Julian Alps, and the fairytale St. Mary's Church on a tiny teardrop-shaped island are three reasons why Lake Blejsko is one of Slovenia's top tourist destinations.
The church houses a "wishing bell," which is often rung by not only single tourists but also newlyweds, as St. Mary's Church is a very popular wedding venue.
Rising above the lake on a steep cliff is Bled Castle, another major landmark of the country. It was once the summer residence of Josip Broz Tito.
1. Baikal, Russia
It is one of the most beautiful places in Russia and the world. Baikal is also the deepest lake on Earth, reaching depths of 1,642 meters in some places. Its clear waters are home to a multitude of fauna found nowhere else in the world. For example, the lake is home to the unique freshwater Baikal seal, a relic of the Tertiary period that has miraculously survived to this day.
In winter, the lake becomes a true wonderland, with fishing, hot springs, and supernaturally clear ice that turns Baikal into the world's largest natural skating rink.
