10 stand-out lakes around the world
Our planet is made up of almost 80% water. This water manages to form into enclaves and holes to create superb features such as rivers, waterfalls, oceans, seas and lakes.
Below, Travel Supermarket takes a look at 10 lakes around the world that stand out from the rest:
Lake Baikal, Russia
First, venture back in time to a world long forgotten and discover one of the Earth’s earliest lakes. Lake Baikal is situated in Russia. Commonly known as the “Blue Eye of Siberia”, it is not only the oldest (at 25 million years old), but also the deepest lake (at 1637 metres deep) on the planet. Think of all of the water contained in the Great Lakes of North America – Lake Baikal holds more water than all of those massive lakes combined.
Lake Baikal is also the largest freshwater lake by volume. In fact, it is said to hold 20% of the world’s entire storage of fresh water. It is shaped by ancient valleys and takes a crescent-like shape from above. It is said that over 1700 species of animal and plant life call Lake Baikal their home. In 1996, it was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Crater Lake, USA
From the deepest in the World to the deepest in the United States, Crater Lake is an unusual lake that is situated in Oregon. It was formed by the collapse of a volcano called Mount Mazama in 5677 BC and takes the form of a crater – hence the name.
Crater Lake is deep, measuring at 594 metres and it has no streams or tributaries forming from it or joining the lake. This makes the water at Crater Lake unusually clear and clean. In fact, its waters are considered to be some of the world’s most clean and clear waters. Postcards from Crater Lake show off this property with fantastic reflections to the sky above being undisturbed due to its mirror-like properties.
Lake Karachay, Russia
From one very clean lake to the most polluted place on the planet. Situated in Western Russia, Lake Karachay is a comparatively small lake, located in the Ural mountains. From 1951 onwards, the Soviet Union dumped radioactive waste in the lake from a nearby nuclear facility, near to Ozyorsk. It has been reported that Karachay is the “most polluted spot” on Earth by the Worldwatch Institute. Throughout the Cold War, the lake became more and more radioactive, resulting in recent readings of 4.44 exabecquerels of radioactivity. When comparing to previous nuclear disasters, including Chernobyl, this is not far from the smaller radioactive levels found at that site.
Wuhua Hai, China
From Russia to China, to one of the most beautiful, picturesque lakes in the world. The Wuhua Hai (translation: Five Flower Lake) is situated in the Jiuzhaigon National Park, China. It is very shallow and has many different shades of blue, from baby blue to turquoise and everywhere in between.
The water in the Wuhua Hai is renowned for its clarity, which is partly caused by the thousands of tree trunks that are on the lake bed, filtering any impurities and creating very unusual patterns. The lake is located at 2472 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest lakes in the world. It is situated between the Pearl Shoal Waterfall and Panda Lake.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
A superb and vibrant set of waterfalls connect a group of sixteen lakes known as the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, Eastern Europe. As with some of the other lakes on the list, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is populated by a vast array of wildlife, from rare birds to deer, wolves and boars.
The Plitvice Lakes constantly and rapidly change colour, depending upon the concentration of organisms or minerals in the water as well as the angle at which the sun hits the lakes. These colours range from a distinctive green to grey, different shades of blue and even on some occasions, a reddish hue can tint the water. The lake is popular with tourists who holiday in Croatia and it’s easy to see why.
Red Lagoon, Bolivia
A further lake worthy of mention due to its colour is the Red Lagoon in Bolivia. The Laguna Colorada (translated: Red Lagoon) is a salt lake, situated in the southwest of Bolivia, close to the country’s border with Chile. The Red Lagoon is a stunning lake and its shallowness adds to the attraction by providing a stark contrast against the white borax islands and the reddish sediments and pigmentation of the algae within the water.
Boiling Lake, Dominica
Dominica holds a secret spectacular lake in its surroundings. A World Heritage site, the Boiling Lake is within the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. It is a very unusual lake, in that it is called a flooded fumarole, which means that it is a hole within the surface of the earth. It is approximately ten kilometres from Roseau. The Boiling Lake provides breathtaking photographs for the opportunist. It is filled with blue-grey water which bubbles from the surface, resulting in an enormous vapour cloud that rises from the surface of the lake. It is humid and hot, but a wet place to go to. The lake is approximately 65 metres across at its biggest.
Lake Titicaca, Bolivia & Peru
Not too far from the Boiling Lake is Lake Titicaca, which is situated on the Peruvian-Bolivian border. It is the largest lake in the continent of South America and is also the highest navigable lake in the world, sitting at 3812 metres above sea level. The lake itself receives its water through rainfall and ice water which melts from nearby glaciers on the Altiplano.
Caspian Sea, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran & Turkmenistan
The penultimate lake to be discovered is the Caspian Sea in Russia. This particular lake is one of the few recognisable lakes that can be seen from space. Its surface area is larger than the combined surface area of the next six largest lakes in the world and has been measured at 394,299 square kilometres. It is the largest lake in the world and it is said to hold approximately 40% of the total lacustrine waters in the world.
Dead Sea, Jordan, West Bank & Israel
Finally, from the largest lake to an unusual and historically important lake. Mentioned within the Bible and other major religious books, the Dead Sea has an unusually high salt level. It lies between Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. It is unusual in that its shores are said to be the lowest point on dry land on the Earth’s surface at 420 metres below sea level. It is 330 metres deep and described as a hypersaline lake because of its salty nature. Although not as salty as Lake Assal in Djibouti, it has a 30% salt content. It is said to be almost nine times saltier than any ocean.
This environment makes for an inhospitable place for animals and plant life to survive in. Boats can also not pass across it. It is 67 kilometres long and at its widest is 18 kilometres wide. The Dead Sea attracts visitors from all over the world and has done for thousands of years. It was said to be a place of tranquillity for King David and became notorious for its recognition as the world’s first health resort by Herod the Great. Its water has been used in embalming processes for thousands of years because of its salt content. You can also float on the surface of the Dead Sea due to its salinity.
