The World's Most Beautiful Lakes
By: Daniel

Lake Mapourika, New Zealand

Lake Mapourika is located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It lies north of Franz Josef Glacier, and drains into the Okarito Lagoon. It is the largest of the West Coast lakes, a glacier formation from the last ice age. Since the water from glacial melts no longer drains into the lake, it is filled with fresh rain water which runs though the surrounding forest floor, collecting tannins, giving it its dark colour. As the winds of the region sweep high above the mountains of the Southern Alps, the water is left unruffled and quite reflective of the forest on the lake fringes. The scenery is spectacular!

Peyto Lake, Alberta, Canada

Peyto Lake (pea-toe) is a glacier-fed lake located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The lake itself is easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway.

Peak and Mount Jimmy Simpson, at an elevation of 1,860 m (6,100 ft).

During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake, and these suspended rock particles give the lake a bright, turquoise color. Because of its bright color, photos of the lake often appear in illustrated books, and area around the lake is a popular sightseeing spot for tourists in the park. The lake is best seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefield Parkway.

Lake Teletskoye, Siberia

The largest lake in the Altay Mountains and the Altai Republic, Russia. It is one of 25 deepest lakes in the world, having a depth of up to 325 meters.

Lake Teletskoe is included into Altaisky Nature Reserve. That reserve along with the Katun Natural Reserve and the Ukok Plateau Nature Refuge were listed as one of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites under the name "Golden Mountains of Altai".

The Altay people have a legend about the name of the lake in their language, which means Golden Lake. According to this story, once, a rich man had a ingot of gold, which he wanted to use to buy food. He travelled around Altai, but could not find anyone who would sell him any food. Eventually, he threw the gold into the lake; allegedly, this is where the name originates from.

Tangle Lakes, Alaska

The Tangle Lakes is an spectacular lake with magical scenery.

The main public access to the Lakes is from a Bureau of Land Management maintained campground and boat launch at Round Tangle Lake, about 20 miles (32 km) from Paxson on the Denali Highway. The boat launch is also the upper terminus of the Delta River Canoe Trail, a 2-3 day route to the Gulkana River and the Richardson Highway.

Lake Urmia, Iran

The Urmia lake, the second saltiest lake in the world is only a few kilometers away. You can go for swimming and you will flow on the water.

 Laguna Verde in Sud Lípez, Bolivia

Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) is a salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, in the Department of Potosí, Province of Sud Lípez, on the Chilean border at the foot of the volcano Licancabur. You may find some flamingoes dancing in the salt.

Its colour is caused by sediments, containing copper minerals. It is elevated some 4,300 m (14,000 ft) above sea level.

The laguna verde is well known for its spectacular scenery and hot springs.

Lake Como in Bellagio, Italy

Lake Como is situated in Como (Province) in Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is part of the Italian Lake District. Popular with visitors for well over 100 years for its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather, it's still worth a visit.

The area around Lake Como, or "Lago di Como" in Italian, is pretty characteristic. It has a kind of flair and sense of history that tends to impress its visitors in a sense deeper than only from a touristic point of view. It has been appreciated for its beauty and uniqueness for ages, and even as early as the Roman Times. Its atmosphere and natural surroundings have been the inspiration for an important part of the creation of Naboo, in the Star Wars movies. (In the same way as the atmosphere in Tozeur and Matmata have been recreated in Episode IV, "A New Hope").

Diablo Lake  in North Cascades, Washington

Diablo Lake is a reservoir in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state, USA. Created by Diablo Dam, the lake is located between Ross Lake and Gorge Lake on the Skagit River at an elevation of 1,201 feet (366 m) above sea level.  Diablo Lake is part of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project and managed by Seattle City Light.

Lake Pukaki in New Zealand

Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north-south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin on New Zealand's South Island. The others are Lakes Tekapo and Ohau. All three lakes were created when the terminal moraines of receding glaciers blocked their respective valleys, forming moraine-dammed lakes.

Loch Lomond in Scotland

Loch Lomond is the second largest loch of Scotland, the largest body of fresh water in Britain and probably the most famous after Loch Ness. It is part of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, Scotland's first national park. The southern end of the loch is quite flat, but the scenery soon become more mountainous and distinctly wild by the time your reach the north end. To the north-east lie the Trossachs with its Loch Katrine and Loch Array.

Lago de Atitlan in Guatemala

A beautiful volcanic lake in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. It is ringed by small towns, many of which are favourites among backpackers. The region encompasses the lake and the towns around them. Panajachel is best known, and a good entry point, but more off the beaten track are San Pedro la Laguna or the "less party, more meditation" village of San Marcos. 

Pakhal lake, India

Pakhal Lake is a man-made lake in the Pakhal sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, a state in Southern India. The lake was excavated during the reign of Ganapati Deva. Set around the lake is the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctury spread over an area of 900 sq.km. The sanctuary is home to the Tiger, Leopard, Panther and Sambhar. Besides a large number of migratory birds arrive in winter at the lake, making it the best season to visit the sanctuary.