10 of the Clearest Lakes in the World
Lakes are a popular subject for landscape photography, and with good reason. Capturing beautiful reflections, neighboring mountains, or sunsets over the water can lead to incredible photos you’ll be proud of. But each lake offers different photographic opportunities. Here are some of the cleanest, clearest lakes that offer unmatched beauty, making them worth visiting and photographing.
1. Lake Baikal, Russia
Lake Baikal, in Siberia, Russia, is the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lake. At over 5,300 feet, it holds an astounding 20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater.
The incredible clarity of Lake Baikal’s water is due to a combination of low nutrient levels and the presence of endemic zooplankton that consume algae and other particulates, ensuring the water remains crystal clear.
📆 Best Time to Visit
Visit Lake Baikal from February to March, when it is frozen but still transparent—a perfect time for unique winter photos.
2. Lake McKenzie, Australia
Nestled on Fraser Island in Queensland, Lake McKenzie is renowned for its strikingly clear water and pristine white sand. The lake holds only rainwater, which allows it to remain remarkably clear without inflows of river water and sediments. The lake’s pure water, combined with the white silica sand, is a perfect scene for photography.
📆 Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit between April and October, when the weather is cooler and less humid, offering ideal conditions for clear shots.
3. Lake Blausee, Switzerland
Lake Blause,e in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, is a small but incredibly picturesque lake known for its deep blue, crystal-clear water.
The lake’s clarity and color are the result of mineral-rich waters sourced from underground springs. The surrounding forest and the mysterious submerged trees add to the natural beauty of the area.
📆 Best Time to Visit
Visit Lake Blausee in late spring or early autumn (May, June, September, or October) when the weather is mild and the crowds are thinner.
4. Crater Lake, Oregon, USA
In southern Oregon, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, with a depth of nearly 2,000 feet. Formed thousands of years ago after the collapse of a volcanic mountain, the lake is fed solely by rain and snowfall, ensuring its water remains pristine and free from pollutants. The stunning blue color and remarkable clarity are perfect for photography.
📆 Best Time to Visit
For the best photo opportunities, visit Crater Lake between July and September. The weather is warm, and the skies are clear, providing the best light for capturing the lake’s intense blue hues.
5. Attabad Lake, Pakistan
Attabad Lake, located in the Hunza Valley of Pakistan, was formed in 2010 following a massive landslide that dammed the Hunza River.
Despite its recent formation, the lake has quickly gained fame for its bright turquoise waters, which are incredibly clear thanks to the mineral content of the surrounding rock and glacial runoff.
📆 Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Attabad Lake is from April to October, when the weather is pleasant and the lake is most vibrant.
6. Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada, USA
Straddling the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is renowned for its amazing clear blue water and surrounding alpine scenery. The lake’s water is clear because of its high elevation and low levels of nutrients and pollutants. With an average visibility of 70 feet, it’s known as one of the clearest lakes in the world.
📆 Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit between June and September for the best weather and photography conditions, with clear skies and vibrant natural colors.
7. Five Flower Lake, China
In the Jiuzhaigou Valley in Sichuan Province, Five Flower Lake is famous for its multicolored waters, which range from turquoise to emerald green. The lake’s clarity and vibrant colors are due to its high concentration of calcium carbonate and other minerals. It also features many submerged ancient trees visible through the clear water.
📆 Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit is during the autumn months of October and November. The surrounding foliage bursts into vibrant colors, creating a beautiful contrast with the clear water.
8. Torch Lake, Michigan, USA
Torch Lake in Michigan is known for its incredibly clear and turquoise water, sometimes compared to the Caribbean Sea. The lake’s clarity is attributed to its deep glacial origins and low levels of organic material.
Torch Lake is a popular destination for boating and swimming, providing plenty of opportunities for coming away with beautiful photos.
📆 Best Time to Visit
Visit Torch Lake during the summer (June to August) for the best weather and vibrant water colors.
9. Moraine Lake, Canada
Nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, Alberta, Moraine Lake is known for its stunning turquoise water and dramatic mountainous backdrop. The lake’s color and clarity result from the refraction of light off fine glacial silt suspended in the water.
The breathtaking Rocky Mountain scenery makes Moraine Lake a must-visit for nature photographers.
📆 Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Moraine Lake is from late June to early September, when the ice has melted, revealing the lake’s vivid turquoise color against the surrounding peaks.
10. Lake Mashu, Japan
Lake Mashu, located in Akan Mashu National Park on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, is one of the clearest lakes in the world. This picturesque lake is known for its deep blue water and visibility that can exceed 40 meters. The volcanic caldera lake is often covered in mist, adding a mystical quality.
📆 Best Time to Visit
For the clearest views, visit Lake Mashu between July and September, when the weather is warmer and the chances of clear skies are higher.
Final Thoughts
Each of these lakes provides a unique setting and virtually endless photographic possibilities, from the dramatic ice formations of Lake Baikal to the serene turquoise hues of Torch Lake, you’re sure to love the photos you come home with.
