Even though most people prefer going to the ocean or the sea to get their swim on, there are many people that love the peaceful serenity only lakes provide. To them, the good points outweigh the bad. Things like not having to worry about getting sand out of your clothes (or out of the fur of your pets, if you’re bringing them along as well), the lack of poisonous jellyfish, sharks, crabs, and other marine pests.
So if you, too, are a fan of lakes, these are some of the most breathtaking ones in the entire world.
Lake Balaton (Hungary)
The biggest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton is often referred to as “Hungary’s sea” by the locals. It is a very shallow lake, whose depth never exceeds four meters, so it quickly gets pleasantly warm in the summer and turns into a perfect location for ice skating most winters.
Because it is a major tourist location, Balaton is surrounded by many hotels, bars, night clubs, wellness centers, and other places you can go and relax or have fun when you’ve had your fill of the lake.
If you are eating at a restaurant that serves Hungarian cuisine, be sure to try the national dish – goulash. A meaty stew specialty that is popular around the world, no other country prepares it quite as well as Hungarians do – probably because of all the paprika they like to add in.
Lake Titicaca (Bolivia and Peru)
Translated from the Quechua language, it means “Gray puma”. Divided between Bolivia and Peru, this vast lake features numerous islands. Fabled to be the birthplace of the Inca people, numerous ruins of their empire adorn these islands, and many of them can be visited by regular tourists.
It is surrounded by the Titicaca National Reserve, which houses and preserves many rare and endangered aquatic lifeforms.
Loch Duich (Scotland)
Scotland is, of course, well-known for its lakes, or “lochs”, as they call them. After all, everyone has heard the legend of the Loch Ness monster, but there are so many other stunning lakes in Scotland, that it’s hard to pick out just one. Still, even out of all these, Loch Duich stands out.
Situated in the Scottish Highlands, close to the Isle of Skye, Duich is home to many local legends, as well as the majestic, medieval Eilean Donan Castle. This castle is featured in several movies, most prominently showcased in the cult classic “Highlander”.
Lake Kawaguchi (Japan)
Located near Mt. Fuji, one of the most recognizable symbols of Japan, Lake Kawaguchi is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes. Out of the five lakes, it is by far the most popular one, with an assortment of hotels, restaurants, resorts, and other facilities. Sports fishing is especially popular there, with an abundance of wakasagi and Japanese white crucian carp.
Thanks to its close proximity to Mt. Fuji, it is also a common destination for those that plan to climb the mountain during the climbing season, which spans from July to August.
