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Beautiful lakes across the world
  • It's known as the Red Lagoon, is one of the most colourful in the world and a great place for spotting rare flamingos. Its red hues come from the salt crust of the shallow lake and the number of microorganisms that live in it. The area itself is made up of secluded highland with small hills and no trees, making the lake its most interesting attraction.
    Explore... the city of Uyuni around five hours away from the lake to visit its antique train cemetery and the world's largest salt flats, the Salar de Uyuni.
  • The glacier-fed Peyto Lake in Alberta's Banff National Park is as picturesque in the winter when its overlooking rocky mountains are covered in snow as it is in the summer, when the lake's minerals give it a spectacular turquoise colour. For the best views head to Bow Summit - the highest point on the Icefields Parkway route - where you can capture the most dramatic pictures.
    Explore... the vast Banff National Park for its alpine landscape, mountains, lakes and wildlife.
  • A paradise for birds and where you'll catch sightings of bright pink flamingos that take to its shallow salt water for security from predators, Lake Natron is one of Tanzania's magnificent wonders. The edges of the lake are perfect for walking and you can even trek to the streams and waterfalls nearby to escape the heat and enjoy a refreshing dip.
    Explore... the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, which is a great place for climbing and stay at one of the luxury camps in the area with the lake and volcano in view.
  • Surrounded by small Mayan villages and nestled in the Guatemalan Highlands, Lake Atitlán is considered the most beautiful lake in Central America. Its natural frame is formed by three volcanoes - Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro - and at 11 miles long and with a surface area of 125 square-kilometres there's plenty to do, like fishing, sailing, kayaking and aquatic skiing.
    Explore... the nearby indigenous villages of Santiago Atitlan, Santa Cararina Palopo and San Antonio Palopo, which are known for the distinctive styles of clothing the people wear.
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park is home to some of the most breathtaking natural beauty and the magnificent 16 lakes that are interconnected by waterfalls. They're renowned for their changing colours of azure, green, grey and blue, which depend on the amount of minerals in the water and the angle of the sunlight.
    Explore... the wealth of wildlife at the National Park. There are deer, bears, wolves, wild cats and owls around, so keep a lookout for a sighting.
  • At 2120m long and 1380m wide Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's most beautiful attractions and was formed when a glacier melted into a deep hole. It's where you'll find the only natural island in the country - in the middle of the lake! A church on the island was built in the 15th century and is a picturesque location for weddings.
    Explore... the nearby Triglav National Park for its abundance of nature, culture and activities.
  • Como is the third biggest lake in Italy after Garda and Maggiore and is known as one of the deepest in Europe, being over 400m deep. Rich aristocrats have flocked here since Roman times and today it's as popular with the rich and famous who own villas along its shores. Como is shaped like a Y and is fed by the Adda River.
    Explore... the elaborate Villa Balbianello and its mysterious garden for the dramatic location on the edge of Lake Como.
  • The beauty of the Five Flower Lake in Jiuzhaigou National Park lies in it being shallow enough for visitors to see the fallen ancient tree trunks on the bottom and the stunning colours it forms throughout the year - from turquoise to azure and green to yellow. The lake is just five metres deep and the surface area covers 90,000 square metres.
    Explore... the various lakes of Jiuzhaigou National Park. There's the Panda Lake that's overlooked by snow-capped mountains, the Sparkling Lake which is fed by the Huo Hua Lake Waterfalls and the small Lying Dragon Lake.
  • This eerie lake in the Sierra Nevada mountain range is like no other. The bizarre tufa towers that stand tall within Lake Mono are hauntingly attractive and the most distinctive feature. They're created when the underwater springs rich in calcium mix with the lake water's carbonates. The salty water makes you float and the lake is a haven for photography enthusiasts.
    Explore... the ghost town of Bodie. It was a former gold mining town and known as the wildest in the West!
  • This stunning 23 mile-long freshwater lake is the largest in Britain and has around 30 islands on its waters. Loch Lomond is one of Scotland's most dramatic sites, surrounded by mountains and fed by the River Falloch. It's a hub for water sports, with wind-surfing, jetskiing and canoeing some of the favourites among enthusiasts.
    Explore... the town of Helensburgh for its piers, promenades and great architecture. Be sure to visit Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House for the beautiful interior and exterior features and fantastic views of the River Clyde.

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