Lakes more than rivers or the seas are ideal for kayaking due to their inherent calm waters, and if you know where to go, the stunningly clear and transparent nature of the water can also be mesmerizing. In fact, today we are going to discuss the clearest lakes across the entire globe because these water bodies in their still calmness and glassy clarity can rival even the crystal-clear sea waters that surround beaches in the Bahamas or Maldives.
Crater Lake in the US
Deep inside the ancient, fallen volcanic crater of Mount Mazama in Oregon, lies the unimaginatively named Crater Lake, which stands as the main attraction of the Crater Lake National Park! The literal naming aside, this place is a beauty to behold for everything that it is.
Photography enthusiasts will find spots all around the park that can get them gorgeous shots of the crystal clear lake, its surrounding woods, ice-capped peaks and mountains afar that look like darker extensions of the saturated blue sky. The lake remains replenished by rainwater alone and has never yet lost its deep blue, yet crystal clear gleam. In many ways, the water is reminiscent of the clear waters we see in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Lake McKenzie in Australia
Queensland’s own Fraser Island happens to be the biggest sand-based island in not just Australia, but also the world. On this island, you will find a lake so clear that the locals call Lake McKenzie, “Jewel of the Fraser Island.” It’s located inside the Great Sandy National Park and its azure, clear waters are believed to be the eyes of their goddess K’gari by indigenous Butchula tribes which live on the island.
You won’t find any fish in this highly acidic water, but kayaking and diving are allowed. Coupled with the shining silica deposits on the shore and the peculiarly heart-shaped trees as its background, Lake Mckenzie’s clear blue waters are a site to behold and explore.
Melissani Lake, Greece
In case you have plans to paddle across any of the lakes on this list, then you just have to get a clear bottom kayak; they elevate the whole experience of floating so close to the see-through water, making everything feel so much closer and bottomless. However, few lakes are as well suited for fully utilizing a see-through kayak as the mythological Melissani Lake.
The blue-green water here is so clear that when pictured from above, it practically looks as if the boat is floating in mid-air! To see your own boat’s shadow in vivid detail while it follows your kayak on the bed of the lake is an almost unbelievable experience. When you get a chance to visit the Melissani Lake, make the trip perfect with a clear bottom kayak, and watch the phenomenon firsthand. Whether you see any of the water nymphs of legend here or not, there is no doubt about the magical beauty of the Melissani lake’s glassy, clear waters and cave ways.
Flathead Lake in the US
If fishing is a hobby of yours and you would actually like to see the perches, trouts, sturgeons, and pikeminnows that are taking the bait, head on over to Montana for a fishing and kayaking experience like no other! It’s one of those places which feels perfect with a clear bottom kayak, that’s also prepared to haul some fish if required.
One of the largest, clearest and cleanest lakes in all of US, Flathead Lake is a haven for aquatic wildlife. While motorboats and water-skiing tourists are quite common on the lake during the tourist season, it’s far more ideal to take your kayak, paddle your way peacefully, and float over the astonishingly clear, green-blue waters of the Flathead Lake on a sunny day.
Waterbodies that can rival these lakes in clarity are mostly located around oceanic beaches. However, they do not have that calmness which makes every one of these lakes so perfect for having a true kayaking adventure, without taking unnecessary risks. Both have their own charms though, and you don’t want to miss out on either!
