From tropical tourist destinations to lava-carved phenomenons, today we look at Amazing Places
With Crystal Clear Water.
#13 Hanauma Bay With its crescent moon enclosure, the Oahu
beach known as Hanauma Bay is a scenic spectacle on its own.
But the bright blue-tinged, transparent waters near its coast take this destination to the
next level.
While it was once a typical beach park, Hanauma Bay has since been named a Nature Preserve
with visitors being restricted from mistreating marine animals or coming in contact with the
coral that inhabits it.
#12 Exuma More than 365 cays, or low-elevation islands,
compose the Bahaman district of Exuma.
The largest cay is called Great Exuma and stretches 37 miles long.
Over 7 thousand people call this collection of islands home, and with crystalline waves
surrounding them, it’s hard to imagine they aren’t living in bliss.
The clear waters make for a rich source of fishing and as such the inhabitants of Exuma
have crafted a reputation among the Bahamas for incredible seafood.
Most recently, though, the island has gained somewhat of a notoriety due to its ties to
the famously failed Fyre Festival, a luxury music festival that left over four thousand
people stranded with minimal provisions and no oversight!
The events of this debacle can be seen in greater detail on both Hulu and Netflix in
their respectively exclusive documentaries.
#11 Rosario Islands Branching off the coast of Columbia, the archipelago
known as the Islas del Rosario, or Rosario Islands, are one of the nation’s 46 Natural
National Parks.
Receiving this status in 1988, the coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass ecosystems surrounding
this paradise have government protection from human interference.
This works out as the reefs have grown to a point that they would endanger any vessels
approaching the island from the West.
But there are plenty of areas around the islands to enjoy the azure waters of the region, whether
through snorkeling and fishing or via the archipelago’s oceanarium, which gives visitors
a glimpse at the local marine habitat.
Major islands like the Isla Grande feature resorts and tours, as well as beautiful inland
lagoons just waiting to be explored.
#10 Plitvice Lakes National Park Tucked along the Croatian border near Bosnia
and Herzegovina, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest and most sacred
national parks in the region.
Added as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, it was first made a national park 30 years
prior.
It serves as a scenic route for those heading from the Croatian inland to the Adriatic coast,
with more than 73 thousand acres of mountainous forests to experience.
The stunningly clear lakes and rivers that checker Plitvice are an important centerpiece
of the region’s ecosystem, providing refuge for a variety of endemic species.
Changes in altitude and readily available freshwater have created a notable biodiversity
across the national park, and with its picturesque landscapes, it's no wonder the Plitvice Lakes
National Park draws over a million visitors annually!
#9 Knip Beaches Off the northwestern coast of Curacao, the
pair of beaches known as Grote Knip and Kleine Knip are a snorkeler’s dream.
The lucid, cyan Caribbean sea plays home to wildlife like sea turtles and manta rays,
as well as a coral reef, just off the coast of these two beaches.
The waters remain warm year round as the island nation is relatively close to the equator,
making the Knip Beaches a popular tourist destination.
Visitors may enjoy other activities like kayaking and paddle boarding, in addition to snorkeling,
as rental stands stay at the ready to serve tourists and locals alike.
A particularly popular rental is the transparent kayak, which provides the best of both worlds,
letting ocean-goers enjoy a close look at the ocean below while engaging in the fun
of kayaking!
#8 Five Flower Lake Hidden within China’s Sichuan Province is
a colorful valley known as Jiuzhaigou, a nature reserve, national park, and World Heritage
Site along the edge of the Tibetan Plateau.
It measures 180 thousand acres in size and is filled with beautiful lakes, waterfalls,
and snow-covered mountains.
Among the many dazzling natural landmarks within this region is the Five Flower Lake.
Encompassed by a mountain range, this lake measures 16 feet in depth, all of which can
be seen from above the water’s surface.
Though crystal clear, the lake is tinted with different colors depending on when you should
see it, shifting from yellow to green to turquoise, though most often it’s blue.
Thanks to the presence of lime, calcium carbonate, and other minerals in the water, as well as
a hot spring that pours into Five Flower Lake, it never freezes over in the winter nor dry
up in the summer.
As such, it has come to be revered as a holy lake by locals.
#7 To Sua Ocean Trench Known locally as “The Big Hole”, the To
Sua Ocean Trench is an anomaly on the Samoan isle of Upolu.
Formed from an ancient eruption of lava, this great swimming hole was carved out of the
ground as the land around it slipped away, creating a nearly symmetrical, hundred-foot
deep phenomenon in the process.
A series of canals, tunnels, and a lava tube cave feed water into the trench from the sea,
ensuring it never runs dry.
As visitors approach the natural formation, signs warn of the oncoming plummet as otherwise
many would risk falling into this hole due to its concealment by the islands lush foliage.
A tall, steep, wooden ladder leads visitors to the translucent, teal pool below, which
has a strangely strong, churning current.
The shelter of the surrounding landmass removes the potential for upwelling, while providing
mineral nutrients to the water, keeping the To Sua Ocean Trench clear year round!
#6 Crater Lake Nearly eight thousand years ago the volcano
known as Mount Mazama collapsed, forming a 2,148-foot deep caldera in south-central Oregon.
Today, that massive pit is filled with the deep blue, crystal clear waters of Crater
Lake.
Within this strange body of water are two islands referred to by the fantastical names
of Wizard Island and Phantom Ship respectively.
Crater Lake measures 5 by 6 miles from shore to shore, and sits 7 to 8 thousand feet above
sea level.
It is the deepest lake in the United States, second-deepest on the continent, and ninth-deepest
on Earth.
Visitors are welcome to swim, boat, and fish in the iconic lake, however that freedom may
not last forever.
Showing signs of volcanic activity at the lakebed, it’s predicted that Mount Mazama
may one day erupt once more.
#5 Linapacan Island The Philippino province of Palawan is one
of the nations most popular tourism destinations.
Amid its most favored hot spots for tourists are the municipalities of El Nido and Coron,
both praised for their majestic natural scenery.
But it’s the little-known island between these two that features some of the purest
beaches around with waters whose clarity go unrivaled.
Linapacan has a relatively small population of around 16 thousand people, and features
around 52 small, deserted beach isles surrounding it, giving visitors a slice of privacy in
paradise.
Local can’t-miss landmarks of the islands include the million-year-old Seniora caves,
cliff-diving opportunities, and a pair of shipwrecks just off the coast!
But diving services have yet to be established, so while you might be able to get a clear
look at the wreckage, it may not be safe to explore just yet.
#4 Menorca The Spanish island of Menorca is a small island
in the mediterranean sea renowned for its crystalline shores.
Bordering the edge of the mainland are tree-covered cliffs, with beaches interspersed between
the natural high rises.
Among these beaches are Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta, a pair of coves that give
beach-goers direct access to the island’s gorgeous blue-green waves.
These two scenic locales are a favorite for families as the water remains relatively shallow
before exiting the coves.
A walk between Macarella and Macarelleta is a must for foreign visitors as the tall cliffs
separating the pair will present some of the most idyllic views on the Mediterranean isle.
Swimming and hiking aren’t the only recommended activities, though, as the paradise-like coast
is also a popular spot for boaters, kayakers, and jet skiers alike!
#3 Maldives This small Asian nation, located off the southwestern
tip of India, is surrounded on all sides by some of the most transparent waters in the
world.
The Maldives is composed 1,192 coral islands strung along two chains of 26 atolls in total.
Though spread across 35,000 square miles, the land of this country only measures about
115 square miles in total.
The reefs surrounding the sovereignty are lush with biodiversity, containing more than
1100 species of fish, 400 mollusc species, over 300 different types of crustaceans, and
187 species of coral.
This coral, along with numerous phytoplankton in the area, absorb blue and green colorwaves
from the light, giving the Maldivian coast it’s beautifully translucent state.
The tropical temperatures of these reefs also helps as hot water results in lower density
and, thus, greater visibility!
#2 Sucuri River One of Brazil’s most popular snorkeling
sites is the Sucuri River in the southwestern region of the nation.
Though the name “Sucuri” translates to “anaconda” in Brazilian Portuguese, those
exploring this river are more likely to see monkeys along the river bank and surrounding
canopy, as well as fish like pacus, curimbas, and various brycon fish, also known as South
American trout.
The riverbed contains a high amount of limestone and as a result, this river is of the clearest
in the world.
Visitors have compared snorkeling in the Sucuri River to floating in an aquarium due to the
extreme clarity of the river’s exotic, freshwater flora and fauna.
A nearby farm in the rural outskirts of Bonito, as well as other agencies within the city,
offer snorkeling tours that guide tourists through trails surrounding the river.
#1 Blue Lagoon Unlike the milky blue waters of Iceland’s
famous geothermal spa, the Blue Lagoon of the Maltese Islands is a radiant, translucent
piece of paradise.
These gorgeous waters can be found between the island of Comino and the islet known as
Cominotto.
The Blue Lagoon is so spectacular that it has become a popular location for filming
movies, having been featured in productions like Troy, The Count of Monte Cristo, and
Swept Away.
It is rife with marine life and draws hundreds of swimmers, divers, and snorkelers on a daily
basis.
Which of these aquatic destinations are you most eager to swim in?
Let us know in the comment section below!