Has the thought of taking a dip in one of the deepest lakes in the world while peering down and wondering just how many feet you will cover before you hit the rock bottom ever crossed your mind? It could get scaring and frighten very fast, especially when it begins to get darker suddenly. Not everyone would fancy the idea of swimming in the deepest lakes in the world, but if you have guts and you enjoy the adrenalin rush, then we have sampled for you a list of the deepest lakes in the world. Check them out and see the ones you can consider for a swimming trip.
Lake Matano in Indonesia
Lake Matano is believed to be about 2,000 feet deep and it is the deepest lake in Indonesia. It is located towards the south in the Sulawesi region and it is being fed by the Patea River. The lake is reputed to have some of the clearest waters in lake categories in the world. It is estimated that the lake has been around for hundreds of years and it is the home to a unique variety of plants and fish. It is a very popular spot for people who for expedited passport renewal for a tour of Indonesia and it is about 13 hours’ car drive from the nearest city, implying that it is in a very remote area.
Crater Lake in Oregon
If you are in the United States and you would like to visit one of the deepest lakes in the world, then you don’t need expedited passport renewal since if you can make it to Oregon, then you will be able to see one. Crater Lake is not just the deepest lake in the US, but also it deserves a mention here as it is one of the deepest lakes in the entire world. The location of the lake is at Crater Lake National Park in Southern Oregon. It is basically a caldera that was formed thousands of years ago when Mount Mazama was still active. Unlike other lakes which get their waters from rivers and streams, all water in the 1996 feet deep lake is from rainfall and snow.
Great Slave Lake in Canada
A mention of the deepest lakes in the world will never fail to recognize Great Slave Lake in Canada. The lake is in Northwest Territories and it is reputed as the deepest lake in North America, having a depth of 2010 feet. From the late fall through to early summer, the lake is always frozen, implying that if you wanted to swim, then you will have to wait until the temperatures warm up for the snow to melt before you can get a dip.
Issyk Kul Lake in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
In Central Asia, you will find the Issyk Kul Lake in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan which is not just one of the deepest lakes in the world with a depth of about 2192 feet but also is the second largest alpine lake in the world. For those who don’t know, alpine lakes are lakes that occur at altitudes of over 5,000 feet above the mean sea level. The name of the lake in the local dialect means “hot” and this is because the lake never freezes at all times of the year.
Just like with most of the deepest lakes in the world, there is a legend attached to this one as well. One of those legends claims that at one point in time, there was a great deal of civilization in the area until a great earthquake occurred to swallow up the people, including all the buildings, leaving a depression behind, which is now the lake that people see. Whether or not that is true, the lake remains to be one of the deepest lakes in the entire planet.
Lake Malawi in Africa
Lake Malawi is the second deepest lake in African and the home to over 460 species of fish. The diversity of fish in the lake also includes some of the endangered species and this makes the lake a special interest for scientists keen on preserving biodiversity. But the fish in the lake is not only the vested interest in the lake. Not long ago, it was discovered that the lake had incredible amounts of oil and gas deposits and this has sparked a row between the neighboring Tanzania who now also claims ownership of the lake.
Lake Vostok in Antartica
Lake Vostok is an underground lake which lies beneath Vostok Station in Russia. It is more than two hundred miles below the surface and scientists believe that due to the heat generated by the geothermal activities beneath, the temperatures of the lake are about 27 degree Fahrenheit. The lake receives its water from the melting ice sheets and though it has not been confirmed if there is any life in the lake, there are still lots of studies going on to this effect.
The Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is in Western Asia and it is one of the deepest and the largest lakes in the world. Its confirmed maximum depth stands at 3363 feet and it was once believed that it formed part of the Paratethys Sea which connects Indonesian’s the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The sea becomes landlocked when the crust of the earth shifted, to reconnect to the ocean after some time. You will be interested to know that this sea holds 90% of the world’s sturgeon.
Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania
Lake Tanganyika lies between four countries: Tanzania, Burundi, DRC, and Zambia. It is claimed to be the deepest freshwater lake in the continent and the second deepest lake in the world, having a total depth of 4823 feet. It is the home to over 2000 plant and animal species, with about 600 of the species not being found anywhere else in the world.
Lake Baikal in South Russia
Lake Baikal enjoys the reputation of being the world’s deepest lake as well as the world’s largest freshwater lake. The lake has a depth of 5314 feet and it is the home to some 1700 species of plants and animals. The lake is in southern Siberia and is believed to have been formed thousands of years ago, thus also making it one of the oldest lakes in the world. Myths about the lake claim that there are water dragons as well as dragon fish living in the lake.