The spell of the lake

Baikal (Russia): Considered the largest, deepest and oldest lake in the world and known as the ‘blue eye of Siberia’ or ‘the pearl of Asia’, Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater reserve on the planet (it contains 20% of the world’s total unfrozen freshwater), and its waters are the purest in existence. It is located in a remote part of Siberia, very close to Mongolia, and is fascinating in both summer and winter, when ice hummocks of great purity cover its surface.

Jökulsárlón (Iceland): Iceland’s largest glacial lake is one of the places in the world where it is easiest to gain access to icebergs. Actually, it is literally full of large pieces of ice that become detached from a nearby glacier. It is a very young lake, as it only appeared in the 1930s, the product of the fusion of glaciers. Its landscapes with their isolated beauty have been the setting of films like Beowulf & Grendel, Tomb Raider, Die Another Day, Batman Begins and A View to a Kill.

Wanaka (New Zealand): Situated on the South Island of New Zealand’s archipelago, this lake which measures 45 kilometres in length and has a surface area of 193 square kilometres is a paradise for lovers of nature and open-air sports. Its crystalline waters are perfect for kayaking or rowing. Nearby one can practise disciplines like fishing, canoeing, mountaineering, hiking or parachuting.

Titicaca (Peru-Bolivia): Set in the middle of the Andean plateau, the Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, at around 3,800 metres above sea level. The ancient Incas held it as sacred, with legends that placed the origin of their civilisation in its waters. It has several islands, some of which are inhabited by indigenous peoples and where one can stay overnight to enjoy the exuberant nature and Inca archaeological remains that are conserved there. The ancient settlers of the lake also built artificial islands, using the totora, a type of indigenous bulrush.

Moraine (Canada): In the Banff National Park, at an altitude of around 1,884 metres above sea level, we find one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the world. Located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, and therefore surrounded by majestic mountaintops, it is remarkable for the turquoise colour of its water, caused by the refraction of the light by the rock dust from the nearby mountains. Its waters are the result of the melting ice of a glacier. It can only be visited in summer, as in winter snow prevents access.