The 12 Deadliest Lakes In The World

Written by Taiwo Victor
Updated: October 27, 2023
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Lakes provide humans and wildlife with a plethora of functions and benefits, ranging from drinking water, habitat or residency, and hydroelectric power. However, not all lakes give life – some of them can take life and destroy wildlife. There are various reasons why lakes can be so deadly. From being nestled near volcanoes down to getting dumped with radioactive and toxic chemicals, several lakes around the globe can be so dangerous that they could kill. This article will list down the 12 deadliest lakes in the world, where to find them, and the tragic stories that lie underneath.

This infographic shows the twelve deadliest lakes in the world.
Laguna Caliente is one of the deadliest lakes in the world.

The 12 Deadliest Lakes In The World

Lake Nyos

Considered the world’s deadliest lake, Lake Nyos is a deep lake on the crater rim of an extinct volcano.

©United States Geological Survey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons – License

Lake Nyos is a crater lake in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. It’s a deep lake high on the crater rim of an extinct volcano in Cameroon’s Oku volcanic plain. Although it may appear to many as an ordinary lake, it is considered the world’s deadliest. The Lake Nyos Disaster, which occurred in 1986, rocked Africa when the lake unexpectedly unleashed a giant cloud of carbon dioxide in the middle of the night, killing over 1,700 people living around the lake and 3,500 animals. After the disaster, most of the towns and villages in the area were abandoned.

The cause of the gas explosion may be summed up in two words: carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide in Lake Nyos was suppressed beneath the lakes’ waters until it was released quickly, resulting in a spontaneous, swift, and quiet disaster.

Lake Natron

Lake Natron

Lake Natron is one of the deadliest lakes in the world.

©iStock.com/Mario Faubert

Africa is not only home to deserts and wildlife. It also has many rainforests, savannas, and lakes, with the greatest of them ranking as the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. Yet, the continent is also home to the infamous killer lakes that no wildlife or human settlement is known to be kept safe.

Located in Tanzania, Lake Natron is considered one of the deadliest lakes in the world. It’s a very picturesque lake that’s home to millions of flamingos. It is, nevertheless, extremely toxic to humans. The high amounts of evaporation in the area have resulted in alkalinity of up to 12 pH. The cyanobacteria that reside in the lake have turned it crimson. Yet, contrary to popular belief, the alkaline waters of Lake Natron, in reality, sustain a healthy ecology of flamingos and other wetland birds, tilapia, and the algae that enormous flocks of flamingos feed. 

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is a killer lake in

Africa

and is among the three exploding lakes.

©iStock.com/atosan

Along with Lake Nyos, Lake Kivu is another killer lake in Africa. It is among the only three “exploding lakes” globally and is one of the deadliest lakes known to mankind. On the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lake Kivu is one of several lakes that line the East African Rift Valley. The famed African lake has a surface size of 1,040 square miles (2,700 square kilometers) and is one of the continent’s largest. Lake Kivu is a fascinating subject for scientists and a potential source of risk and riches for the millions of people living nearby due to its strange mix of characteristics.

Although Lake Kivu is a beautiful lake, it acts differently than most deep lakes, making it dangerous. The picturesque Lake Kivu has the potential to erupt in a rare limnic eruption, releasing lethal chemicals into the atmosphere. 

Lake Monoun

A crater lake in Cameroon, Lake Monoun is one of the deadliest lakes in the world.

©Prosper Mekem / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons – License

Lake Monoun, a crater lake in Cameroon’s West Province, is another dangerous African lake that erupted in the 1980s. On August 15, 1984, a limnic eruption at the lake occurred, resulting in the release of a significant amount of carbon dioxide and the deaths of 37 individuals. Lake Monoun is one of the only three lakes in the world with significant amounts of gas absorbed and repressed deep beneath the lake’s water surface, creating the ideal conditions for a limnic eruption. When dissolved CO2 erupts from deep lake waters, creating a gas cloud that can suffocate wildlife, cattle, and humans, it is known as a limnic eruption. A tsunami could develop from a limnic eruption because rising CO2 displaces water.

Onondaga Lake

Onondaga Lake

Previously considered sacred, Onondaga Lake is now the most polluted lake in the U.S.

©iStock.com/JUN DONG

Onondaga Lake is a testament that people do not always respect nature, even when it threatens an urban community. This Lake was previously considered sacred by the local Onondaga Native Americans, but it has somewhat become a draw with beaches, hotels, and recreation, but not for long. Unfortunately, as the area got more industrialized, the lake became a major source of pollution since untreated trash was dumped in it for many years. Sadly, Onondaga Lake is now the most polluted lake in the United States and one of the most polluted lakes in the world. 

Boiling Lake

Boiling Lake

Boiling Lake is the second-largest natural hot spring.

©iStock.com/pabst_ell

The name is self-explanatory. Boiling Lake, located in Dominica, a picturesque Caribbean island, is the second-largest natural hot spring. The “cool” outer margins of the lake keep temperatures around 180 and 197 degrees Fahrenheit. However, no one has had the bravery to measure the temperature in the lake’s core, where images show the water boiling. The temperature can’t be controlled because of a breach in the lake bed where molten lava escapes. Even if the temperature drops, the water is unreliable since it can boil at any time, releasing hazardous gases like carbon dioxide.

Horseshoe Lake

The soil surrounding Horseshoe Lake has high quantities of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.

©Markue/Shutterstock.com

Horseshoe Lake is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains and is part of the City of Mammoth Lakes, formed by a volcano. The soil surrounding this place has high quantities of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, threatening the trees and people. It was discovered that extraordinarily high carbon dioxide levels were leaking from the soil and destroying the trees. Today, there are 100 acres of dead and dying trees around the area. To give you an idea of how deadly it can be, consider that three individuals died of carbon dioxide exposure in a cave near the lake in 2006.

Karachay Lake

Lake Karachay is the most polluted lake in the world.

©NASA, Jan Rieke (color correction, borders and labels) / This work is based on a work in the public domain. It has been digitally enhanced and/or modified. This derivative work has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its author, JanRieke. This applies worldwide.

Located in Russia, Karachay Lake is another one of the most polluted lakes in the world to make this list. Don’t get fooled by its deep blue water, as it is too toxic, it kills. It is regarded as the most polluted lake or site globally. Between 1934 and 1957, the Soviet Union used the lake as a nuclear waste dump for 12 years. According to sources, high-level radioactive waste is said to cover nearly the whole lake, down to a depth of 3.4 meters (11 feet). In some areas around the lake, radiation levels are high enough to kill a human in as little as 30 minutes.

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is the largest lake in the United States.

©Frederick Millett/Shutterstock.com

Lake Michigan is considered the lake that holds the most deaths among the five Great Lakes in North America. Despite its reputation for powerful undercurrents claiming a minimum of a few lives each year, the warm, welcoming water is a favorite swimming spot for locals and visitors. The geometry of Lake Michigan makes it specifically vulnerable to deadly currents, which are exacerbated by piers and docks, resulting in deaths and injuries. When rapid and severe fluctuations in air and water temperatures boost the spontaneity and power of the currents and waves, the lake becomes more fatal in the fall months.

Frying Pan Lake

Frying Pan Lake

Frying Pan Lake is one of the world’s least inviting hot springs.

©iStock.com/Fyletto

As one might expect from its name and location in New Zealand’s Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley, Frying Lake gets quite heated. It’s so hot that it stays about 113 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit (45 to 55 degrees Celsius), making it one of the world’s least inviting hot springs. The lake is over 400,000 square feet in size (38,000 square meters) and is normally only 18 feet (5.5 meters) deep.

At vents, however, it can be as deep as 60 feet (18 meters). Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are emitted by the lake, making it utterly dangerous. The explosion that formed the crater, known as the Mount Tarawera eruption, claimed the lives of over 100 people in 1886. Therefore, it has a tragic human past.

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon

©iStock.com/P_L_photography

The Blue Lagoon is, or used to be, one of the most gorgeous “lakes” on the list. The lake used to have a lovely brilliant blue tinge to it, which drew swimmers in. Despite several warnings and signs, people continued to swim in the lake, created by a catastrophic flood, for decades. This ‘lake’ was lovely, but it was also poisonous. Its blue color comes from caustic chemicals. Chemical exposure can irritate the skin and cause digestive troubles and other disorders.

Laguna Caliente

Laguna Caliente

Laguna Caliente is one of the world’s most acidic natural lakes.

©iStock.com/phototrip

Located in Costa Rica, Laguna Caliente is one of the world’s most acidic natural lakes. Its size varies greatly, as it can reach a depth of 160 feet. Temperatures range from 71 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, with colors ranging from emerald green to gray and yellow. The yellow color comes from the liquid sulfur floating in the air. As a result of the high quantities of acid and repeated explosions, acid rain and fog occur, wreaking havoc on the flora around the lake. As a result, the lake may be hazardous to people.

Summary Of The 12 Deadliest Lakes In The World

RankDeadly LakeLocation
1Lake NyosCameroon
2Lake NatronTanzania
3Lake Kivubetween Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
4Lake MonounCameroon
5Onondaga LakeSyracuse, New York
6Boiling LakeDominica
7Horseshoe LakeMammoth Lakes, California
8Karachay LakeUral Mountains, Russia
9Lake MichiganIllinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin
10Frying Pan LakeNew Zealand
11The Blue LagoonGrindavík, Iceland
12Laguna CalienteCosta Rica

Honorable Mention: Other Deadly Lakes

Acid mine drainage causes severe environmental problems in the Rio Tinto, Spain.

Acid mine drainage causes severe environmental problems in the Rio Tinto, Spain.

©Carol Stoker, NASA, Public domain – License

It may not seem as though something like a lake, that is generally thought of as refreshing, or beautiful and relaxing, could be so deadly. Looks can definitely be deceiving, as the 12 aforementioned locations have proven to us. But how many more deadly lakes are out there? Out of the more than 304 million lakes in the world, not all are as inviting as you may think. Here are an additional few lakes that you might want to think twice about before taking a dip in:

  • Bolton Strid, River Wharfe (North Yorkshire, England) – this is a little stretch on the river that looks beautiful and picturesque – and it is! – but it should only be appreciated from land. It is said that there is a 0% survival rate for all who have entered this area, due to a variety of factors. A few of these are: water levels can rise during rainfall, in this location the river is substantially narrower, and there are numerous rocky outcrops, overhangs, and caves as well as a strong current. This location is even referenced in several works of literature, one of which is called The Force of Prayer by William Wordsworth.
  • Rio Tinto (Andalusia, southwestern Spain) – this river rises in the Sierra Morena mountains and owes its name to the color of its waters which are derived from the extremely acidic chemical makeup of high iron and heavy metal levels. These minerals have been mined for more than 5,000 years, and it is the iron salts and sulfates specifically that lead to the color of the water. The river has a very low pH, and anaerobic bacteria thrive in it, which adds to making it unsafe for humans.
  • Amazon Basin (South America) – this area spans about 40% of the South American continent and while there are people who dare to dip in its waters, there really isn’t a safe portion along any stretch of the basin and it is not recommended. These waters are home to creatures both big and small, from the fierce alligator to the small, but mighty piranha, as well as a variety of snakes both venomous and constricting. But that’s not all! There is also a host of parasitic organisms, leeches, and the Candirú, which is a tiny parasitic catfish reported to swim into body openings of unprotected bathers.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/pabst_ell


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About the Author

For six years, I have worked as a professional writer and editor for books, blogs, and websites, with a particular focus on animals, tech, and finance. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games with friends.

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