Not all bodies of water are the same. There are oceans, estuaries, rivers, waterfalls, ponds, lakes, and more. Each place has its own characteristics that make it stand out from the rest. However, some water sources go above and beyond to stand out. From unique colors to deadly gases, the unique bodies of water below are sure to remain rent-free in your head for years to come.
1. Blood Falls in Antarctica
The lake hidden in the Taylor Glacier created a bloody waterfall when exposed to oxygen.
©Wikimedia/National Science Foundation/Peter Rejcek/CC0 - Original / License
There’s not much out there that would make for a better setting in a horror movie than Blood Falls in McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. It’s a five-story-high waterfall that comes from a lake hidden in the ice of the Taylor Glacier.
It’s given the name Blood Falls because of the red color of the water. It gets this color because of the iron in the bedrock. The water absorbs the iron. Then, when it reacts with the oxygen outside of the water, it turns blood red.
While it looks incredibly creepy, there’s nothing inherently dangerous about this water.
2. Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
This isn’t a manipulated photo, the salt flats perfectly reflect the sky above when the water is calm.
©iStock.com/shinnji
There are salt flats all over the world, but Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the largest salt flat in the world. It stretches out over 3800 square miles and it’s located almost 12,000 feet above sea level in the Andes mountain. It measures well over twice the size of the second largest salt flat, which is the Salinas Grandes in Argentina.
Sometimes, the lake is dry, and the salt leaves hexagonal shapes along the ground. However, other times, there is water sitting in a thin layer over the flats.
The flats are said to have over 10 billion tons of salt and are visible from space. Even more impressive, it’s the sight of the largest deposit of lithium, which is a metal used in all sorts of electronics and batteries.
3. Grand Prismatic Spring in the USA
People may go to Yellowstone National Park for the geysers but this hot spring will steal the show.
©Busara/Shutterstock.com
Wanna go for a dip? Though this hot spring looks gorgeous, it definitely isn’t the place to relax and unwind. The water may look pretty, but the temperatures reach over 189 degrees Fahrenheit.
The rainbow of colors represents the different temperatures. There are different kinds of bacteria in the water, and each prefers a slightly different temperature. The different species create different colors and make rainbow-looking rings on the surface. The red-orange ring is thought to be the coolest. But that doesn’t mean it’s cool by any means. It still sits around 131 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s not only a hot spring, but a large one too. It’s the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It stretches out over 300 feet in diameter and over 120 feet deep.
4. Colorada in Bolivia
It might be hard to believe, but the color of Laguna Colorada is naturally pink.
©iStock.com/Zenobillis
The Laguna Colorada is another salt lake in Bolivia. However, this one is unique in its own way. Due to the sediment and algae in the lake, The water turns anywhere from a crimson red to a light pink.
The lake stretches over six miles long and resides 14,000 feet above sea level. It’s an important habitat for flamingos and was listed as a wetland of international importance in 1990.
Not only does the lake catch your attention with its vibrant colors, but if you go at the right time of the year, you will see the perfect contrast of crimson colors, bright blue sky, and white-capped mountains.
5. Lake Nyos in Cameroon
This lake may look unassuming, but it has a tragic past.
©United States Geological Survey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Original / License
Lake Nyos is most known for the tragic disaster that occurred in 1986. The volcanic lake built up high levels of carbon dioxide under the surface of the water. While this was a normal process, something disturbed the water enough to cause it to release all of the trapped gas, such as an eruption or a landslide. When the gas entered the air, it suffocated the nearby village, killing over 1,700 people and countless animals.
Now, the lake is much safer. Cameroon’s government has set up a degassing station in the lake to occasionally let out carbon dioxide in controlled releases. That way, the disaster will likely never happen again.
It’s not the only lake in the world with a deadly concentration of carbon dioxide in the water. There are two other lakes; Lake Monoun and Lake Kivu, that are also full of deadly gas. However, they haven’t had quite as deadly consequences.
6. Beppu Hells in Japan
Beppu Hells is made up of seven hot springs in Beppu, Japan.
©pnphotos/iStock via Getty Images
If you thought the hot spring in the the US was hot, Beppu Hells will throw you for a loop. It reaches over 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Seven different hot springs create Beppu Hells, and they are all far too hot to rest in. However, they still have some unique characteristics.
Some of the springs are bright red due to magnesium and iron in the water, while others are a milky-blue color. Some of the hells are mud pools more than hot springs.
Because people cannot swim in them, the locals have found other ways to draw tourists in. One of the springs is a breeding ground for crocodiles, while another is known as “cooking pot hell” and features a demon statue above the water, acting as a cook. They may be a little touristy, but each of the seven hells is a unique body of water worth visiting.
7. Plitvice Lakes in Croatia
Enclosed in thick jungle and tall rock formations, the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia are a must-see.
©LeonP/Shutterstock.com
Plitvice Lakes in Croatia are a series of waterfalls and 16 lakes. They stretch out over five miles. The tallest lake is 4,200 feet. After a series of waterfalls, the last body of water is just 1,247 feet. The tallest waterfall in the group, known as Veliki Slap, is 230 feet tall.
Many of the lakes have unique colors. Some are blue, some green, some gray, and some a unique teal color. The colors may change depending on the seasons and angle of sunlight. the falls formed over centuries as the water wore down the limestone.
These lakes are inside a national park of the same name. It’s not only home to these amazing waterfalls and lakes, but it’s also the oldest and the largest national park in all of Croatia. It was first declared a national park in 1949.
Summary of the Most Unique Bodies of Water in the World
| List Number | Lake Name | Location | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blood Falls | Antarctica | The water that leaves the iceberg is blood-red |
| 2 | Salar de Uyuni | Bolivia | It’s the largest salt marsh in the world |
| 3 | Grand Prismatic Spring | United States of America | It’s the largest hot spring in the world and has an array of unique colors |
| 4 | Laguna Colorada | Bolivia | Can be a bright pink to crimson red color because of the sediments and algae in the lake |
| 5 | Lake Nyos | Cameroon | Has deadly carbon dioxide that can, and has, killed people if it escapes the water |
| 6 | Beppu Hells | Japan | Hot springs in Japan with different characteristics, appearances, and rapid boiling |
| 7 | Plitvice Lakes | Croatia | A series of lakes and falls with different colors over a stretch of five miles |
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