The world has a whopping 117 million lakes, but only a fraction can lay claim to the alpine lakes classification. These are bodies of water located at altitudes of 10,000 feet or more above sea level—and many require traveling to the world’s most remote destinations like the Himalayas and the Andes Mountains to see them. What these high-altitude lakes lack in ease of accessibility, though, they make up for in crystal-clear waters—cooler temperatures mean less phytoplankton and algae—and end-of-the-earth scenery around them, like jagged mountain peaks, volcanic craters, and desolate moonscapes.
As a built-in bonus, many of these alpine lakes are far off the tourist circuit, which means you can enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and rare wildlife sightings all to yourself. Take Lake Tso Moriri, in India’s Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve, where the watery environs are inhabited by black neck cranes and Tibetan gray wolves. Or California’s Eagle Lake, which is home to one of the last colonies of nesting osprey in the western United States. And if you really want to get off the grid, consider embarking on the 18-hour trek to the Kajin Sara Lake in Nepal. Maybe just stock up on altitude sickness medication before taking off. Below, 11 of the most beautiful lakes to put on your travel list.
Ojos del Salado Lake in Chile & Argentina
Straddling Chile and Argentina in the Andes Mountain Range, Ojos del Salado is the world’s highest volcano. It’s also home to the world’s highest lake, situated at a staggering 20,960 feet above sea level. The pool only measures 328 feet in diameter (which makes it a literal drop in the bucket compared to other South American lakes like Titicaca), but where else can you strike off two world records in one place? Travelers from both the Argentinian and Chilean sides can reach the lake, with many continuing on to summit the volcano and visit the nearby Atacama Desert.