Ah, lakes!Greatforfishing,swimming,andpaddling.Or…maybenot.Frompolka‑dotwatertosaltthatmeltsyourskin,theselakesareamongEarth’sweirdestbodiesof water.
SeeingSpots
TakeapeekatSpottedLake,BritishColumbia.Doesitremindyouofyourfavoritepolka-dot pajamas?
SpottedLakefillsalowspotinoneofCanada’sdeserts.Thelakeisadeadend.Waterrichinmineralsflowsin.Butnothingflowsout.Insummer,mostofthewaterevaporates.Itleavesbehindmanysmallpoolsfilledwith minerals.
Canada’sFirstNationspeoplethoughtthelakehadhealingpowers.Feelingill?Takeadipinthe pools!
SpottedLake,BritishColumbia, Canada
LakeNatron,Tanzania, Africa
flamingos
PoisonorParadise?
Don’tbothertakingadipinLakeNatron,Tanzania.Inthedryseason,mostofthewaterevaporates.What’sleftishotterthanbathwaterandredfrombacterialivinginthewater.Thewaterissosalty,itwillburnyour skin.
You’dalsohavetocompetewithmillionsofflamingos.Thewaterdoesn'tbotherthem.Theybuildtheirneststhere.Thepoisonouswateraroundthemkeepstheiryoungsafefrompredators.Whatprotectstheflamingos?Theirleathery legs!
ExtremeLake
Big,bold,cold,andbeautiful.That’sLakeBaikal,Russia:Earth’sdeepest.It’smorethan1,000 meters(3,280feet)deepand636 kilometers(400miles)long.Thishugelakecontainsafifthoftheplanet’sliquidfreshwater.
LakeBaikalisalsoEarth’soldestlake.Itdatesback25millionyears.Thelakeishometosome1,500 species—manyfoundnowhereelseonEarth,likethenerpa.Thenerpaistheonlysealthatlivesonlyin freshwater.
LakeBaikal, Russia
nerpa