DEEP DIVE

Plunge Into The World’s 10 Deepest Lakes And Their Hidden Treasures

Credit: Lisanto 李奕良

Lakes always evoke a sense of mystery and wonder. What hidden secrets lie fathoms below their waters? From icy Siberia to the warm inland waters of Africa, these sleeping giants hold many treasures waiting to be found, be it ancient shipwrecks or geological wonders.

Take a cold plunge and dive with us into 10 of the deepest lakes on Earth!

Credit: Markus Winkler

Location: Russia

Maximum depth: 5,387 feet

Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, holds about 20% of the Earth's unfrozen freshwater. Its icy turquoise waters are home to many endemic species of plants and animals, like the nerpa seal, and several unique bird and fish species. Even in its deepest regions, the lake has an unusually high abundance of dissolved oxygen, allowing life to thrive (and grow to larger-than-usual sizes) throughout the whole water column.

Credit: Felix Dance, CC BY 2.0

Location: Africa

Maximum depth: 4,823 feet

Lake Tanganyika is the second deepest lake, accounting for 16% of the world's freshwater. With a total length of 420 miles and averaging 50 miles in width, it is also the longest freshwater lake in the world. It is home to large Nile crocodiles and many species of turtles, among many other rare species. During World War I, the lake served as a strategic waterway, facilitating the transport of troops and cargo, and became the backdrop for numerous naval battles and skirmishes between German and Allied forces.

Credit: NASA

Location: Eurasia

Maximum depth: 3,363 feet

Despite its name, the Caspian Sea is technically a saline lake, and the largest inland body of water on Earth. Formed 30 million years ago, the Caspian Sea was a cultural crossroads for millennia, and there is historical evidence that suggests that the ancient inhabitants of its shores were as puzzled by its peculiar nature as scientists today, as even Alexander the Great attempted to explore its vast waters. Amazingly, dolphins and whales are thought to have lived in the lake around 50,000 - 100,000 thousand years ago, and local rock art depicting these animals seems to verify the fossil record.

Credit: NOAA

Location: Antarctica

Maximum depth: 2,953 feet

Buried 13,100 feet below Antarctica's icy surface lies Lake Vostok, one of the most pristine and mysterious bodies of water on the planet. It is estimated that the subglacial lake has been isolated for more than 15 million years, leading scientists to hypothesize that unusual forms of life might be dwelling in its waters, resembling the conditions on the ice-covered oceans that are thought to exist on Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s Enceladus. Who knows what secrets this icy abyss might hold?

Credit: Gabriela Palero

Location: Argentina / Chile

Maximum depth: 2,742 feet

Nestled in the southernmost point of the Andes mountain range, this icy glacier lake is shared by Argentina and Chile (the lake is known as San Martin in Argentina and O'Higgins in Chile, both independence heroes). Fed by nearby glaciers, the water has a characteristic milky light-blue color that comes from the fine suspended sediments, a product of glacial erosion.

Credit: Craig Manners

Location: Africa

Maximum depth: 2,316 feet

The second deepest lake in Africa, Lake Malawi, is known for harboring more species of fish than any other lake in the world. With over 1,000 species of colorful cichlids, the fishing industry is an important part of the livelihood of the local population. Also, the relatively high visibility of Lake Malawi’s waters makes it an ideal spot for recreational diving.

Credit: Igor Tverdovskiy

Location: Kyrgyzstan

Maximum depth: 2,192 feet

Issyk-Kul, meaning "warm lake" in Kyrgyz, is the second-largest mountain lake in the world. Curiously, its deepest point is still 3,080 feet above sea level. Its tranquil saline waters have been a sanctuary for travelers along the ancient Silk Road for centuries. Archaeological artifacts are regularly recovered from the waters of the lake, and the remains of ancient settlements have been found in its shallow areas.

Credit: Paul Gierszewski

Location: Canada

Maximum depth: 2,015 feet

Located in Canada's Northwest Territories, Great Slave Lake is the deepest lake in North America. Its frigid waters hide the wreckage of many planes and ships lost to its icy depths over the years. Remarkably, a Soviet reconnaissance satellite with a nuclear reactor fell into the lake in 1978, and the radioactive debris had to be recovered in a joint operation by the Canadian and U.S. armed forces.

Credit: NaHarai Perez Aguilar

Location: United States

Maximum depth: 1,949 feet

A relatively young body of water, Crater Lake formed around 7,000 years ago by the collapse of a volcanic caldera. The lake is the deepest in the United States, and its pristine waters attract visitors from all over the world. Interestingly, no fish lived in the lake until 1888, when several salmon and trout species were introduced to allow for fishing.

Credit: Fifthgana Alfahrezi

Location: Indonesia

Maximum depth: 1,936 feet

Lake Matano is the deepest lake located on an island and the deepest in Indonesia. Formed around 2 million years ago, its crystal-clear waters are home to unique organisms found nowhere else on Earth. Because the top and bottom layers of the lake rarely mix, the deep waters of Lake Matano bear possible similarities to the ancient oceans of the Archean and Paleoproterozoic Eons.

WANDERLUST IS MORE UNIVERSAL THAN EXPECTED

Travel-related Terms to Fuel Your Adventures

Credit: Eva Darron

The rich lexicon of traveling goes beyond words like carry-on or boarding pass. Aside from the mechanical aspects of moving oneself from one place to the other, the poetry of wanderlust and journeys creates words to describe sensations, feelings, and experiences.

All over the world, different expressions from different languages describe similar human experiences relating to the joy of traveling and discovering new places. Take a moment to learn about twelve of these terms and find out how many of those describe things that you have felt.

Credit: Marco Lopez

Resfeber, a term rooted in Swedish, embodies the intoxicating mix of anticipation and nervousness before embarking on a journey. Its literal translation, "travel fever," describes the emotions—excitement, and restlessness—that invade us as we are at the beginning of an adventure.

A somewhat similar expression in the English language would be the feeling of having "butterflies in the stomach" before an event that moves us.

Credit: Luca Baggio

Solivagant is a word derived from Latin that eloquently describes a solitary wanderer's essence, enjoying an aimless exploration. The term comes from soli (alone) and vagant (wandering), expressing the profound beauty found in solitary journeys, where the traveler embraces the freedom to wander without a fixed destination or purpose.

It embodies the poetic notion of finding solace in the less traveled paths, acknowledging that the true essence of travel often lies in unplanned moments and the discoveries made in the quiet corners of the world.

Credit: Paola Chaaya

The German term fernweh beautifully describes the yearning for distant places, a deep ache for far-off lands yet unexplored. Composed of fern (far) and weh (pain), it expresses homesickness for places we've never been.

But, unlike "homesickness," which yearns for familiar surroundings, fernweh expresses the desire to wander, to immerse oneself in the unknown, to discover new landscapes. It captures the essence of wanderlust, a craving to explore the unfamiliar, to absorb the cultures, sights, and experiences waiting all over the world.

Credit: Danilo Batista

The Greek word eleutheromania represents an intense obsession or craze for freedom. A combination of eleutheria (freedom) and mania (madness), it expresses the pursuit of liberty in all aspects of life.

This word encapsulates a desire for independence, self-expression, and freedom from constraints, whether societal norms, personal limitations, or any form of repression. It symbolizes a drive to break free from boundaries and embrace the unrestricted potential of the human spirit.

Credit: Gregoire Jeanneau

The French idiom dérive embodies the concept of drifting or wandering, both physically and mentally, often without a predetermined course. Originating from the verb dériver meaning "to drift," it expresses the idea of allowing oneself to be guided by the currents of spontaneity and exploration, embracing the unexpected paths that unfold.

This term describes the act of purposeful wandering through urban landscapes to discover new perspectives within the cityscape.

Credit: Thom Holmes

Yet another word stemming from Latin, vagary encapsulates the unpredictable nature of wandering. It describes a sudden and unpredictable change, a departure from the usual or expected course.

Vagary celebrates the beauty found in unexpected detours, serendipitous discoveries, and uncharted paths. It embodies the notion of embracing the unpredictable elements of life's journey, acknowledging that some of the most enriching experiences arise from ventures off the beaten path.

Credit: Hannah Zhyhar

The freedom of being alone and being able to do what you want. That is, quite literally, the meaning of the German expression sturmfrei. Originating from sturm (storm) and frei (free), it denotes the liberation experienced when one is left alone without any oversight or intrusion.

This word paints a picture of temporary autonomy, especially for younger individuals, to enjoy uninhibited moments devoid of authority figures, allowing for a sense of liberation and spontaneity. Think of Kevin McCallister, the young kid left behind by his family in Home Alone, but in German.

Credit: Esteban Trivelli

If you have ever experienced something both strange and marvelous, simultaneously unfamiliar yet captivating, you have experienced selcouth. A word stemming from Old English that encapsulates the paradoxical nature of encountering something wonderfully unfamiliar yet deeply intriguing.

This term celebrates the beauty found in the unexplored, and the uncommon, inviting a sense of fascination towards the inexplicable. Selcouth acknowledges the enchantment that arises when confronted with the extraordinary.

Credit: Zac Durant

Derived from the Greek eu (good) and daimon (spirit or inner self), the word eudaimonia signifies a deep sense of contentment and thriving that arises from living by one's true nature and virtues.

This term transcends mere fleeting moments of joy, and it emphasizes an enduring state of well-being achieved through moral virtue, personal growth, and the pursuit of excellence.

Credit: Austin Crow

As we have seen on this list, the universal experience of wandering without a clear destination is a concept expressed in many languages and coddiwomple is one of them. A delightful term rooted in Old English, it captures the idea of setting off on a journey with an open heart and mind, embracing the adventure of the unknown.

Composed of coddi (to travel purposefully) and womple (to wander), this word celebrates the joy of meandering through life's paths without the constraints of a fixed plan, allowing oneself to be guided by curiosity and embracing the unexpected twists and turns along the way.

Credit: Nathan Anderson

As if trying on a different life for a while, the Old French word sojourn encapsulates the essence of a temporary stay or residence in a particular place. Derived from the words sojorner or sojourner meaning "to dwell or reside," it describes a brief period of living or lodging in a location that isn't one's permanent home.

This word carries a sense of transience, emphasizing the temporary nature of the stay, whether for rest, exploration, or specific purposes. It embodies the idea of immersing oneself temporarily in a different environment, embracing new surroundings and experiences.

Credit: Avi Waxman

A word composed of "hitori" (one person) and "tabi" (journey or travel), the Japanese term hitoritabi embodies the art of exploring the world independently, embracing solitude while navigating diverse landscapes, cultures, and experiences.

This word celebrates the idea of traveling alone, acknowledging the freedom, self-discovery, and introspection that comes from venturing solo. Hitoritabi isn't just about physical travel but it also represents an inner journey, an opportunity for personal growth and reflection while being alone.