The Clearest Waters in the World

There’s something about a white sandy beach and pristine, crystal clear water that beckons to us. If you’re seeking some especially clear water, you won’t do worse than these 14 breathtaking locales — including one chilly spot that boasts the clearest water on the planet.

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Cala Mariolu, Sardinia, Italy

The second-largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is home to this popular beach with the azure-blue ocean resembling a swimming pool.

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Cayo Coco, Cuba

Located on the north coast of Cuba, this resort island (linked to the mainland by a 2.7 km causeway) is world- renowned for miles of pristine beaches and calm, clear, shallow water protected by an adjacent reef.

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Five Flower Lake, China

This world-renowned lake, located in a nature reserve and national park located north of Sichuan province, boasts a high concentration of calcium carbonate, which results in its water being spectacularly clear.

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The Maldives

Thanks to its crystal clear waters, The Maldives — a South Asian nation comprised of 26 atolls — ranks among the world's best snorkelling spots.

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Peyto Lake, Alberta

Surrounded by glaciers that keep the lake filled with pristine glacial water, Peyto Lake is situated near Banff, and famed for its clear, deep-blue water.

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Hanauma Bay, Hawaii

Hanauma Bay, in the Hawaiian island of Oahu, is a snorkeler's paradise thanks to the clarity of the water in this protected bay.

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Corfu, Greece

The island of Corfu sits in the Ionian Sea, off the northwest coast of Greece, and the island's miles and miles of pristine beaches and utterly transparent water continue to attract sun-seeking tourists from around the world.

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Crater Lake, Oregon

This stunning lake — the result of a 655-metre-deep caldera — is famed for the clarity of its deep blue water.

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Calanque de Sormiou, France

Accessed by boat from Marseilles in the south of France, Calanque de Sormiou boasts stunning blue water lapping gently against a white sand beach, said to be one of the finest swimming spots in Europe.

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Bodrum, Turkey

The waters off this port city in southeastern Turkey are known around the world for their clarity, with boats appearing to be floating on air due to the optical illusion created by the water's stunning clarity.

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Weddell Sea, Antarctica

If you're looking for the clearest water in the world, head south — way south, to Antarctica's Weddell Sea, which scientific researchers have determined is the clearest of any sea on the planet, boasting the same clarity as distilled water.