Most Dangerous Water Bodies In The World
Blue holes are wondrous formations that were made by nature thousands of years ago. They are located all over the world. They’re basically sinkholes situated underwater. In fact, they are vertical caves that branch into long underwater hallways. Most blue holes are open to the public, although they are actually dangerous. Some of the largest of them have acquired a notably bad reputation from divers. For example, there is a blue hole in the red sea that attracts curious tourists. This formation has an extremely complex maze of hundreds of underwater tunnels. Unfortunately, this hole didn’t receive the name ‘Diver’s Cemetery’ for nothing.
It’s hard to believe that nature created something as colourful as the thermal pools in Yellowstone National Park. These pools are bright, beautiful, and very very deadly. They have taken the lives of 22 people since the 1870s. For one thing, the national park is situated on top of an active supervolcano. In this place, magma moves somewhere very close to the surface. This causes the pools to heat up to 236 degrees Celsius. This is hotter than the temperature inside an oven. Besides being hot, some of these pools are extremely acidic. For example, the Norris Geyser Basin has hydrothermal vents located under the surface. They emit chemicals that make the water highly acidic. If that’s not enough, microorganisms constantly destroy parts of the surrounding rock. This process increases sulfuric acid in the water. Even the bubbles that rise from the pools’ and geysers’ surfaces can cause severe burns. People can die from these fatal burns.
Laguna Caliente is located in Costa Rica. This lake differs dramatically from its sibling, Botos Lake. These two bodies of water are crater lakes of the Bhojas Volcano, but while Botos Lake is calm and still, Laguna Caliente is one of the most acidic lakes in the world. Its acidic content is higher than that of a car battery. So, for obvious reasons, you probably won’t set foot in there. But avoiding the acidic water doesn’t mean that you would be safe. The lake has the eerie ability to create acid fog and acid rain. They can harm people even outside the shoreline!
Mount Nyiragongo is situated in The Democratic Republic of the Congo. It’s an active supervolcano. It last erupted in 2002. In its crater, there’s a lake. But it’s not your typical lake. This lake is the world’s largest permanent lava lake. The depth of this lake fluctuates all the time. Before an eruption in January 1977, researchers recorded the maximum elevation of 10,660 feet! The average depth of the lake is 2,000 feet. I know, a lake full of molten rock mightn’t be tempting in terms of swimming, but you’d still have to stay a several thousand feet away to avoid danger.
Lake Hillier in Western Australia is completely pink. It is a shallow salt lake that’s beautifully edged with white salt formations and surrounded by eucalyptus forests. If you were wondering why the lake is so pink, you wouldn’t find an answer. Even scientists are at loss as to what makes the amazing colour. In 1950, a group of researchers investigated this place. Their theory was that saltwater algae made the water pink. However, no trace of the algae was found. Some suggest that the colour is a sign of a deadly contaminant. Others think there’s some unknown life form in the lake. They state that something alive could be making the lake pink (I couldn’t help wondering if it was a squid that squirts pink ink). The pink lake is extremely saline. Due to the high salt content, no fish live there. If you do get in the water, it is recommended that you don’t stay there for more than 10 minutes.
New Smyrna Beach is situated in Florida. It would be a perfect place for surfers and swimmers… except there are hundreds of hunting sharks living in the water. Water close to the surface teems with fish, attracting many sharks. New Smyrna Beach is called ‘The Shark Capital Of The World.’ In 2008, almost 40% of the shark attacks in the world took place in this region. The worst thing is, the sharks living here are Bull Sharks. They’re notorious for their aggressive behaviour. Think twice before you risk a swim!
If you look at a picture of Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand, you would think there’s fog hanging over the water. Similar fog or, more precisely, steam forms over warm water on a cold day. But that’s not the case with Frying Pan Lake. The water of the lake is always as hot as 55 degrees celsius. What’s more, the lake emits Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide. Not just a swim, but even a boat trip across the lake will lead to disastrous consequences.
Eagle’s Nest Sinkhole is a body of water in Florida that looks like an ordinary pond. It’s only when you get into the water that it gets dangerous. Beneath the lake, there’s a huge system with underwater caves, rooms and passages. Some rooms are as large as a football field. Some passages are the size of a door. The deepest point in this sinkhole lies at a depth of 94.5 metres. The place was closed after 1999 because too many people had died there. In 2006 it was reopened, but its popularity has significantly decreased.
