America's most beautiful lakes in pictures
Watery wonders

Mono Lake, California

Mono Lake, California

Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

This stunner is among the world's 20 oldest lakes, at around two million years-old. The deepest point plunges to 1,645 feet (42m) – if the Empire State Building were submerged here, it wouldn't even break the surface. There are some magical goings-on too. Some say a prehistoric creature lives in the watery depths. Discover more mysterious places around the world here.
Avalanche Lake, Montana

Avalanche Lake, Montana

Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas

Although more famous for its musical connections, Austin has a surprising amount of green spaces – and blue, for that matter. Lady Bird Lake is actually a reservoir whose skinny shape makes it look more like a river.
Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas

Lake Clark, Alaska

Lake Clark, Alaska

Redfish Lake, Idaho

Redfish Lake, Idaho

The 4.4-mile-long (7.2km) lake is surrounded by lush alpine forest and majestic mountains. It plunges to a maximum depth of 387 feet (118m) while sandy beaches fringe the shore of the lake’s shallower edges. Now take a look at America's most stunning natural wonders.
Lake Superior, Michigan

Lake Superior, Michigan

The lake surrounds Isle Royale National Park, an archipelago of more than 200 islands – some of which have their own mini lakes, waterfalls and even shipwrecks. The largest, Isle Royale, has wildlife including wolves and moose. Take a look at stunning photos of the world's most spectacular shipwrecks here.
Lake Powell, Utah and Arizona

Lake Powell, Utah and Arizona

Its beauty hasn't gone unnoticed. The lake has featured in films such as the 1968 version of Planet of the Apes and Oscar-winning Gravity, released in 2013. Discover more beautiful lakes you won't believe are man-made here.
Diablo Lake, Washington

Diablo Lake, Washington

The lake is framed by snow-capped peaks and waterfalls. The forest that surrounds the lake is home to wildlife like black-tailed deer and hoary marmots, who whistle when they sense a predator is nearby. Take a look at these 99 beautiful things we love about America.
Lake George, New York

Lake George, New York

The idyllic body of water is renowned for its soothing clear expanse – all 45 square miles (116.5sqkm) of it. Lake George, which was formed some 10,000 years ago, is dotted with more than 150 islands. Take a look at amazing places you won't believe are in the USA.
Lake Jocassee, South Carolina

Lake Jocassee, South Carolina

Hanging Lake, Colorado

Hanging Lake, Colorado

Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana

This swampy lake straddles Texas and Louisiana, and it could hardly be more Southern in its feel and appearance. Spanish moss drips from cypress trees, whose broad, knotted trunks are submerged in the soupy water. Now take a look at these photos of the world's most beautiful trees.
Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana

Alligators can be occasionally spotted basking on logs here, as well as herons, armadillos and turtles. The lake has an ethereal, slightly spooky beauty and some claim this is prime Bigfoot territory (people call him the 'Caddo critter'). Discover the most magical places on Earth here.
Crater Lake, Oregon

America’s deepest lake (a staggering 1,943ft/592m) is often the most camera-shy. In winter, it can hidden in a wall of fog but if it clears, the blindingly blue water of this caldera basin is breathtaking. Now discover the world's most beautiful waterfalls.
Crater Lake, Oregon

The lake was formed more than 7,000 years ago and is a collapsed volcano filled with rain and snowmelt. The cinder cone-shaped Wizard Island which rises in its centre makes it even more distinctive. Now take a look at the most wonderful views in the world.
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