What activities come to mind when you think about lakes? Sailing, fishing, picnicking, swimming, water skiing, or just hanging out with family and friends are some of the things you could do at your average blue lake. But some lakes out there aren’t so average.
Boiling Lake, Dominica
Boiling Lake in Dominica fills a fumarole, the hole in the top of a volcano from which hot gases and vapors come forth. Remember the cups of tea the Morticia served on The Addams Family? With swirling clouds of vapor over its surface, this lake looks like a giant cup of that tea. The furiously bubbling grayish-blue water is heated by the magma below the surface of the surrounding rock.
Writing Prompt: When I think of this lake, I think of someone being thrown into a volcano as a sacrifice to some furious god. The swirling clouds of vapor only make it seem more so. So what god is demanding a sacrifice? Who is chosen to be thrown into this giant cauldron of a lake? Or did the sacrifice volunteer to die in homage to this mysterious god?
Jellyfish Lake, Palau
Palau, an archipelago of over 500 islands, is part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean. Jellyfish Lake, located on Eil Malk Island, has crystal-clear water and is full of golden jellyfish. Jellyfish are so beautiful, but I’ve heard their stings really hurt. Ever wanted to swim among the jellyfish and not worry about getting stung? This is where you want to go. Or if you have a character whose dream is to swim surrounded by jellyfish, this is where you should send him. These beautiful creatures have lost their sting and are harmless.
Out of the eight lakes talked about in this article, this one is my favorite. To swim among the jellyfish without the fear of getting stung would be so awesome!
Writing Prompt: Who wants to swim with the jellyfish? Someone wants to swim with the jellyfish so badly that he (or she) hires someone to kidnap several of these beautiful golden jellyfish to try and raise them in a lake closer to where they live. What happens?
Writing Prompt #2: Write a story from the jellyfish’s point of view. Now that people all over the world know about this lake, it has become a popular tourist attraction. How do the jellyfish feel about this? Occasionally, they would see someone swimming in their lake, but after living in near-seclusion for hundreds if not thousands of years, there are now people invading their lake all the time. Are the jellyfish okay with this? If not, what do they do since they can no longer have the ability to sting someone?
Kelimutu, Indonesia
Three vibrantly colored crater lakes in Kelimutu National Park, located in Flores, Indonesia, are a huge tourist attraction. These lakes are separated only by crater walls, and they change colors (blue, green, pink, brown) several times a year. Chemical reactions within the volcanic craters cause the color changes. The three lakes are Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People), Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens), and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake).
Writing Prompt: These lakes change colors because of a chemical reaction, but in the world of fiction, there should be a much more interesting reason. Could the reason(s) have to do with what the names of the lakes mean?
Lake Baikal – Siberia, Russia
When I think of Siberia, I think cold, very cold. But Siberia is also home to the world’s deepest freshwater lake. Known as the “Galapagos of Russia,” over 80% of the species that live here are found nowhere else on Earth. Among them are the nerpa, the world’s only exclusively freshwater seal and now a protected species. This lake is perfectly safe to swim in, but the thought of swimming there gives me chills. It has some of the purest water in the world, but I imagine it is also some of the coldest water in the world.
Writing Prompt: Over 80% of the species that live in this lake are found nowhere else on Earth. What terrifying creature that lives in this lake has yet to be discovered? And what is the reaction once it finally makes its appearance?
Lake Hillier, Australia
Located in western Australian, this lake is the color of bubblegum or a strawberry milkshake. It also reminds me of Pepto-Bismol, but that isn’t nearly as flattering. You’re probably wondering, “Why is it pink?” First of all, Lake Hillier is a lake, but it is a very salty lake. The saline in the lake combines with a salt-loving algae species known as Dunaliella salina and a pink bacteria known as halobacteria. Amazingly, the lake keeps its pink color year-round. Even when bottled, the water is still pink.
Writing Prompt: This lake is way too salty for fish, but creatures who love salt thrive here. Create a creature, maybe a scary one or maybe one that isn’t scary, who lives here and grows and grows and grows because of all the salt. What is this creature called? Is it friendly or not? What does it do to make its presence known? Or does it want to be known about?
Lake Retba, Senegal
Located in Cap-Vert peninsula in Senegal, Africa, Lake Retba looks so inviting, so peaceful. Its rosy-colored waters are deceiving you though. Its salt content rivals that of the Dead Sea and attracts the Dunaliella salina bacteria—the same bacteria that is in Lake Hiller in Australia—which is responsible for the lake’s rosy hue. Those living close to it call it Lac Rose.
Those who have the job of collecting salt from the lake cover their skin with shea butter before wading into the highly saline lake. If they don’t, the saline concentration in this lake is so heavy that it can damage their skin. The salt they extract is mainly used for fish preservation.
Writing Prompt: Your character lives right by a pink lake, one that is very salty. Lately, she has been hearing strange noises coming from the lake. What is going on?
Pink Lakes of Murray – Sunset National Park, Australia
There are four pink lakes here – Crosbie, Becking, Kenyon and Hardy. Hundreds of species of salt-tolerant native plants grow in the area around each of the lakes. A myriad of wildlife inhabits the regions around the lakes: kangaroos, emus, bearded dragons, and many kinds of birds and insects can all be seen around these bubblegum-pink lakes.
Writing Prompt: Bearded dragons inhabit the area around these lakes. Create your own set of pink lakes and have fire-breathing dragons inhabit the area. What is it about the pink lakes that attracts them?
Spotted Lake – British Columbia, Canada
This lake has spots! This is such a strange-looking lake, you would think it belongs in a Dr. Suess book. So where is this beautiful – yes, it is beautiful—lake? It is located between the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys in British Columbia’s desert. What causes these colored spots? Large amounts of magnesium sulfate, calcium, and sodium sulfates, along with other minerals and traces of silver and titanium are all present in this lake. During World War I, these minerals were harvested from the lake and used to manufacture ammunition. This lake is now fenced off; you can still see it from different point along the highway, but you’re not able to get close enough to get your toes wet.
Writing Prompt: Since these lakes look like they belong in a Dr. Suess book, write a book for children in the unique style of Dr. Seuss. Come up with a crazy reason that spots appear in a lake similar to this one.
