[FACT OR FAKE #24] The Photos In The Viral List of 35 Clearest Waters. Real Or Not?

Photo illustration of digitally altered images.

Another unidentified location that would be perfect for a swim. Anyone have an idea? Photo from Imgur.

Another from Scott Sporleder, here is a shot from one of Panama’s San Blas Islands, the largest of the politically autonomous reservations of the Kuna Indians. Photo from Scott Sporleder.

"On the beach there's a sign that says the charge for using the beach is $2. Well, we only wanted to walk on it to see what was there since there were several tourists on the island and in the water." - Photo from I Go Sailing.

Lakes in the High Sierra come in a number of colors, this particular one has an aquamarine “swimming pool” tint. Crater Mountain dominates the skyline, with Pinchot Pass to the south. Photo from SteveD.

"Our camp at Lake Marjorie, at 11,000 feet, was both beautiful and stark, with torrential rain that cleared up to a foggy landscape." - Photo from Blogspot.

Belo Sur Mer is a super-isolated section of coastline known for diving, fishing and the fact that almost no one makes the trip down there for a swim. Photo from Ross Borden.

"Belo sur Mer is a three to four hour pirogue ride south of Morondava. The ocean can get kind of rough later in the day." - Photo from Blogspot.

This photo comes from the town of Kampung Genting on Tioman Island, off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Away from its beaches, there’s significant rainforest terrain in the interior, where you can see the endemic soft-shelled turtle and the Tioman walking catfish.

"Tioman Island is a fantastic place to visit. Named as one of the most beautiful islands in the world by Time Magazine in the 1970s, Tioman will surely leave you speechless." - Photo from Tumblr.

The clear waters of the Verzasca River run for 30km through this rocky valley in southern Switzerland. A dam of the same name, featured in the James Bond movie GoldenEye, blocks the river’s flow and forms Lago di Vogorno. Just downstream from it, the river empties into Lake Maggiore. Photo from Imgur.

"The Verzasca River forms the artificial Lago di Vogorno near the entrance of the valley, formed by the Verzasca Dam before joining the Ticino River in the Magadino plain. The Verzasca Dam is also well known for its 220 m height jump, which is one of the highest jumps in the world and also the most famous bungy jump, as it was used in the James Bond film Golden Eye." Photo from Blogspot

This one’s made the rounds on the internet, but no one really seems to know where it was taken, or by whom. The best guess I found was the Königssee, a lake in southern Bavaria, near the border with Austria. If you have any info, clue us in. Photo, unknown.

While some called it simply "breathtaking", others commented "Little overrated."

One of many bodies of water in this list that someone or other has claimed has the clearest water in the world, Blue Lake is located in Nelson Lakes National Park, in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Photo from Kathrin & Stefan.

Traveler photo of the Blue Lake, New Zealand.

This is a 45-minute boat ride from Cartagena and well worth the trip. In between swims in that crystal-clear blue water, be sure to snag some fresh ceviche from one of the vendors walking up and down the beach. Photo from Ross Borden.

"Playa Blanca is one of the best beaches at Punta Cana Club & Resort. I think these beaches are also among the best in the Caribbean." - Photo from Blogspot.

Made famous when its smaller neighbor, Koh Phi Phi Leh, was used as the filming location for The Beach, the main island sees a lot of traffic from both backpackers and luxury travelers these days. Water like this is a big part of the draw. Photo from mynameisharsha.

Traveler photo of Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, on Trip Advisor.

Aitutaki is one of 15 islands that make up the Cook Islands. It has a population of approximately 2,000. and is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. Photo from Ross Borden.

"So if your visiting the beautiful Cook Islands (which I highly recommend), I suggest spending some time in Aitutaki." - Photo from Around The World With Rebecca, Blogspot.

Corfu sits in the Ionian Sea, off the northwest coast of Greece. Prior to the 1900s, most of the tourists that visited were European royalty. Today, its crystal clear waters draw a lot of package-tours to swim in the waters. Photo from Smlp.co.uk.

Traveler photo of Corfu, Greece, from Trip Advisor.

The entire Rio Azul waters come from the glaciers and snowfields of the Andes and the water is so incredibly clear and pure that its possible to drink. Photo by David Miller.

Photo of Rio Azul, from Trip Advisor.

Another calanque on the southern coast of France, d’En-Vau has a narrower, steeper channel than Sormiou, giving a real feeling of seclusion and emphasizing the clarity of the water in this cove. Photo from afer92.

Calanque d'en Vau, photo from Blogspot.

At the very top of the South Island, on Golden Bay, the photographer says: “14000 liters of crystal clear water comes out of these springs per second!” - Photo from pie4dan

"Waikoropupu Springs is the clearest waters I have ever seen. It's of significance to the Maori people."

Visit on a weekend during high season and you’ll be surrounded by busloads of tourists. Best to visit on a slow day with clear conditions, it’s some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii. Photo from Thomas Of Norway.

Traveler photo of Haunama, from Instagram.

The oldest continuously inhabited English settlement in the New World features many historic forts, like the small Gates Fort pictured above. Also: some damn clear water that calls out for you to take a swim. Photo from JoshuaDavis Photography.

"When you sail into Bermuda, you enter at the east end of the island near St. George, then take a right, and cruise through one the island's channels across the top of Bermuda to the other end (west end). Then you sail left and head into the channel that takes you to Hamilton, Bermuda's capital."

Primosten is most famous for its vineyards, in addition to beaches that have been voted the best in the country. Photo from Mike Le Gray Photography.

"Primosten is interesting to wander around...one innovative taverna offers tables in shallow water to 'cool your heels' but there seemed to be no takers." - Photo from Blogspot.

The Cayos Cochinos is a unique retreat for travelers looking to escape urban landscapes and crowded tourism centers. The islands have no roads, thus no cars or bikes and all areas are accessed by hiking. The perfect place for a secluded swim. Photo from Scott Sporleder.

"Cayos Cochinos is supposed to be some of the best snorkeling in all of Central America and we would definitely have to agree!" - Photo from Blogspot.

The photo above was taken in the Bonsai Rock area, on the east shore of the lake, which apparently flies under the radar. Photo from SteveD.

The specific area is called the Marlette-Hobart Backcountry recreational area. Here you will find an extensive system of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails that spans some 13000 acres of backcountry.

The most populous town in the Galapagos still sits right up next to some amazingly clear ocean water. Even here in Academy Bay, you can see pelicans, iguanas, sea lions, herons, rays, and other iconic wildlife. Photo from Bill Bouton.

Instagram photo of Puerto Ayora.

Panari, also called Aragusuku, is one of the Yaeyama Islands, the most remote area of Japan. The islands are also known as one of the world’s best diving destinations, having a number of coral species and marine lives as large as those in the Great Barrier Reef. (Over 400 types of corals, 5 types of sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and all kinds of tropical fish species all live around Okinawa.) Photo from Ippei + Janine.

Photo of Panari Island, Okinawa, Japan, from Instagram.

Calanques are steep-walled coves, and there’s a series of them along the 20km stretch of coast between Marseille and Cassis. Sormiou is one of the largest of these, and it’s popular for its nearby climbing routes as well as its beach. Photo from Paspog.

"The Calanques of Marseille are an area of outstanding beauty that run along the coast from Marseille. They are made of limestone and were created by a tectonic vertical thrust 1.5million years ago creating hills and caves - some of which were filled with water at the end of the last ice age." - Photo from Blogspot

Located in the Pantanal region of Brazil, Rio Sucuri is a spring-fed river that has some of the measurably clearest water on Earth. Multiple tour outfits run trips that let you snorkel the river. Photo from Luiz Felipe Sahd.

"To protect this amazing ecological system, all tourists have to follow the local tour guide. Only 9 people are allowed in a group." - Photo from Wordpress

Jenny Lake sits right below the peak of Grand Teton and is a landmark for many hiking trails, backcountry trails, and climbing routes. Despite the fact that motorboats are allowed on the lake, its waters are still considered pristine. Photo from Jeff Clow.

Blogger Daven Kathy, "Arriving lakeside, we got a beautiful morning view of Mount Teewinot to the south of the lake." - Photo from Blogspot.

Another one from the remote Malaysian state, which covers the northern portion of Borneo and is ringed by reef-rich islands. This photo was taken near Semporna, which is a hub for people who come to dive Malaysian Borneo. Photo from Zahriel.

Photos of Semporna, from Trip Advisor.

In the north of Sichuan province, the Jiuzhaigou Valley is a national park, nature reserve, and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to several crystal-clear lakes, it’s a region of multi-tiered waterfalls and snowy mountains. Tourism arrived late but is growing strong, and while swimming isn’t allowed…there’s always nighttime skinny dipping. Photo from Who is taking pictures?

Jiuzhaigou, photo from Instagram.

This unique beach is made up of mostly stone and you can find some interesting sea life here. Photo from Bearnerd Bondly.

Bak-bak beach, Borneo, photo from Adamlai.com.

Visibility in Crater Lake has been measured at 43.3m — among the highest in the world. There is only one access point down to the lake — a steep, mile-long trail. It is easy enough to get down but the climb back can be tiring. So best decide if it’s worth the swim before venturing down. Photo from Grant Montgomery.

Photo of Crater Lake, Oregon, from Trip Advisor.

To Sua Ocean Trench is a clear water pool located in Lotofaga village. To Sua means ‘big hole’ and has been converted into a large swimming area. A ladder is installed on side for visitors to access this 30 meters deep pool. Photo from To Sua Ocean Trench.

To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa.

At the south end of the Mediterranean island of Menorca, the beach at Cala Macarelleta can only be reached on foot or by boat — probably one of the least-crowded beaches you’ll find in Spain and perfect if like to take a swim alone. Photo from visualpanic.

User photo of Cala Macarelleta, Menorca, Spain, from Trip Advisor.

A resort island on Cuba’s north coast, Cayo Coco is linked to the mainland by a 27km causeway. The adjacent reef and clear waters have earned international recognition as a diving destination. Photo from O.Taillon.

Photo fo Cayo Coco, from Nikilee30.files.wordpress.com.

Along the southern coast of the peninsula of the same name, Bodrum has an ancient history and was the site of one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World (the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus). It also has some amazingly clear water. Photo from Oky – Space Ranger.

Traveler photo of Bordum, from Trip Advisor.

The 26 atolls that make up the Maldives sit in the Indian Ocean about 400km southwest of the tip of the subcontinent. Abundant reef wildlife (including whale sharks) + incredibly clear waters bring in a lot of tourists (Photo from Richy).

Traveler photos depicting Maldives, from Trip Advisor.

This island is in a remote province and home to many beaches with super clear water. The island has a population of just 14,180 people.

User photo of Linapacan Island, from Trip Advisor.