Despite being covered by water, only —of Earth's freshwater is contained in rivers and lakes. Many of these lakes showcase nature at its most spectacular.They combine vibrant blue waters, sheer cliffs, scenic islands, mountainous views and unique (sometimes, strange) features that make these natural formations some of the most stunning attractions in the world.

With 16 linked lakes, dozens of waterfalls, brilliantly green forests and dark caves, the is one of the world's most breathtaking destinations. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, the park attracts naturalists and hikers from across the globe.

(MORE: )

According to the park's website, the lakes have been attracting people to their shores . The land has been admired and built on by Romans, Turks, and eventually Croatian farmers. In 1949 the lakes were declared public property and opened to all citizens and tourists of Croatia, allowing visitors to bask in the pristine beauty and perhaps even view some of the native fauna, such as the brown bear, the eagle owl and the wolf, says UNESCO. But with the natural beauty of the area comes a sad history—it was here that the first shots of the Croatian War of Independence against Yugoslavia occurred.

One of Oregon's (and America's) crown jewels, Crater Lake has enchanted visitors for years. Even seasoned travelers still gasp in awe of the deep blue lake, circled by 20 miles of cliffs and fringed with hemlock, fir, and pine. Its depth of 1,943 feet makes Crater Lake the , and the ninth deepest in the world, according to the National Park Service. Its fresh water is some of the clearest found anywhere in the world.The lake's famously intense blue color is the product of its great depth, clarity of its water, and the way solar radiation interacts with its waters, says the NPS.

(MORE: )

Lakes comes in many sizes, shapes—from to crescent-shaped—and provide strange environments for different species of plants and animals (even .

One lake in Canada has a particularly strange appearance. Visit the , located near Osoyoos in British Columbia, during fall and it will look like any small body of water. But in the summer, the lake transforms into a psychedelic, polka-dotted pool, known to have healing powers. Its "spotty" appearance is caused by the in the lake, according to MSN. During the summer, most of the water evaporates and the mineral deposits at the bottom of the lake become visible.

View the slideshow above to see explore the world's most magnificent lakes. Which ones have you visited?

(For More Travel, )

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: 50 Spectacular Aerial Views

2. Fuerstenwalde, Germany

An aerial view shows a green field near Fuerstenwalde, eastern Germany, on April 29, 2014. (Patrick Pleul/AFP/Getty Images)