Polski
From the world, In this issue, Issue 15/2025
The world’s most beautiful lagoons
Oct
Silence, tranquility and closeness to nature – this is what the world’s most beautiful lagoons offer. The turquoise of the water, the soft sand underfoot and the life bustling just below the surface make it easy to relax here from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Who among us doesn’t dream of it? Here are five magical places that are sure to delight everyone.
What do we call a lagoon?
Before we embark on our journey, a brief overview of the theory. A lagoon is a shallow, coastal body of water, separated from the open ocean by a natural barrier – a coral reef, a spit of land, a chain of islands or a band of rocks. Shielded from strong wave action, the waters form unique ecosystems: from seagrass meadows to vibrant coral reefs that shelter fish, turtles and crustaceans. The mechanisms of formation vary (coral, barrier/shore, volcanic, tectonic, glacial and even anthropogenic), but the common features remain the same: shallow, sheltered and highly biodiverse. Importantly, lagoons act as natural buffers – dampening waves and reducing erosion – and their calm water fuels ecotourism and local economies.
The world’s most beautiful lagoons: top 5
Blue Lagoon (Iceland)
Blue Lagoon on the Reykjanes Peninsula is the remarkable result of the interaction of geology and engineering: the lagoon was created in 1976 when geothermal waters from the Svartsenga power plant began to accumulate in a natural, impermeable basalt basin of a lava field – a side effect of energy production, where the porosity of the lava stopped the outflow. In 1981, the first wellness center opened here, and in the 1990s it was expanded to include luxury pools and saunas, transforming an accidental reservoir into a global attraction.
The milky blue color of the lagoon is due to the presence of colloidal silica (silica), which reflects light like milk. It consists of about 70 percent seawater and 30 percent fresh water, enriched with silica, blue-green algae, sulfur and magnesium. The reservoir maintains a temperature of 37-40°C at the surface. Scenically, it is a contrast of black lava with steaming waters, with views of volcanic hills and the aurora borealis in winter. Nature-wise, the lagoon supports thermophilic bacteria and algae, and the surrounding area – a reserve with seagulls, cormorants and lichens – highlights Iceland’s rugged nature. In 2012. National Geographic included it in its list of 25 natural wonders.
Bora Bora Lagoon (French Polynesia)
Bora Bora Lagoon in the Society Islands archipelago (Îles de la Société) in French Polynesia is one of the most famous lagoons of the Pacific, surrounding the volcanic island of Bora Bora (area 30-39 km2) with a barrier coral reef up to 2 km wide. This turquoise oasis of about 100 km2 was formed over millions of years as the long-extinct volcano (with the 727-meter-high Otemanu and Pahia massifs) collapsed, creating a body of water up to 10 meters deep, protected from the ocean by a coral barrier.
This natural cover of coral and sand absorbs the energy of the waves, keeping the lagoon in calm, shallow water – ideal for snorkeling and relaxation. Only one channel (passage) allows access for boats. Landscape-wise, it’s a masterpiece: crystalline waters in shades of blue and green contrast with white motu beaches – small, sandy islets with palm trees. Naturally, the lagoon is an oasis of biodiversity. Coral reefs abound with colorful fish, rays, reef sharks, turtles, moray eels, octopuses and invertebrates like sea cucumbers. The entire ecosystem is protected in a marine reserve, with manta ray trade banned since 1998.
Venetian Lagoon (Italy)
The Venetian Lagoon is the largest wetland area in the Mediterranean – a mosaic of shallows, brackish wetlands and channels with a total area of about 550 square kilometers. It is connected to the open Adriatic Sea by three straits – Lido, Malamocco and Chioggia – through which tides bring water in and out, giving the whole system a pulse. The structure of the lagoon is unusual: only about 8 percent is occupied by islands (including Venice and 118 smaller ones), about 11 percent is permanently flooded navigable waters (channels 1-15 m deep), and as much as ca. 80 percent are tidal marshes and shallows, exposed and flooded depending on the water level.
In addition to the famous Venice, the lagoon hides lesser-known but equally captivating islands: colorful Burano, famous for its lace-making, Murano with its centuries-old tradition of art glass-making, or Torcello – the first inhabited island of the lagoon, where the oldest Venetian basilica (dating back to the 7th century) is located. It is here that there are distinctive barene formations (salt marshes and halophilous meadows), velme (shallows) and a dense network of narrow ghebi (micro-channels) that create habitats for saltmarsh plants, invertebrates and wetland birds (more than 100 species, including cormorants, herons and flamingos). In 1987, the Venice Lagoon was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Laguna Chuuk (Micronesia)
Chuuk Lagoon (formerly Truk Lagoon) in the state of Chuuk in Micronesia is a lagoon inside a vast atoll of 2130 square kilometers, surrounded by 225 kilometers of barrier coral reef and 11 volcanic islands – the largest natural harbor in the Pacific, with tropical greenery and waters up to 70 meters deep. Rising from a collapsed volcano, with a land area of 93 square kilometers and a population of 36,000, its turquoise waters conceal a dark history: during World War II it was the main naval base of the Japanese Empire in the South Pacific, the target of a devastating US attack in February 1944 (Operation Hailstone) and a British-Canadian landing in June 1945 (Operation Inmate).
The ecosystem, rebuilt after the war, is protected in a marine reserve, where sunken wrecks (about 60 ships and 400 aircraft) have become artificial reefs, supporting biodiversity.
Aitutaki Lagoon (Cook Islands)
Aitutaki Lagoon is a crystalline, shallow body of water enclosed by a barrier coral reef and dotted with a chain of coral islets (motu) around the main volcanic island. It is about 50-74 square
In the sheltered waters, coral gardens, seagrass meadows and habitats for turtles, reef sharks, rays and hundreds of species of fish thrive. Above water, the motu chain creates a postcard-perfect setting of white beaches and palm trees. The most famous of the islands, Tapuaetai (One Foot Island), offers wide shoals exposed at low tide and is considered the most popular destination for lagoon cruises.
MAIN PHOTO: François Balédent/Pexels
