Europe is known for stunning landscapes, tourist destinations, and overall as being an incredible place to travel to. Some of the greatest European treasures are its bodies of water, many of which are known for being extremely clean and picturesque. This gallery will highlight Forbes’ list of Europe’s cleanest waters overall. So, whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a travel buff, or simply curious about Europe’s environmental successes, these rankings will offer insight into Europe’s cleanest bodies of water.

Curious about which country has the cleanest waters? Click through now to explore further.

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29. Albania -

Albania has 119 bodies of water, with 41.2% rated as excellent. Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe. It is shared between Albania and North Macedonia and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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28. Poland -

Poland has 739 bodies of water, with 54.9% rated as excellent. Morskie Oko and Lake Śniardwy are found in Poland and offer a lot to the community and visitors alike.

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27. Hungary -

Hungary has 283 bodies of water, with 62.5% rated as excellent. Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. It is a tourist destination known for its beaches and wine regions.

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26. Estonia -

Estonia has 65 bodies of water, with 66.2% rated as excellent. The fifth-largest lake in Europe, Lake Peipus, is a natural border between Estonia and Russia.

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25. Belgium -

Belgium has 130 bodies of water, with 67.7% rated as excellent. The Eau d'Heure Lakes are the largest lake district in Belgium. They offer an array of water sports and outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy!

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24. Romania -

Romania has 50 bodies of water, with 70% rated as excellent. Lake Sfânta Ana is the only volcanic lake in Romania and was formed in the crater of a dormant volcano.

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23. Slovakia -

Slovakia has 32 bodies of water, with 71.9% rated as excellent. Liptovská Mara is the largest reservoir in Slovakia and it is used for flood control and energy production, amongst other things.

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22. The Netherlands -

The Netherlands has 746 bodies of water, with 72.3% rated as excellent. Markermeer and IJsselmeer are pristine lakes found in The Netherlands.

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21. Sweden -

Sweden has 468 bodies of water, with 72.9% rated as excellent. Lake Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden and the third-largest in Europe, known for its numerous islands and archipelagos.

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20. Switzerland -

Switzerland has 196 bodies of water, with 74.5% rated as excellent. Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne are two of the most popular, and Kae Geneva is one of the largest lakes in Europe.

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19. Latvia -

Latvia has 59 bodies of water, with 74.6% rated as excellent. In Latvia, Lake Engure is part of a natural park that is a significant bird-watching site and has over 180 bird species.

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18. France -

France has 3361 bodies of water, with 74.9% rated as excellent. Lake Annecy is one of the cleanest lakes in Europe and a popular spot for those who enjoy swimming and boating.

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17. Slovenia -

Slovenia has 47 bodies of water, with 78.7% rated as excellent. In Slovenia, you'll find Lake Bled, which is famous for its picturesque island with a church and the medieval Bled Castle.

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16. Czech Republic -

Czechia has 153 bodies of water, with 79.1% rated as excellent. The Lipno Dam is the largest reservoir in the Czech Republic, providing hydroelectric power and recreational opportunities.

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15. Finland -

Finland has 304 bodies of water, with 87.2% rated as excellent. Lake Inari in Finland is located in Lapland and is known for its Northern Lights displays during the winter.

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14. Luxembourg -

Luxembourg has 17 bodies of water, with 88.2% rated as excellent. Luxembourg is home to the Upper-Sûre Lake and Moselle River amongst others.

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13. Lithuania -

Lithuania has 121 bodies of water, with 89.3% rated as excellent. The Curonian Lagoon is a brackish lagoon separated from the Baltic Sea by the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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12. Italy -

Italy has 5,533 bodies of water, with 90.3% rated as excellent (tied with Germany). Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and offers a variety of recreational activities, such as sailing and windsurfing.

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11. Germany -

Germany has 2,291 bodies of water, with 90.3% rated as excellent (tied with Italy). Home to the Chiemsee and Lake Constance, Germany has loads of great destinations for enjoying the water.

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10. Portugal -

Portugal has 667 bodies of water, with 86.2% rated as excellent. The Lagoa das Sete Cidades and Douro River are two Portuguese bodies of water worth visiting.

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9. Spain -

Spain has 2,275 bodies of water, with 87.6% rated as excellent. Lake Banyoles and the Ebro Delta are found in Spain. The Ebro Delta is considered one of the most important wetland areas in the Mediterranean due to its biodiversity.

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8. Malta -

Malta has 87 bodies of water, with 92% rated as excellent. Għadira Nature Reserve and St. Peter's Pool, which is a natural swimming pool known for clear waters and amazing surroundings, are both found in Malta.

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7. Denmark -

Denmark has 1,044 bodies of water, with 94% rated as excellent. In Denmark, you'll find Esrum Sø, Denmark's deepest lake, known for its beauty and recreational activities. It's also worth a trip to Furesø, the second-largest lake in Denmark.

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6. Ireland -

Ireland has 96 bodies of water, with 94.8% rated as excellent (tied with Bulgaria). Lough Corrib is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland and is renowned for its fishing.

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5. Bulgaria -

Bulgaria has 96 bodies of water, with 94.8% rated as excellent (tied with Ireland). Here you'll find Lake Pomorie and the Rila Lakes which are a group of glacial lakes situated in the Rila Mountains, each with a unique name and shape.

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4. Greece -

Greece has 1,731 bodies of water, with 95.8% rated as excellent. Lake Plastira and Santorini Caldera are found in Greece. The Santorini Caldera was formed by a massive volcanic eruption.

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3. Croatia -

Croatia has 936 bodies of water, with 96.7% rated as excellent. Croatia is home to the Krka River and Plitvice Lakes. The Plitvice Lakes National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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2. Austria -

Austria has 260 bodies of water, with 96.9% rated as excellent. Here you'll find Lake Neusiedl, one of the largest steppe lakes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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1. Cyprus -

Cyprus has 123 bodies of water, with 97.6% rated as excellent. Two famous spots include Akamas Peninsula and Larnaca Salt Lake. The latter is a habitat for flamingos migrating in the winter.

Sources: (Forbes) (UNESCO) (Visit Luxembourg) (Visit Portugal) (Czech Tourism) (Britannica)

Europe’s cleanest waters, ranked

Which countries made the list?

07/08/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Environment

Europe is known for its stunning landscapes and dense cluster of tourist destinations. It's truly an incredible place to travel. Some of the greatest European treasures are its bodies of water, many of which are known for being extremely clean and picturesque.

This gallery will highlight Forbes’ list of Europe’s cleanest waters overall. So, whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a travel buff, or simply curious about Europe’s environmental successes, these rankings will offer insight into Europe’s cleanest bodies of water.

Curious about which country has the cleanest waters? Click through now to explore further.