Ik Kil, Cenote, Mexico(01 of11)
Open Image ModalBlue Lagoon, Grindavik, Iceland(02 of11)
Open Image ModalOnce again, Iceland defies its name with steamy waters in the popular Blue Lagoon, located in Grindavik, Iceland. The man-made Lagoon was created in the late 1970s, and is now composed of 1.5 million gallons of geothermal seawater from deep inside the Earth (yep, that’s why it’s so warm). The waters are thought to have a “healing quality,” and are chock-full of minerals like silica and sulfur. Visitors can frolic in the water, or lounge in an on-site sauna or steam bath. (credit:Flickr:Vin Crosbie)
Hamilton Pool Preserve, Dripping Springs, Texas, United States(03 of11)
Open Image ModalThe Blue Hole, Ochos Rios, Jamaica(04 of11)
Open Image ModalLittle River Canyon, Alabama, United States(05 of11)
Open Image ModalJoin others in the 12-mile-long Little River Canyon, surrounded by cliffs and gigantic sandstone jump-off points jutting from the waters. Most of the water runs along the top of Lookout Mountain from northwestern Georgia to the river’s end in Fort Payne, Ala., making it one of the longest mountaintop rivers in the U.S. Leap into the waters from one of three rope swings outside the hole. (credit:Flickr:Tennessee Wanderer)
Enfield and Lucifer Falls, Ithaca, New York, United States(06 of11)
Open Image ModalFairy Pools, Scotland(07 of11)
Open Image ModalWe’re not sure anything truly magical happens when you enter the lakes and waterfalls of the so-called “fairy pools” on the Isle of Skye, but a visit to the blue- and pink-hued waters does conjure mental images of a storybook setting. You’ll find these mystical pools underneath the Black Cullins, but swimmers, take note: the waters are known to be frigid. (credit:Flickr:gailhampshire)
Cummins Falls State Park, Tennessee, United States(08 of11)
Open Image ModalSituated halfway between Nashville and Knoxville, this swimming hole is not for amateurs. Visitors will have to hike, wade and climb to get to the rope that walks you down to the water’s edge. The waterfall reigns high above its visitors at 75 feet high. Though the hike is only 2.5 miles, the level of activity makes it one for adventure seekers. (credit:Flickr:brentonmac12)
Erawan Waterfall, Thailand(09 of11)
Open Image ModalDevil's Pool, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe(10 of11)
Open Image ModalDevil’s Pool sits atop Victoria Falls. The natural swimming hole gives way to a 360-foot drop off. It’s only “open” during the drier months of the year – May through October – when the water level of Victoria Falls is low enough for the pool to appear. From farther away, travelers can see the “Smoke that Thunders,” the name given to the fall’s cascading waters, which are the largest in the world. But not to worry, guides are on hand to ensure travelers’ safety and you’re encouraged to bring a (waterproof!) camera to document the plunge. (credit:Flickr:Meraj Chhaya)
Cyprus Lake Grotto, Ontario, Canada(11 of11)
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