The Pitch Lake in Trinidad is definitely one of the strangest places on Earth. It consists of a mixture of water, bitumen and gases in the form of a semi-liquid emulsion. At the surface, this mixture hardens to form an asphalt crust. ¹⁾

In some lakes, layers of sediment are preserved on the bottom. Light and dark laminae form within a single year. By counting the layers from the modern bottom deep into the sediment, the dates of sediment accumulation can be determined. This process is used to reconstruct the geological past. ²⁾

Freshwater causes far less corrosion than saltwater, which is why many vessels serve for many years on America's Great Lakes. Right now, the oldest still active is the St. Mary's Challenger, which was built in 1906 — earlier than the Titanic. ³⁾

Niasa, Malawi is a lake of tectonic origin, located in southeastern Africa. The outflow of water from the lake is through the Shire River, a tributary of the Zambezi. There are many islands on the lake, the largest of which are Likoma and Chizumulu. The lake is known for its incredible amount of natural resources, particularly fish. Many endemic species live here. ⁴⁾

Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world, reaching a maximum length of 410 miles. It is also the world's second deepest freshwater lake at 4,710 feet, the second oldest and the second largest by volume. ⁵⁾