Hornindalsvatnet is the deepest lake in Europe. It reaches 514 metres down, which means the bottom of this lake sits 461 metres below sea level, even though the surface is 53 metres above it. To put that in perspective, this lake is deeper than most of the fjords around here.
Unlike glacier-fed lakes that have that milky turquoise colour, Hornindalsvatnet is fed by rivers and streams, so the water is unusually clear. In 2006, a remotely operated submarine was sent to the bottom and found something unexpected: a population of white Arctic char living in complete darkness at the deepest point. These fish have never seen daylight and have adapted to life in conditions that are closer to the deep ocean than a freshwater lake.
You might read online about green sand beaches here. That is fake news. The sand is normal sand. Someone made it up and it spread, as these things do.
From the road along the lake you would never guess how deep it goes. It looks like any other pretty Norwegian lake, which is part of what makes it remarkable.
Unlike glacier-fed lakes that have that milky turquoise colour, Hornindalsvatnet is fed by rivers and streams, so the water is unusually clear. In 2006, a remotely operated submarine was sent to the bottom and found something unexpected: a population of white Arctic char living in complete darkness at the deepest point. These fish have never seen daylight and have adapted to life in conditions that are closer to the deep ocean than a freshwater lake.
You might read online about green sand beaches here. That is fake news. The sand is normal sand. Someone made it up and it spread, as these things do.
From the road along the lake you would never guess how deep it goes. It looks like any other pretty Norwegian lake, which is part of what makes it remarkable.