Less than a half-hour drive from the resort town of Hot Springs, Lake Ouachita is one of central Arkansas’s five diamond lakes. The diamond lakes are so-called because of the clarity of their waters and their location near diamond and quartz-rich land. Lake Ouachita is the biggest lake entirely in the state of Arkansas, and it’s also the cleanest. In fact, Lake Ouachita is one of the cleanest lakes in the world. This lake is so super clean that it’s home to a rare species of non-stinging jellyfish that can only thrive in the cleanest freshwater habitats. It’s so clear that scuba divers come from all over the world to explore beneath the waves and even to enjoy spearfishing season. There are more than 690 miles of shoreline at Lake Ouachita, so even away from designated swim beaches, there are plenty of places where you can swim.
For directions to this crystal-clear lake, click here.
The lake is absolutely gorgeous.
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Look at how clear the water is:
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Depending on the water level, Lake Ouachita has between 100 to 200 islands, which are perfect for an isolated campsite or private swim beach.
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And those blue, clear waters are so inviting for a summer dip.
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Whether you’d just like to float around . . .
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. . . or let a friend pull you around . . .
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. . . Lake Ouachita is the perfect place to dive right in.
Flickr/Beer Bergman
For some amazing swim beaches in the Natural State, try this article.
Flickr/swagata.roychowdhury
Wikimedia/Oema
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Flickr/Antrell Williams
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Flickr/Beer Bergman
If you’d prefer not to swim with fish, these water parks will meet your needs.
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