Ranking of European Countries with the Cleanest Lake Water
European experts have released a ranking of countries with the cleanest lake water suitable for summer swimming, based on the share of water bodies rated 'excellent' under the EU Bathing Water Directive. Austria leads the list, with 96.5% of its inland waters achieving top marks. Finland takes second place with 94.7%, while Germany ranks third at 91.5%.
Other Countries in the Ranking
- Italy - 87.7%
- Switzerland - 84.4%
- Sweden - 82.1%
- France - 71%
- Netherlands - 70.4%
- Hungary - 64%
- Poland - 56.7%
It is important to note that the ranking is based on officially designated bathing waters, which are monitored in line with the EU Bathing Water Directive.
In Austria, the Alps cover two-thirds of the country, which positively impacts water quality. One notable body of water is Lake Attersee, where underwater visibility reaches 7 to 9 meters in summer. Finland is famous for its over 187,000 lakes, including Lake Saimaa—the country's largest and Europe's fourth-largest, featuring a labyrinth of nearly 14,000 islands.
In Italy, Lake Caldaro warms up to 28°C, while Switzerland's Lake Lugano reaches 26°C in August. France's Lake Aiguebelette also heats up to 28°C. Hungary boasts the world's largest thermal swimming lake, Heviz, with temperatures ranging from 22°C in winter to 36°C in summer.
Amid these positive findings, it is worth noting that since June 18, 40 people have drowned in unmonitored areas in France, most of them young. This underscores the importance of water safety, especially during the summer season.
The ranking of countries with the cleanest lake water highlights the efforts of European nations to preserve the ecological purity of their water resources, a key factor for tourism and recreation. At the same time, the drowning incidents in France point to the need for greater awareness of swimming safety, particularly in locations not supervised by official authorities. This illustrates the importance of combining water quality with safe conditions for vacationers.