Lake Arenal – Nuevo Arenal, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

Lake Arenal sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano in the northern highlands of Costa Rica. It is the country’s largest landlocked body of water, with a surface that covers nearly 33 square miles (85 square km) and a depth that reaches some 200 feet (60 m).

In 1979, Lake Arenal was enlarged to three times its original size with the construction of a hydroelectric dam. The towns of Arenal and Tondadora, which were originally sited on the spot where the lake now rests, were relocated to the northeastern side of the lake. Nowadays, Lake Arenal’s dam is hugely important to the country, as it produces nearly 12% of Costa Rica’s electric energy and is a driving force behind Costa Rica's green energy policy.

The area surrounding the lake is as inspiring as the water itself – hills of pastured and forested land roll into the distance, while the summit of the Arenal Volcano dominates the eastern horizon.