Brazil is a massive country with a rich history in Latin America. It is the fifth-largest country by area, with a total area of 2,986,542 square kilometers. Its Amazon River basin includes a vast rainforest, home to many rivers and tributaries, contributing to its remarkable biodiversity.
The story of Brazil begins with its first people some 11,000 years ago. The country was born when the Tupi people moved from Maranhão in the north to the country’s current location in the south, near the present-day city of São Luis. The Tupi people eventually became the Mocé, whom the Portuguese first encountered in 1502.
Brazil is the 5th most populated country in the world. It is the largest country and 2nd most populous in the Americas. The population of Brazil is ~195,000,000 people.
Whether you want to escape the city for a few days or a few weeks, it’s always a good idea to pack a few swimming holes and gorgeous lakes into your itinerary. There are plenty of lakes and other water-based tourism sites in Brazil, and we’ve rounded up 10 of the most beautiful lakes worth seeing in Brazil.
Table of contents
- 1. Paranoá Lake; Brasília
- 2. Guarapiranga Reservoir; São Paulo
- 3. Billings Reservoir; São Paulo
- 4. Represa de Sobradinho; Bahia, Brazil
- 5. La Gaiba Lake; Ángel Sandoval Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia/Mato Grosso, Brazil
- 6. Mandioré Lake; Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia / Mato Grosso, Brazil
- 7. Uberaba Lake; Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia/Mato Grosso, Brazil
- 8. Mirim Lake; Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia/Mato Grosso, Brazil
- 9. Marfil Lake; José Miguel de Velasco Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia and Mato Grosso, Brazil
- 10. Lake Juturnaiba; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1. Paranoá Lake; Brasília
Paranoá Lake is located on the border between Brazil and Uruguay. This lake is located in the southeastern region of Brasília, the capital city of Brazil. Public transport is available to reach the lake, which is approximately 14 kilometers from the city. The lake is a famous tourist site because it is gorgeous.
Lake Paranoá is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in Brazil and was initially built in the 1960s to supply the city of Brasília (then called Planalto), the federal capital of Brazil. Located in the eastern part of the state of Goiás, the lake is fed by the Tucumã River, which empties into the central part of the Paranoá Lake. The lake has a surface area of 11 square kilometers and a maximum water depth of 32 meters. It is connected to the Paranaíba River by a channel.
From a nature lover’s point of view, Paranoá Lake is a place for people who love hiking through the paths of the protected area, looking for tropical plants and seeing animals. For someone who likes fishing, it is a place for catching a lot of fish. Furthermore, Paranoá Lake is located on a vast property area of almost 1,000 hectares.
2. Guarapiranga Reservoir; São Paulo
Guarapiranga is a reservoir located in the northwest of São Paulo, Brazil, which holds the 2nd most significant volume of water of all Brazilian reservoirs, after Itaipu. The Dam of Guarapiranga was constructed between 1950 and 1957. It is one of the primary sources of fresh water for the city of São Paulo.
As the main reservoir for the water system supplying São Paulo, it is also an essential water body in the São Paulo metropolitan area.
The reservoir and its surroundings are a great place to visit in the summer, with many fishing, canoeing, hiking, and bird watching activities. Guarapiranga Reservoir is also one of the most beautiful places in Brazil, with some islands that you can explore.
3. Billings Reservoir; São Paulo
Billings Reservoir, a reservoir in São Paulo state, Brazil, is the largest artificial lake in South America. Its surface area is 2,500 square kilometers. It is a large artificial lake constructed between 1955 and 1960 to supply water to the metropolitan area of São Paulo as a substitute for the many rivers that once flowed through the region.
It is part of the Cantareira system and is one of the largest reservoirs in the world. It covers an area of 1,700 square kilometers and is fed by the Paraná River, which transfers the water through three power plants.
Billings Reservoir is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts. The reservoir is home to several fish species, including the Brook Trout, Dolly Varden, and Rainbow Trout. It is also known to be the home of the North American brown pelican (Pelecanus Chihiro). These endangered species is classified as an aquatic bird.
4. Represa de Sobradinho; Bahia, Brazil
Sobradinho Dam is located 41 km north-northwest of Salvador, Bahia, and is the largest artificial reservoir in Brazil. Represa de Sobradinho was built between 1936 and 1940 and completed in 1940, becoming the world’s second-largest water reservoir.
It is owned by the state of Bahia and is operated by the Agencia Nacional do Cinema.
5. La Gaiba Lake; Ángel Sandoval Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia/Mato Grosso, Brazil
La Gaiba Lake is a large lake in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Brazil and Bolivia share it. Surrounded by a dense forest and located on the border between the departments of Santa Cruz and Ángel Sandoval, it is fed by more than 50 rivers, including the La Plata and the San Francisco. In addition to being a nature reserve and a tourist destination, La Gaiba has been used by indigenous people as an administrative, religious and cultural space since pre-Hispanic times.
Lake itself is around 13 km long and is located at 3,560 m above sea level, with an average depth of 10 m. La Gaiba Lake is one of the largest of the Bolivian Andes and has many islands.
The lake is surrounded by the mountains and green valleys of the Cordillera Occidental. Lake La Gaiba is a tropical lake, and the runoff from the Andes primarily feeds it. The second water source is the rain that falls in the La Guajira River in the Northern part of the basin.
6. Mandioré Lake; Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia / Mato Grosso, Brazil
Mandioré, a large freshwater lake located in Bolivia and Brazil, is jointly owned by the two countries. The lake covers 153 square kilometers (59 square miles). In Bolivia, the lake is located in the Santa Cruz Department. In Brazil, it is located in the Mato Grosso.
It is the third-largest lake in Bolivia and is the largest of the rivers in the area, with an area of 32,827 square kilometers, making it the 18th largest lake in the world. It is also the fourth largest lake in Brazil, with an area of 38,353 square kilometers.
It was the first lake in the world to be discovered by Columbian scientist Bartolomé de las Casas, who explored the area in the 18th century. Visitors can enjoy the lake by canoeing, fishing, swimming, and exploring the lake. They can also relax at the beach and enjoy the view of Mandioré Lake.
7. Uberaba Lake; Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia/Mato Grosso, Brazil
Uberaba Lake is the largest lake in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. It is located in the Guaporé River basin, one of the most important tributaries of the Madeira River. It is 30 km long, and its maximum width is 15 km. Its depths vary from 2.0 to 26.4 m.
Uberaba Lake was formed in the Late Cretaceous and influenced by sedimentation of the Guarani River (which empties into the lake) since its formation. The lake itself is in an urban area, and the two towns that border it are composed of a mix of residential and industrial areas.
8. Mirim Lake; Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia/Mato Grosso, Brazil
Mirim Lake is a lake located in the eastern part of the state of Santa Cruz in Bolivia or the western part of the Mato Grosso state in Brazil. Mirim Lake is the most important lake of the state of Santa Cruz and the second-largest natural freshwater lake of Bolivia. Mirim Lake is one of the first lakes to be discovered by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is located close to the capital of Santa Cruz, which is La Paz.
The history of Mirim Lake is one of the most fascinating and mysterious lakes in the world. Understand the history of Mirim Lake, and it is essential to know how the lake came to be beneath the surface of the earth. It is believed that the lake was formed when a volcano erupted beneath the earth’s surface, and the lava melted the rock layers. The lava created a large lake, which over time formed the present-day lake.
In that case, you might want to consider visiting Mirim Lake. However, what might surprise you is that the beautiful Lake Mirim is just a short flight away from America.

9. Marfil Lake; José Miguel de Velasco Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia and Mato Grosso, Brazil
Marfil Lake is a lake located in the municipalities of São José do Rio Preto and Uberlândia, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The lake is named after the Marfil tree (viz., species of palm tree) that grows in large numbers of abundance in its waters.
It is the biggest freshwater lake in Latin America. It is located at an altitude of 2080 meters above sea level and is 3,895 meters long. The city of Santa Cruz lies at the bottom of the lake. Marfil Lake is a Stock pond and is home to several species of fish, including the Catfish.
Lake Marfil is a 6.7 km long beautiful lake, which means that there are many activities to do there. Activities include Kayaking, Canoeing, Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Sunset and Sunrise Viewing, and many others. Activities can be found at many different places in the lake. The main places where activities are found are: Ponte de Marfil, Lago do Marfil, Punta Marfil and Lago do Orquídea.

10. Lake Juturnaiba; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Lake Juturnaiba is the largest lake in Brazil and is located in the State of Rio de Janeiro. It is a small natural lake that was formed by glacial erosion of the Serra do Mar mountain range and was formed more than 25,000 years ago. It is home to the endangered species of turtles, the Brazilian box turtle and the black-crowned turtle, and it is also a source of drinking water for the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Nowhere in the world is there a more exciting and diverse variety of ecosystems than Rio de Janeiro. Rainforests, beaches, savannahs, deserts, and several lakes and rivers all thrive in this region of Brazil. But, the most famous of them all is Lake Juturnaiba.