Why rank lakes by phosphorus?

Phosphorus is usually what limits how much algae a lake can grow, so it is the earliest signal that a lake is under nutrient pressure. It is also the measurement these agencies publish most consistently, which makes it the fairest way to compare lakes across a country.

Is a low-phosphorus lake safe to swim in?

Not necessarily. A lightly loaded lake can still carry bacteria, a seasonal algal bloom, or contaminants that a nutrient reading does not cover. Check the local authority notice for the day you plan to go.

What is a typical phosphorus level in Lithuania?

The median measured lake in Lithuania reads 33 µg/L of total phosphorus. Lakes below roughly 10 µg/L are considered nutrient-poor and usually run clear; above about 30 µg/L a lake is generally nutrient-rich and more likely to green up in summer.

Cleanest lakes in Lithuania

Cleanest lakes in Lithuania: 265 named lakes have an official total-phosphorus reading. The 20 below carry the lowest nutrient load — a measurement, not a LakeQuality A–F grade.

Lake map

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Lowest phosphorus readings in Lithuania

Phosphorus is the nutrient that feeds algae growth, so the lakes at the top of this table are the least loaded ones the Lithuania monitoring programme has measured. The median measured lake in Lithuania reads 33 µg/L.

Lake	Place	Total phosphorus	Chlorophyll-a	Secchi	Year
Klykių Ežeras	Utenos	8.7 µg/L	1.5 µg/L	6.7 m	2018
Vencavas Lake	Utenos	9.5 µg/L	1.9 µg/L	7.5 m	2019
Alnis Lake	Utenos	10 µg/L	2.5 µg/L	6.4 m	2022
Čičirys Lake	Utenos	10 µg/L	3.1 µg/L	5.7 m	2021
Ilgys Lake	Utenos	10 µg/L	3.4 µg/L	4.3 m	2022
Šakarvai Lake	Utenos	10 µg/L	2.4 µg/L	5.2 m	2021
Šiurpys Lake	Utenos	10 µg/L	2.1 µg/L	7.3 m	2022
Tauragnas Lake	Utenos	10 µg/L	2.0 µg/L	4.8 m	2020
Ūkojas Lake	Utenos	10 µg/L	4.5 µg/L	4.3 m	2018
Dūburys Lake	Utenos	11 µg/L	3.5 µg/L	4.6 m	2019
Pakasas Lake	Utenos	11 µg/L	9.5 µg/L	4.1 m	2019
Šventas Lake	Utenos	11 µg/L	2.3 µg/L	7.8 m	2022
Uolys Lake	Utenos	11 µg/L	3.2 µg/L	3.2 m	2020
Žilmas Lake	Utenos	11 µg/L	4.2 µg/L	5.1 m	2021
Asalnai Lake	Utenos	11 µg/L	2.8 µg/L	4.9 m	2019
Stirniai Lake	Utenos	11 µg/L	3.0 µg/L	5.7 m	2021
Baluošas Lake	Utenos	12 µg/L	2.1 µg/L	4.5 m	2019
Dringis Lake	Utenos	12 µg/L	3.7 µg/L	4.6 m	2019
Dūkštas Lake	Utenos	12 µg/L	3.2 µg/L	4.8 m	2020
Luodis Lake	Utenos	12 µg/L	4.3 µg/L	4.2 m	2020

Showing 20 of 265 named lakes. Open a county or place page for the rest.

Frequently asked questions

Which lakes in Lithuania are the cleanest?: 265 named lakes in Lithuania have an official total-phosphorus reading. This page ranks the 20 lowest. Phosphorus is the nutrient that feeds algae growth, so a low reading means a lightly loaded lake — it is not a swim-safety class and not a LakeQuality A–F grade.
Why rank lakes by phosphorus?: Phosphorus is usually what limits how much algae a lake can grow, so it is the earliest signal that a lake is under nutrient pressure. It is also the measurement these agencies publish most consistently, which makes it the fairest way to compare lakes across a country.
Is a low-phosphorus lake safe to swim in?: Not necessarily. A lightly loaded lake can still carry bacteria, a seasonal algal bloom, or contaminants that a nutrient reading does not cover. Check the local authority notice for the day you plan to go.
What is a typical phosphorus level in Lithuania?: The median measured lake in Lithuania reads 33 µg/L of total phosphorus. Lakes below roughly 10 µg/L are considered nutrient-poor and usually run clear; above about 30 µg/L a lake is generally nutrient-rich and more likely to green up in summer.