This Place Has The Clearest Water in the World

The Greek island of Kimolos, located just north of Milos in the Aegean Sea, has recently earned the unofficial title of - “The clearest water in the world.”

More than 32 million people traveled to Greece in 2023, making it one of the most visited countries in the world, and for good reason. In addition to the great food, rich history, and gorgeous architecture, Greece’s coastline spans 13,676 kilometers (8497 miles), boasting the longest shoreline in the Mediterranean Sea.

With such a vast shoreline and countless islands and beaches, I guess it’s not surprising that one beach has recently won the distinguished award for having the clearest water in the world.

A recent ranking by the US travel agency Florida Panhandle highlighted the beaches with the clearest water worldwide. The agency started with a list of 50 beaches that scored the highest on traveler review websites. They then calculated each beach’s score based on the percentage of reviews that mentioned “clear water,” analyzing over 2.4 million reviews.

According to the very scientific data, Prassa Beach on Kimolos, Greece, boasts the clearest water in the world.

Joining Prassa Beach on this prestigious list are other stunning locations, including Gennadi Beach on the island of Rhodes, which ranked second, followed by Pileh Bay in Thailand. Agios Dimitrios Beach on mainland Greece and Agia Anna Beach on the island of Naxos complete the top five.

But what makes the water around Kimolos so exceptionally clear? The island's volcanic origins contribute to its unique geological features, including a lack of sediment and minimal pollution. The combination of these factors, along with the island's location in the Aegean, where strong currents regularly flush the waters, creates an ideal environment for some of the clearest waters on Earth.

A little history

Kimolos is named after the first resident of the island whose name was, wait for it… Kimolos.

Since the ancient era, it has been a battlefield between Ancient Athens, the ruler of the island, and Sparta, the ruler of Milos.

However, nowadays the only battle is deciding which serene beach you would like to relax on.

Prassa Beach isn’t the only gem on this unique island. Kimolos is home to many other beautiful beaches:

• Aliki Beach: A long, sandy beach with shallow waters, ideal for families with young children.

• Mavrospilia Beach: A picturesque spot with black volcanic sand and striking rock formations, perfect for a secluded retreat.

• Bonatsa Beach: A small, hidden cove with crystal-clear waters, popular among snorkelers and divers.

Not a party town! If you are looking to party til 6 am with Europe’s finest DJs, youre on the wrong island. Kimolos is a sleepy island, Inhabited mostly by retirees, with just under 1000 residences, of which 90%, live in the capital, Horio, which is located in the southeastern part of the island

Kimolos offers peace that is hard to find in other popular resorts. The island is also known for natural hot springs, such as Therma, which have healing properties.

The island’s volcanic soil has shaped a distinctive landscape, with fascinating geological formations like the “Skiadi” (a giant rock mushroom), adding to Kimolos's natural allure.

Not only the clearest water but the whitest beaches.

As if having the clearest most beautiful waters wasn’t enough, recently, Greece saw two beaches included in Tripadvisor’s Best Beaches in Europe for 2024, as part of its annual Travellers’ Choice Awards.

• Galissas Beach in Syros ranked 5th

• Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia ranked 8th.

• Anthony Quinn Bay in Faliraki ranked 12th

• Matala Beach in Crete ranked 14th.

• Marmari Beach in Kos ranked 3rd

This comprehensive study was based on scientific color theory and therefore analyzed the RGB color codes of sands from a stunning 200 beaches from around the world. This was conducted to determine the sand’s proximity to the purest shade of white.

Another Greek gem, a bit further to the West, is the Agios Prokopios Beach on the island of Naxos in the Cyclades.

This beach also features prominently in the list of beaches with the whitest sand. It managed to secure a spot in the top thirty whitest sands worldwide.

Happy Travels! 🗺️