Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet
Written and Illustrated by Geo Rutherford
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Dive into the most mysterious waters around the world (if you dare) in Spooky Lakes, an illustrated nonfiction book from TikTok star and educator Geo Rutherford. An instant New York Times bestseller!
From Geo Rutherford—the creator of the hit series Spooky Lake Month (over 65 million likes!)—comes this thrilling nonfiction book that plumbs the depths of 25 unusual lakes around the world.
Backed by extensive research and packed with all-new content—including eerie and eye-popping watercolour illustrations in full colour—Spooky Lakes takes readers on an adventure through weird and wild waters.
Some of Earth’s strangest—and creepiest—wonders lie deep below the surface…
There’s Lake Natron, a Tanzanian lake so briny that its waters can mummify any creature that touches its surface; Lake Maracaibo, a Venezuelan tidal bay where a constantly brewing storm sends an average of 28 lightning bolts per second into the water; and at the bottom of Lake Superior, the crew of the USS Kamloops—which mysteriously disappeared in 1921—remains somehow almost perfectly preserved to this day.
Readers will learn not only about the science of hydrology but also why understanding the natural world is crucial to protecting it from pollution and climate change.
Includes a glossary, bibliography, author’s note, and index.
GEO RUTHERFORD
Geo Rutherford is an artist, author, and educator whose work explores the eerie, fascinating, and often overlooked stories of water. Her work has been featured in museums, bookstores, and literary festivals across the country, and she frequently speaks about the intersection of science and art. She is the author and illustrator of Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Unusual Lakes that Dot Our Planet and the Spooky Lakes Coloring Book, and the creator of Spooky Lake Month, a popular video series with millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Her videos investigate shipwrecks, toxic lakes, unusual ice formations and other strange hydrological phenomena, blending science, history, and storytelling to captivate a global audience.
A former art educator, Geo holds a BFA from Eastern Michigan University and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Teachers and parents frequently share that her content sparks curiosity in students and inspires conversations about science and the environment.
Geo lives on a (fittingly) spooky lake in Sauk City, Wisconsin, with her dog, Padfoot, where she is usually painting, writing, or researching her next watery mystery.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Website: http://www.georutherford.com
Instagram: @geodesaurus
YouTube: @geodesaurus
TikTok: @geodesaurus
Email: GEO.RUTHERFORD@GMAIL.COM
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rutherford, Geo. Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Unusual Lakes that Dot Our Planet. Abrams Books, September 24, 2024.
Rutherford, Geo. Spooky Lakes Coloring Book. Abrams Books, September 16, 2025.
