Lake of the Ozarks, Reservoir in Missouri, United States.

Lake of the Ozarks is a reservoir with over 1,150 miles of shoreline that winds through the forested hills of the northern Ozark region. The water fills valleys and creates countless coves, peninsulas and narrow arms between the ridges.

Bagnell Dam was built between 1929 and 1931, creating what was then the largest artificial lake in the country. The dam supplied the region with electricity and permanently changed the landscape.

The lake's serpentine shape earned it the nickname "the Missouri Dragon", which inspired local names such as the Magic Dragon Street Meet. Each Independence Day, boats gather for Party Cove, a festival held on the water. More than 70,000 houses line the shore, many of them vacation homes.

The water level stays stable year-round, so boats can dock along the entire shoreline. The many coves offer sheltered spots for beginners and quieter areas away from the main waterways.

Beneath the surface lie the foundations of eight villages flooded in the early 1930s. Divers can still make out wall remains and old road traces on the bottom.