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Gjende and Bessvatn
Gjende is perhaps the name that is most closely associated with Jotunheimen besides Besseggen and Galdhøpiggen. Lake Gjende is about 20 km long and has an average width of 1 km. The surrounding  mountainsides rise up as high as 1,300 metres from the lake's surface in some areas. A maximum depth of approximately 150 metres makes Lake Gjende the deepest lake in Jotunheimen National Park (although deeper Lake Bygdin is situated outside of the national park).
Gjende is an excellent lake for fishing and the lake's northern shoreline features fertile vegetation including varied wildlife. Lake Gjende is also known for its blue green (cyan) colouring. This is the result of a vast amount of glacial particles being washed into Gjende and their reflecting in the sunlight. The colouring is further emphasized by the surrounding dark mountainsides and bright green vegetation, which makes the contrasts even stronger.
Lake Gjende was carved out by the glacial ice. The lofty and resistant mountain masses to the north and south are situated such that the ice masses were pressed together within a smaller area while the huge expanse of the ice carved out the lake's deep bottom. The ice drifted more outwards on either side as it floated down towards the Sjoadalen Valley and did not carve quite so deeply into the landscape as it had at Gjende.
Bessvatn Lake is located at an altitude of 1,374 metres above sea level and contrasts strongly with Lake Gjende due to its blue colouring. The walking distance from Bessheim up to the river mouth is about 5 km, and there is a nice trail along the entire route.
The lake itself is 7 km long and fairly deep at 120 metres. Bessvatn Lake has been selected as Norway's cleanest lake since you can see the lake bottom even in areas where the depth is 30 metres!
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