The largest lake in the world is Croitor. The largest lakes on earth
In this article we will talk about the largest lake in the world by area - the Caspian Sea, as well as other largest lakes in Russia, Europe, Asia and America.
The largest lake on the planet
The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world by area (about 371,000 km²). It is called a sea precisely because of its enormous size, and also because its bed is formed by the oceanic crust. And the water in the Caspian Sea is salty. The water level in the Caspian Sea is subject to regular fluctuations; in 2009 it was 27.16 meters below sea level. Maximum depth lakes 1025 m.
The Caspian Sea washes the shores of 5 states at once: Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan. There are 101 species of fish in the Caspian Sea, and a large share of the world's stocks of sturgeon and the following freshwater fish are concentrated here: carp, roach, pike perch.
Top 20 largest lakes on planet Earth
| Name | States | Area, km² | Max. depth, m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 371 000 | 1025 | ||
| Upper | Canada, USA | 82 414 | 406 |
| Victoria | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda | 69 485 | 84 |
| Huron | Canada, USA | 59 600 | 229 |
| Michigan | USA | 58 000 | 281 |
| Tanganyika | Burundi, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania | 32 893 | 1470 |
| Baikal | Russia | 31 500 | 1637 |
| Big Bear | Canada | 31 080 | 446 |
| Nyasa | Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania | 30 044 | 706 |
| Great Slave | Canada | 28 930 | 614 |
| Erie | Canada, USA | 25 719 | 64 |
| Winnipeg | Canada | 23 553 | 36 |
| Ontario | Canada, USA | 19 477 | 244 |
| Balkhash | Kazakhstan | 18 428 | 26 |
| Ladoga | Russia | 18 130 | 230 |
| Tonle Sap | Cambodia | 16 000 | - |
| East | - | 15 690 | 1000 |
| Maracaibo | Venezuela | 13 300 | - |
| Onega | Russia | 9 891 | 120 |
| Patus | Brazil | 9 850 | - |
The largest lake in Russia
The most big lake in Russia it is the Caspian Sea, but it washes the shores of other countries, so let’s consider the second largest lake in terms of area and located entirely on the territory of Russia - Lake Baikal.
It is located in the south of Eastern Siberia (the border of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region) This tectonic lake is the deepest on the planet, as well as the largest natural repository fresh water. Baikal stretches 620 km to the southwest from the northeast in the form of a huge crescent. The width of the lake ranges from 24-79 km. The area of the entire water surface is 31,722 km² (not counting the islands), which is approximately the same area as Holland or Belgium. Length coastline is 2100 km.
Baikal is famous for its picturesqueness; it is surrounded by hills and mountain ranges. The coastal areas and Baikal itself are distinguished by their unique fauna and flora. Locals Baikal is called the sea.
Top 20 largest lakes in Russia
| Lake | Region(s) of Russia | Area, km² | Altitude above sea level, m | Depth, m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dagestan, Kalmykia, Astrakhan region | 371 000 | −28 | 1025 | |
| Baikal | Buryatia, Irkutsk region | 31 500 | 456 | 1637 |
| Republic of Karelia, Leningrad region | 18 130 | 4 | 230 | |
| Lake Onega | Republic of Karelia, Leningrad region, Vologda region | 9 891 | 32 | 120 |
| Taimyr | Krasnoyarsk region | 4 560 | 6 | 26 |
| Khanka | Primorsky Krai | 4 190 | 68 | 10 |
| Lake Peipus-Pskov | Pskov region | 3 555 | 30 | 15 |
| Uvsu-Nur | Tuva | 3 350 | 753 | 15 |
| Vats | Novosibirsk region | 1 990 | 105 | 12 |
| White Lake | Vologda Region | 1 290 | 113 | 20 |
| Topozero | Republic of Karelia | 986 | 110 | 56 |
| Ilmen | Novgorod region | 982 | 18 | 10 |
| Khantayskoye Lake | Krasnoyarsk region | 822 | 65 | 420 |
| Segozero | Republic of Karelia | 815 | 120 | 103 |
| Imandra | Murmansk region | 812 | 128 | 67 |
| Pyasino | Krasnoyarsk region | 735 | 28 | 10 |
| Kulunda Lake | Altai region | 728 | 98 | 4 |
| Pyaozero | Republic of Karelia | 659 | 110 | 49 |
| Vygozero | Republic of Karelia | 560 | 89 | 24 |
| Nerpichye Lake | Kamchatka region | 552 | 0,4 | 12 |
The largest lake in Europe
The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of old Europe and Asia, so let’s consider a completely “European” lake, the second largest in Europe, Lake Ladoga.
It is located in Russia, or more precisely in the Republic of Karelia (eastern and northern shores) and Leningrad region. The total area of Ladoga is 17,600 km²; The length from north to south is 219 km, the greatest width is 138 kilometers. Maximum depth - 230 m.
Ladoga is very popular among travelers. There are many on the lake picturesque islands, and on the banks there are cities such as Priozersk, Pitkyaranta, Novaya Ladoga, Sortavala, Shlisselburg, Lakhdenpokhya. The Neva River flows out of the lake. In its southern part there are 3 large bays: Volkhovskaya, Svirskaya and Shlisselburgskaya bays.
List of the 15 largest lakes in Europe
| № | Name | Area, km² | Maximum depth, m | Altitude above sea level, m | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 371 000 | 1025 | -28 | Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan | |
| 2 | Ladoga | 18 130 | 230 | 4 | Russia |
| 3 | Onega | 9 891 | 120 | 32 | Russia |
| 4 | Wenern | 5 545 | 106 | 44 | Sweden |
| 5 | Lake Peipus-Pskov | 3 555 | 15 | 30 | Russia, Estonia |
| 6 | Vättern | 1 912 | 119 | 89 | Sweden |
| 7 | Saimaa | 1 800 | 58 | 76 | Finland |
| 8 | Mälaren | 1 140 | 64 | - | Sweden |
| 9 | Inari | 1 000 | 60 | 114 | Finland |
| 10 | Balaton | 591 | 11 | 105 | Hungary |
| 11 | Geneva | 581 | 310 | 372 | Switzerland, France |
| 12 | Bodenskoye | 538 | 252 | 395 | Switzerland, Germany |
| 13 | Shkoder (Skadar) | 391 | 60 | 5 | Albania, Montenegro |
| 14 | Garda | 370 | 346 | 65 | Italy |
| 15 | Prespa | 274 | 54 | 853 | Macedonia, Albania, Greece |
The largest lake in Africa
On the African continent, the largest in area is famous lake Victoria. It is located in Eastern Africa at an altitude of 1134 m in the following countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Victoria is located in the tectonic trough of the East African Platform.
The area of Victoria is 68 thousand km², that is, it is second only to the Upper Lake among freshwater lakes. Victoria's greatest length is 320 kilometers and its width is 274 kilometers. On average 40 m deep (most deep point- 80 m).
In 1954, the Owen Falls Dam was built here, turning the lake into a reservoir. Victoria has many islands. The Kagera River flows into the lake, and the Victoria Nile River flows out.
The lake has developed fishing (over 100 species of fish) and shipping. The main ports of the lake are: Bukoba and Mwanza (Tanzania), Kisumu (Kenya), Entebbe and Jinja (Uganda). On Rubondo Island, which belongs to Tanzania, there is a picturesque national park.
The lake was discovered in 1858 by traveler John Henning Speke from Great Britain. He named the reservoir after Queen Victoria.
List of 11 largest lakes in Africa
| № | Name | Area, km² | Maximum depth, m | Altitude above sea level, m | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 68 100 | 80 | 1 134 | Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda |
| 2 | Tanganyika | 32 900 | 1 470 | 773 | Tanzania, Zambia, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Burundi |
| 3 | Nyasa | 30 800 | 726 | 472 | Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi |
| 4 | Chad | 16 300 | 11 | 281 | Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger |
| 5 | Rudolf | 8 600 | 73 | 375 | Kenya, Ethiopia |
| 6 | Mobutu-Sese-Seko | 5 400 | 58 | - | |
| 7 | Mweru | 5 200 | 15 | 917 | Zambia, Congo (Dem. Rep.) |
| 8 | Bangweulu | 4 000 | 5 | 1 067 | Zambia |
| 9 | Tana | 3 100 | 70 | - | Ethiopia |
| 10 | Kivu | 2 700 | 496 | 1 460 | Rwanda, Congo (Dem. Rep.) |
| 11 | Edward | 2 150 | 111 | 913 | Uganda, Congo (Dem. Rep.) |
The largest lake in Asia
The largest lake in Asia, of course, is Baikal, but in order not to repeat ourselves, let's consider the next largest lake in Asia - Balkhash. Its area is 16,400 km². The lake is located in the southeastern part of Kazakhstan.
The uniqueness of Balkhash lies in the fact that the lake is divided into 2 parts by a narrow strait. Each part has its own chemical characteristics of water - in the western part it is almost fresh, and in the east it is brackish.
Balkhash is located in 3 Kazakhstan regions: Zhambyl, Almaty and Karaganda. The largest city on the shore of Lake Balkhash bears the same name. Balkhash is surrounded from different sides by mountains, sand and fine sand.
List of 15 largest lakes in Asia
| № | Name | Area, km² | Maximum depth, m | Altitude above sea level, m | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baikal | 31 500 | 1 620 | 455 | Russia |
| 2 | Balkhash | 22 000 | 26 | 342 | Kazakhstan |
| 3 | Tonle Sap | 10 000 | 14 | - | Cambodia |
| 4 | Issyk-Kul | 6 280 | 702 | 1 609 | Kyrgyzstan |
| 5 | Issyk-Kul | 6 280 | 702 | 1 609 | Kyrgyzstan |
| 6 | Urmia | 5 800 | 15 | 1 275 | Iran |
| 7 | Kukunoor (Qinghai) | 4 200 | 38 | 3205 | China |
| 8 | Wang | 3 700 | 145 | 1 720 | Türkiye |
| 9 | Poyanghu | 3 583 | 16 | - | China |
| 10 | Dongting | 2 820 | 31 | - | China |
| 11 | Khubsugul | 2 620 | 238 | 1 624 | Mongolia |
| 12 | Ace | 2 500 | 2 | 899 | Türkiye |
| 13 | Taihu | 2 425 | 3 | - | China |
| 14 | Dalainor (Hulun-Nur) | 2 315 | 8 | - | China |
| 15 | Dead Sea | 1 050 | 330 | -392 | Israel, Jordan |
The largest lake in America
On the American continent, Lake Superior is the largest by area. It is the largest of all fresh water bodies on Earth - 82.7 thousand km². The Upper Lake is part of the Great Lakes system, located on the border of Canada and the United States. The lake is very deep (up to 406 m), located at an altitude of 183 m above sea level.
The coastline of Verkhny is indented, there are large bays - Whitefish and Keweenaw. The most large islands- These are Mishipikoten, Isle Royale, Madeleine and Apostle Islands. In the northern part the shores are high (up to four hundred meters) and rocky, in the southern part they are low-lying and sandy.
The lake has no major tributaries. The water here is cold and clear. In the central part of Lake Superior, the water temperature even at summer time no more than 4 °C. In winter, it does not freeze due to storms. The entire coastal zone of the lake is covered with ice approximately from the first days of the starting winter month until the end of April.
Table of the 14 largest lakes in North America
| № | Name | Area, km² | Maximum depth, m | Altitude above sea level, m | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upper | 82 100 | 406 | 183 | Canada, USA |
| 2 | Huron | 60 000 | 229 | 177 | Canada, USA |
| 3 | Michigan | 57 800 | 281 | 177 | USA |
| 4 | Bol.Bearish | 31 326 | 446 | 119 | Canada |
| 5 | Bol.Slave | 28 568 | 614 | 156 | Canada |
| 6 | Erie | 25 667 | 64 | 174 | USA, Canada |
| 7 | Winnipeg | 24 387 | 18 | 217 | Canada |
| 8 | Ontario | 19 529 | 243 | 75 | USA, Canada |
| 9 | Nicaragua | 8 158 | 70 | 32 | Nicaragua |
| 10 | Athabasca | 7 935 | 60 | 213 | Canada |
| 11 | Deer | 6 650 | 60 | - | Canada |
| 12 | Winnipegosis | 5 374 | 12 | 252 | Canada |
| 13 | Manitoba | 4 624 | 28 | 248 | Canada |
| 14 | Bol.Salty | 4 351 | 15 | 1 282 | USA |
Lakes occupy about 1.8% of the globe, mostly small, quiet bodies of water with gently sloping sandy shores. But there are real giant lakes, several hundred kilometers long, with an area larger than some seas, on the surface of which real storms with multi-meter waves rage. Meet the ten largest lakes in the world.
10. Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake has an area of 28,930 km², and is the remains of a body of water formed after the melting of glaciers formed during the Ice Age. This is the deepest lake in North America, located in Canada, with a depth of 614 meters, which is bordered on one side by the tundra and on the other by the Canadian boundary shield. The name of the lake was given in honor of the Indian tribe that lived on the shore, whose name was very similar to the English word “slave”, which translates as “slave”.
9. Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi, also known as Nyasa, with an area of 30,044 km 2, contains 7% of the world's fresh water reserves. The reservoir is a depression on the border of Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi, 706 meters deep, into which 14 rivers flow. Storms often rage along the steep shores of the lake, during which shipping almost completely stops.
8. Great Bear Lake
Canada's largest lake, Great Bear Lake has an area of 31,153 km². The reservoir is located beyond the Arctic Circle at an altitude of 186 meters above sea level and has a depth of 413 meters. It was from uranium mined on the shores of Great Bear Lake that the atomic bombs, dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
7. Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal, with an area of 31,722 km², is the largest freshwater reservoir in the world, storing 19% of the world's freshwater reserves. The reservoir, 1,637 meters deep, was formed at the site of a tectonic fault, and is surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains. By the way, this is the most deep lake in a world where more than 300 rivers flow in and only one river, the Angara, flows out. The most important thing is Baikal and its shores, it is a home for large quantity animals and plants that are found nowhere else in the world.
6. Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika, with an area of 32,893 km 2, located on the border of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi, was formed at the site of a tectonic fault on the border of the African and Arabian tectonic plates. It is the second deepest (its depth is 1,470 meters) enclosed body of water in the world and the second largest fresh water lake in the world. It also bears the title of itself long lake in the world, from north to south it has a length of 673 kilometers. The shores of Tanganyika are high cliffs and only on the eastern side there are flat areas. Due to the fact that the lake was formed many millions of years ago with a closed ecosystem, there are many unique species of fish that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
5. Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan, with an area of 58,000 km2, is the only one of the five Great Lakes that is entirely located in the United States. It is located at an altitude of 177 meters above sea level, its depth is 281 meters. Michigan is located high in northern latitudes and its waters are frozen for about four months of the year.
4. Lake Huron
Lake Huron, on the border of the USA and Canada, with an area of 59,600 km 2, has a depth of 229 meters and is located at an altitude of 176 meters above sea level. The most interesting thing is that Huron has a simply huge number of islands, more than 30 thousand, among which Manitoulin Island stands apart, the largest freshwater island in the world, which in turn contains the largest inland lake in the world - Manitou, with an area of 106 km 2.
3. Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria, with an area of 69,485 km2, is the largest African and tropical lake in the world. The reservoir was formed in a depression on the East African platform on the border of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at an altitude of 1134 meters above sea level. Lake with big amount bays, bays and islands, surrounded by low swampy shores, only in the southwestern part, the water rests against sharply rising cliffs. Victoria has a depth of 84 meters, the main source of water replenishment of which is tropical rains. By the way, this is where the most long river in the world - Nile.
2. Lake Superior
The second largest in the world and the most large lake North America - Upper, has an area of 82,414 km 2. The reservoir was formed in the basin as a result of the movement of tectonic plates and soil erosion, which was filled with water from melted glaciers. Above the lake, 406 meters deep, not protected by mountains, there are constant winds. strong winds Because of this, strong seiches (standing waves) often form on its surface, severely destroying the shores.
1. Caspian Sea
The largest lake in the world is the Caspian Sea, yes, it is a lake, despite the fact that it is most often called a sea, has an area of 371,000 km 2. The banks of this reservoir are flat and swampy, only in the northern part they are strongly indented, in the area of the delta of the Volga and Ural rivers. The Caspian Sea, which is located on the border of Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, has a depth of 1025 meters. The most interesting thing is that this lake appeared as a result of tectonic shifts, which led to the appearance of a closed body of water separated from the world ocean.
Top 10 largest lakes in the world, according to: website
A lake is a closed depression of land into which surface and groundwater flows and accumulates.
Lakes are not part of the World Ocean.
I can hardly imagine deepening land with an area of 50 thousand square kilometers
1 Caspian Sea, area: 376 thousand sq. km, geographical location: Asia, altitude above sea level: -28 m, depth: 1025 m. This is the largest lake in the world, although due to the salinity of the water it is called a sea.
2 Upper, area: 82 thousand sq. km, geographical location: North America, height above sea level: 183 m, depth: 393 m. Interesting fact name of the lake English language sounds like Super. The largest freshwater lake.
3 Victoria, area: 68 thousand sq. km, geographical location: Africa, altitude: 1134 m, depth: 80 m. The largest lake in Africa
4 Huron, area: 60 thousand sq. km, geographical location: North America, altitude: 177 m, depth: 208 m.
6 Aral Sea, area: 35 thousand sq. km, geographical location: Asia, height above sea level: 3.5 m, depth: 54.5 m. The Aral Sea has been rapidly shallowing since the 80s of the last century. Today, the sea is divided into 2 Southern Aral and Northern Aral, with the Southern Aral almost completely disappearing, and they are trying to preserve the northern one in every possible way, including raising fish on an industrial scale.
7 Tanganyika, area: 34 thousand sq. km, geographical location: Africa, altitude: 773 m, depth: 1470 m.
8 Baikal, area: 32 thousand sq. km, geographical location: Asia, altitude: 456 m, depth: 1620 m. The deepest lake in the world.
Lakes are an important component of the planet's ecosystem. They are concentrated most of fresh water reserves on the planet. Half of the planet's largest lakes are located on the North American continent. But which lakes are considered the largest in the world in terms of area? Let's look at the 9 largest lakes by area.
First place rightfully occupies the Caspian Sea. Part of its coastline is located in the territory Russian Federation, and part of the borders are located in Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world. It is drainless, salty, and belongs to both Europe and Asia. It can be divided into 3 parts, one of which has a depth of more than 1 km. Located in the middle of the continent, the lake has an oceanic bottom structure. The total surface area is 371 thousand km².
The next place is occupied by the largest of the Great Lakes of America - Upper. It is located in the USA and Canada. The area is just over 84 thousand km². This lake is also the deepest in America and the largest freshwater lake in the whole world. Its basin is of tectonic origin, and the waters appeared due to the melting of ancient glaciers.
The largest lake in Africa ranks third. It's fresh Lake Victoria tectonic origin. The lake lies on the territory of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania. There are a lot of fish in the lake. There are many islands on the lake. The maximum depth of the reservoir is up to 80 meters.
The fourth place is taken Lake Huron. Its area is about 60,000 km². It is located in Canada and the USA. Its depth is 229 meters. Connected to Lake Michigan by a single water system.
The sixth place in size is occupied by drainless salt Lake on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, dying Aral Sea. Just 25 years ago it was almost 3 times more than it is now. The complete disappearance of the reservoir is predicted within 5-10 years. The lake has become a victim of human activity and its adverse effects on the ecosystem. The Kazakh government tried to develop a plan to fill the lake using an artificial canal. In the 60s of the last century, the lake ranked 4th largest in the world.
Seventh place rightfully belongs to the lake Tanganyika. This is the deepest lake in Africa, which runs along the border of several states. It occupies 34,000 km². The water in the lake is fresh, but very hard. How badly divorced sea water. This is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide and minerals in the water. The depth of the lake is about 1.5 km. The lake is inhabited by fish, there are crocodiles and hippos. Life in the lake is only in the upper 200 meters of water; it is not deeper due to the high concentration of hydrogen sulfide. The water in the lake is absolutely transparent. The lake is considered very ancient.
Eighth place Lake Baikal on the territory of the Russian Federation. This is the world's deepest freshwater lake. The area of the water surface is almost 32 thousand km². This lake of tectonic origin is rich in flora and fauna, and in the Irkutsk region everyone calls it the sea.
In 9th position is Canadian Great Bear Lake. Tenth place was taken by Lake Nyasa with an area of 30,800 km². It is located in Africa, below sea level. The lake is surrounded by steep cliffs. It is famous for its storms and huge number of fish species.
