Thanks to technological advancements, humanity has gained the ability to quantify lakes based on their volume and size. Leveraging this progress, we have amassed data on the largest lakes across the globe, resulting in a comprehensive compilation of the 13 largest lakes in the world. Prepare to delve into fascinating details about each of these remarkable bodies of water.
13 Largest Lakes in the World
We need to clarify what constitutes a body of water in a lake before we can show you the world’s largest lakes. For the most part, the primary distinctions between lakes and ponds may be boiled down to the following:
- A lake’s depth is greater than that of a pond.
- Ponds, on the other hand, tend to have more rounded borders, while lakes tend to have a more oval shape than peninsulas.
- Nature: Lakes and ponds are both freshwater, although lakes tend to have more saltwater than ponds.
The total area must be at least 200 acres (0.3 square miles).
Knowing what constitutes a lake now allows us to look for the biggest ones. You’ll notice that the world’s largest lakes on this list aren’t necessarily the deepest or the longest. The world’s 13 largest lakes are:
1. Caspian Sea
In spite of its saltiness and the fact that its ocean basin is below sea level, the Caspian Sea is the world’s largest lake. Due to its immense size, the lake’s shores may be found in numerous countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. Some of the lake’s water is salty, although it’s not as salty as ocean water. We highly recommend visiting the Caspian Sea, the biggest lake in the world.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 371,000 km² 143,000 sq mi |
1,199 km 745 mi |
1,025m 3,363 ft |
78,200 km3 18,800 cu mi |
2. Lake Superior
One of the biggest lakes in the world, Lake Superior is the world’s biggest freshwater lake by surface area, with coastlines in both the United States and Canada. The volume of this lake dwarfs that of many of the adjacent “Great Lakes.” For more than a century, Lake Superior has served as a shipping route. Lake Superior is the largest lake in Canada.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 82,100 km2 31,700 sq mi |
616 km 383 mi |
406 m 1,333 ft |
12,100 km3 2,900 cu mi |
3. Lake Victoria
Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania all have shorelines that extend into this freshwater lake. Lake Victoria, nicknamed the British monarch, is well-known for the variety of fauna that it is home to. Due to its shallow depth, it has a smaller volume than most other lakes in the globe, despite its enormous surface area.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 68,870 km2 26,590 sq mi |
322 km 200 mi |
84 m 276 ft |
2,750 km3 660 cu mi |
4. Lake Huron
The shores of Lake Huron, another Great Lake, can be found on both the American and Canadian sides of the border. This lake is unique in that it has a smaller surface area but a much higher volume than Lake Victoria. Manitoulin Island, the world’s largest lake island, may be found in Lake Huron.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 59,600 km2 23,000 sq mi |
332 km 206 mi |
229 m 751 ft |
3,540 km3 850 cu mi |
5. Lake Michigan
In addition to being one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan lies wholly within the United State’s borders. In this way, it is the largest lake in a single nation. It is also larger than Lake Huron in terms of volume.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 58,000 km2 22,000 sq mi |
494 km 307 mi |
281 m 922 ft |
4,900 km3 1,200 cu mi |
6. Lake Tanganyika
Located on the continent of Africa, Lake Tanganyika is a similarly large body of freshwater. From Zambia to Tanzania to the Democratic Republic of Congo, it features a wide range of shorelines. This is the longest freshwater lake in the world, and its tremendous depths give it an enormous volume. It is the world’s largest freshwater lake in terms of volume.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 32,600 km2 12,600 sq mi |
676 km 420 mi |
1,470 m 4,820 ft |
18,900 km3 4,500 cu mi |
7. Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal can only be found in the Russian Federation. Despite its position at number seven, Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest lake and the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume. The water in this body of water is extremely deep.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 31,500 km2 12,200 sq mi |
636 km 395 mi |
1,637 m 5,371 ft |
23,600 km3 5,700 cu mi |
8. Great Bear Lake
‘Great Bear Lake’ is a lake in Canada. Although Canada has many lakes, this one is the country’s largest lake that is wholly within its borders. This lake is located in the very north of Canada, and some of it is even in the Arctic Circle!
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 31,000 km2 12,000 sq mi |
373 km 232 mi |
446 m 1,463 ft |
2,236 km3 536 cu mi |
9. Lake Malawi
Despite the fact that Lake Malawi is named after a single country, it has shorelines in three other countries. Mozambique and Tanzania make up this group. Even though the lake’s surface area is reasonable, it is shallow and has a modest depth and volume.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 29,500 km2 11,400 sq mi |
579 km 360 mi |
706 m 2,316 ft |
8,400 km3 2,000 cu mi |
10. Great Slave Lake
The Great Slave Lake was given its name by French explorers who encountered Cree slavers. The English translation of that title was later done. Although it has a large surface area, Lake Superior is best known as North America’s deepest lake.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 27,000 km2 10,000 sq mi |
480 km 300 mi |
614 m 2,014 ft |
1,560 km3 370 cu mi |
11. Lake Erie
On the boundary of the United States and Canada is Lake Erie. This lake is the smallest of all the Great Lakes in terms of volume. Many states in the United States surround the lake, and it remains a popular tourist destination even when parts of it freeze over in the winter.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 25,700 km2 9,900 sq mi |
388 km 241 mi |
64 m 210 ft |
489 km3 117 cu mi |
12. Lake Winnipeg
The largest lake in Canada, Lake Winnipeg, is located wholly within the country’s borders. ‘ The lake is part of Canada’s greatest watershed, making it one of the most important bodies of water. zebra mussel intrusion and algal blooms are causing serious ecological concerns in Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 24,514 km2 9,465 sq mi |
425 km 264 mi |
36 m 118 ft |
283 km3 68 cu mi |
13. Lake Ontario
In terms of size, Lake Ontario is the 13th-largest lake in the United States and Canada. In comparison to the other Great Lakes, Lake Ontario is the smallest in size. Swimmers frequently use this body of water to accomplish a feat.
| Area | Length | Depth | Volume |
| 18,960 km2 7,320 sq mi |
311 km 193 mi |
244 m 801 ft |
1,639 km3 393 cu mi |
What Is The Largest Lake In The United States?
Lake Superior is the largest lake in the United States, although it also has a border with Canada on its northern shores. Lake Michigan, the country’s largest freshwater lake, is totally surrounded by the United States. Located near the state of Michigan, this lake has a lot to offer.
What Is the Deepest Lake in the United States?
The deepest lake in America is the Crater Lake. The depth of Crater Lake is 1,943 feet or 592 meters. The stunning blue color and enormous depth of this lake, which is in the state of Oregon, have made it a national icon.
What Is the Deepest Lake in the World?
The world’s deepest lake, Lake Baikal, is located in Siberia. As a renowned tourist destination for hikers, this lake is located fully within the Russian Federation. With the Great Baikal Trail, visitors can obtain a great perspective of the lake’s periphery while hiking, biking, or walking.
Russia’s Lake Baikal, also known as the Great Lakes Located in Siberia, Lake Baikal is both the deepest and largest freshwater lake in the world, holding over 20% of the unfrozen fresh water on the planet.
Where Is The Largest Lake In The World?
Lake Baikal in Russia is the largest lake in terms of water volume. The largest lake in the planet is also the deepest. We’re going by the size of their footprints. The largest freshwater lake in the United States would be Lake Superior. Great Lakes Lake Huron is also in the top five.
Which Is The Oldest Lake In The World?
The oldest lake is Lake Baikal. Located in south-eastern Siberia near the Mongolian border, Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake. It reaches a depth of more than 5,000 feet (1,638 meters). In terms of volume, it is the world’s largest freshwater lake.3
What Is The Shallowest Lake In The World?
Lake Erie is the shallowest lake in the world. There is an estimated 9,910 square miles of water in Lake Erie, with a total volume of 116 cubic miles of water. An average depth of 62 feet divides it into three basins: the eastern, middle, and western basins.
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