Where is the largest lake in the world located. The largest freshwater lake in the world

All of us at the word "lake" imagine a kind of quiet body of water, surrounded by a visible line of the coast. There will be no such lakes in this article. Have you ever heard of lakes where storm surges occur and are larger than some seas? I present to your attention a selection of "the largest lakes in the world", which includes the 10 largest lakes. The article is divided into three pages to accommodate more interesting information and photos. Read, rate, leave comments and feedback in the discussions.

10th place

So, at the end of the list of the most big lakes in the world we have a lake called Nyasa. It is located simultaneously in Africa, in Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.

It is located in a discharge depression at an altitude of 472 m. The area is 30.8 thousand sq. km. Depth up to 706 m (in the northern part of the reservoir, where its bottom lies significantly below sea level). The shores are steep and rocky, high, especially in the north and northeast.

The southern part of the basin lies in a wide depression, the banks are framed by a narrow strip of the coastal plain. The average annual inflow of water into the lake (river runoff plus precipitation) is about 72 km2, evaporation is about 66 km3.

The lake is rich in fish (about 230 species), in particular species of tilapis, crocodiles, hippos, and many waterfowl. With the light hand of some scientists, it is called the birthplace of aquarium fish. Also, Lake Nyasa is characterized by severe storms and surfs near steep banks, which impede navigation (passengers are transported only during the day).

Small, isn't it?) There are 9 more such “crumbs” ahead, and they will be by no means smaller ...

9th place

9th place - Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake- the largest lake in Canada, the fourth largest in North America. The lake is located on the Arctic Circle, between 65 and 67 degrees north latitude and 118 and 123 degrees west longitude, at a level of 186 m above sea level.

The lake has an outflow through the Great Bear River into the Mackenzie River. The only settlements on the lake are Deline on the southwest end and Echo Cove on the northeast side.

On this lake you can see such beauty)

8th place

In eighth place in the list of the largest lakes in the world - Baikal- concurrently also the deepest lake on the planet.

Baikal is a lake of tectonic origin in the southern part of Eastern Siberia, the deepest lake on the planet Earth, the largest natural reservoir fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique diversity of flora and fauna, most of the species are endemic. locals and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.

More than half of the year the lake is ice-bound, the freezing period is January 15 - May 1, navigation is carried out from June to September. Since 1956, the lake has been an integral part of the Irkutsk (Baikal) reservoir of long-term regulation, formed by the dam of the Irkutsk hydroelectric power station.

Baikal is located in the center of Asia, in Russia, on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. The lake stretches from north to southwest for 636 km in the form of a giant crescent. The width of Baikal ranges from 25 to 80 km.

Olkhon Island

The water surface area is 31,722 sq. km, which is approximately equal to the area of ​​countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands or Denmark. Length coastline- 2,100 km.

The lake is located in a kind of basin, surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges and hills. At the same time, the western coast is rocky and steep, the relief of the eastern coast is more gentle (in places the mountains recede from the coast for tens of kilometers).

7th place

Lake Tanganyika- a large lake in Central Africa. This is one of the largest lakes in the world and is equally ancient in origin. In terms of volume and depth, Tanganyika ranks second after Lake Baikal. The shores of the lake belong to four countries - the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi.

The lake is about 650 km long and 40-80 km wide. The area is 34 thousand sq. km. Lies at an altitude of 773 meters above sea level in the tectonic basin of the East African Rift Zone. Coastal landscapes, as a rule, are huge rocks and only on the eastern side of the coast are gentle. On the west coast the steep side walls of the East African Rift Zone, which form the coastline, reach 2,000 m in height. The coastline is dotted with bays and bays. The largest of them is Burton Bay. The lake is fed by several tributaries. The only outflowing river - Lukuga (Lukuga) begins in the middle part of the west coast and flows west, connecting with the Zaire River, which flows into the Atlantic.

The lake is home to hippos, crocodiles, and a lot of waterfowl. Fishing and shipping are well developed.

The antiquity of the lake and the long period of isolation resulted in the development of a large number of endemic organisms, including those from the family Cichlidae (cichlids). Of the more than 200 species of fish living in the lake, about 170 are endemic.

Tanganyika is inhabited to about a depth of 200 m, below this mark there is a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide and life is absent to the very bottom. This layer of the lake is a huge "burial ground" consisting of organic silt and sedimentary mineral compounds.

The water temperature of Tanganyika strictly differs in layers. So, in the upper layer, the temperature ranges from 24 to 30 degrees, with a decrease at great depths. Due to the different density of water and the absence of a bottom current, the layers do not mix, and the temperature at the lower horizons reaches only 6-8 degrees.

The depth of the temperature jump layer is about 100 m. The Tanganika water is very transparent (up to 30 m). Many salts are dissolved in it in small concentrations, so that in its composition it resembles a highly diluted marine one. Water hardness (mainly due to magnesium salts) ranges from 8 to 15 degrees. Water has an alkaline reaction, pH 8.0 - 9.5.

The lake was discovered in 1858 by English travelers R. Burton and J. Speke.

6th place

The sixth largest lake in the world is Aral Sea

Collector-drainage waters coming from the fields into the bed of the Syrdarya and Amudarya have caused deposits of pesticides and various other agricultural pesticides, appearing in places on 54 thousand square kilometers of the former seabed covered with salt. Dust storms carry salt, dust and pesticides to a distance of up to 500 km. Sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate are airborne and destroy or slow down the development of natural vegetation and crops. The local population suffers from a high prevalence of respiratory diseases, anemia, cancer of the larynx and esophagus, as well as digestive disorders. Diseases of the liver and kidneys, eye diseases have become more frequent.

In 2001, as a result of a drop in the water level, Vozrozhdeniye Island was connected to the mainland. On this island, the Soviet Union tested bacteriological weapons: the causative agents of anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, plague, typhoid, smallpox, as well as botulinum toxin were tested here on horses, monkeys, sheep, donkeys and other laboratory animals. This is the reason for the fear that deadly microorganisms have retained their viability, and infected rodents may become their distributors in other regions.

According to the calculations of scientists, it is no longer possible to save the Aral Sea. Even if we completely refuse to take water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, the previous water level in it will be restored no earlier than in 200 years.

The Aral Sea once occupied 68 thousand square kilometers and was the fourth largest in the world. Now its area is about 10% of that recorded in the 60s of the last century. Pictures from 1989 and 2003:

This is a photo from 2008

From the 1950s to the present, projects have been repeatedly proposed for the construction of a canal for transferring water from the Ob basin to the Aral Sea basin, which would significantly develop the economy of the Aral Sea region (in particular, agriculture) and partially revive the Aral Sea. Such construction will require very large material costs (on the part of several states - Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan), therefore, there is no talk of the practical implementation of these projects yet.

Some scientists predict the complete disappearance of the Aral Sea by 2020...

5th place

In the middle of the list of the largest lakes in the world is lake michigan- one of the North American Great Lakes.

The only one of the Great Lakes that is entirely within the United States. located south of the lake The upper one is connected to Lake Huron by the Mackinac Strait, to the Mississippi River system - the Chicago-Lockport Canal.

From the point of view of hydrography, Michigan and Huron form a single system, but geographically they are considered to be separate lakes.

Square Michigan- about 57,750 km2 (the third largest among the Great Lakes), about 500 km long, about 190 km wide. The surface height above sea level is 177 m (as in Huron), the depth is up to 281 m. It is covered with ice for about four months a year. Islands - Beaver, North Manitou, South Manitou.

The states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin have access to the lake. Big cities on Lake Michigan include Chicago, Evanston and Highland Park (Illinois), Milwaukee and Green Bay (Wisconsin), Gary and Hammond (Indiana).

The name of the lake comes from the word mishigami, which means "big water" in the Ojibwa language. The first European to discover the lake was the Frenchman Jean Nicolet in 1634.

4th place

Lake Huron is the fourth largest lake in the world. It is a lake in the USA and Canada, one of the North American Great Lakes. Located east of Lake Michigan, connected to it by the Strait of Mackinac. From the point of view of hydrography, Michigan and Huron form a single system (they are connected by the Mackinac Strait), but geographically they are considered to be separate lakes.

The Huron area is about 59.6 thousand km2 (the second largest among the Great Lakes). The surface height above sea level is about 176 m (as in Michigan), the depth is up to 229 m.

The states of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario have access to the lake. The main ports on Huron are Saginaw, Bay City, Alpina (USA) and Sarnia (Canada).

The name of the lake, introduced by the French, comes from the name of the Huron Indian tribe.

Manitoulin is located on Huron - the most big Island peace, located in a fresh lake.

3rd place

Closes the top three largest lakes Victoria- a lake in East Africa, on the territory of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Located in the tectonic trough of the East African Platform, at an altitude of 1134 m. This is the 2nd largest fresh lake in the world after Lake Superior and the most big lake in Africa

The lake was discovered and named after Queen Victoria by British traveler John Henning Speke in 1858.

Square Lake Victoria 68 thousand square kilometers, length 320 km, maximum width 275 km. It is part of the Victoria Reservoir. Lots of islands. The high-water Kagera River flows in, the Victoria Nile River flows out. The lake is navigable, the locals are engaged in fishing on it.

The northern coast of the lake crosses the equator. The lake with a maximum depth of 80 m belongs to fairly deep lakes.

Unlike its deep-water neighbors, Tanganyika and Nyasa, which lie within the gorge system of Africa, Lake Victoria fills a shallow depression between the eastern and western sides of the Great Gorge valley. The lake receives great amount more water from the rains than from all its tributaries.

30 million people live in the vicinity of the lake. on the south and western shores The lake is inhabited by the Haya people, who knew how to grow coffee long before the arrival of Europeans. Main ports: Entebbe (Uganda), Mwanza, Bukoba (Tanzania), Kisumu (Kenya), near the northern coast of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

2nd place

On the second place confidently entrenched lake superior- the largest, deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes and, concurrently, the largest freshwater lake in the world.

In the north upper lake bounded by the territory of the Canadian province of Ontario, in the west by the US state of Minnesota, in the south by the states of Wisconsin and Michigan.

The basins of Lake Superior and the northern part of Lake Huron were developed in the crystalline rocks of the southern part of the Canadian Shield, the basins of the remaining lakes were mined in the thickness of limestones, dolomites and sandstones of the Paleozoic of the North American Platform. The basin of the Upper Lake was formed as a result of tectonic movements, pre-glacial river and glacial erosion.

The origin of the water mass of the Upper Lake is associated with the melting of the ice sheet, during the retreat of which a number of large lakes were formed in this area, which repeatedly changed their outlines.

In the northern part of the Great Lakes, the coastline is dissected, the islands and shores (up to 400 m high) are rocky, steep, very picturesque, especially the shores of Lake Superior and the northern part of Lake Huron.

Fluctuations in the level of the Upper Lake are artificially regulated for the purposes of navigation, energy, etc. The amplitude of seasonal fluctuations is 30-60 cm, the highest level is observed in summer, the lowest in winter. Short-term level fluctuations caused by strong surge winds and seiches reach 3-4 m, the height of the tides is 3-4 cm

1 place

The Caspian Sea tops the ranking" The largest lakes in the world"- despite the fact that it is called the sea, in fact it is the largest drainless lake on the planet. It is located at the junction of Europe and Asia, and it is called the sea only because of its size. The Caspian Sea is a drainless lake, and the water in it is salty, from 0.05 ‰ near the mouth of the Volga to from 11-13 ‰ in the southeast.

The Caspian Sea is similar in shape to the Latin letter S, its length from north to south is about 1200 kilometers, from west to east - from 195 to 435 kilometers, an average of 310-320 kilometers.

The Caspian Sea is conditionally divided according to physical and geographical conditions into 3 parts - the Northern Caspian, the Middle Caspian and the Southern Caspian. The conditional border between the North and Middle Caspian runs along the line Chechen (island) - Tyub-Karagansky cape, between the Middle and South Caspian - along the line Zhiloy (island) - Gan-Gulu (cape). The area of ​​the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian is respectively 25, 36, 39 percent of the total area of ​​the Caspian Sea.

The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is estimated at about 6500 - 6700 kilometers, with islands - up to 7000 kilometers. The shores of the Caspian Sea in most of its territory are low-lying and smooth. In the northern part, the coastline is indented by water channels and islands of the Volga and Ural deltas, the shores are low and swampy, and the water surface is covered with thickets in many places.

On the east coast limestone coasts adjoining semi-deserts and deserts predominate. The most winding coasts are on the west coast in the area of ​​the Apsheron Peninsula and on the east coast in the area of ​​the Kazakh Gulf and Kara-Bogaz-Gol.

The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian Sea.

Area and volume of water Caspian Sea varies greatly with water level fluctuations. With a water level of 26.75 m, the area is approximately 371,000 km square kilometers, the volume of water is 78,648 cubic kilometers, which is approximately 44 percent of the world's lake water reserves. Max Depth Caspian Sea - in the South Caspian depression, 1025 meters from the level of its surface. In terms of maximum depth, the Caspian Sea is second only to Baikal (1620 m) and Tanganyika (1435 m). The average depth of the Caspian Sea is 208 meters. At the same time, the northern part of the Caspian Sea is shallow, its maximum depth does not exceed 25 meters, and the average depth is 4 meters.

In continuation, read also about the most beautiful lakes in Scotland, which is dedicated to a separate photo tape.

Every day on their background do beautiful pictures with pleasant views that evoke a lot of positive emotions. Large lakes taken from a height are especially beautiful. What is the name of the largest lake in the world? Modern researchers believe that Baikal belongs to this lake, but this opinion is disputed. Until now, researchers have not given an unambiguous answer, what is the name of the largest freshwater lake in the world. Indeed, due to the great depth, it is difficult to determine the exact amount of water in each of them. Here is what science knows about lakes with fresh water today.

10 lakes

Until now, it was believed that the largest lake in the world by area is, of course, Baikal (Russia). However, the data obtained about him is approximate. Here are the 10 largest lakes known to the world, starting with the smallest.

10th place is occupied by the Great Slave Lake, located in Canada. It has an area of ​​29 square kilometers and strikes travelers with an unusually beautiful, picturesque bluish tint. It is the remains of a reservoir that existed during the era of glaciers. The water in it is very cold and cool, clear, like a crystal. This lake got its name because of the slave tribe that once inhabited its shores.

9th place is occupied by Lake Malawi on the border of Mozambique. This is a very large fresh water storage facility with an area of ​​30 square kilometers. It was formed due to a steep depression. Various storms, whirlpools regularly pass near it, and it becomes impassable for ships. Of course, this is not the largest lake in the world, but it is considered the largest in the region.

8th place went to the Great Bear Lake, located on the shores of Canada, but already beyond the Arctic Circle. Its area is about 32 square kilometers. Once a lot of radioactive uranium was found in it, from which they made nuclear weapons for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

7th place Russian lake Baikal. This is the largest lake in the world and Russia, which contains 19% of all fresh water in the world. Many tourists constantly visit it, as the nature around the lake is really very pleasant and useful. Large taiga pines and cedars grow around Lake Baikal, filling the air with a wonderful resinous aroma in the sun. The water in the lake is very beautiful, transparent, even through a thick layer of ice. The lake was formed thanks to a large tectonic crack, which gradually continues to deepen. The area of ​​Lake Baikal is 31.7 square kilometers, but it is very deep, and the depth continues to grow.

6th place - Lake Tanganyitka, located on the border of the Congo. It was formed as a result of a tectonic fault. This is the second deepest closed reservoir after Baikal. The shores of this lake consist of high cliffs, very sharp and steep banks. Its area is 33 square kilometers.

5th place belongs to Lake Michigan. Its area is about 58 square kilometers. It is located in North America, and for about 4 months of the year it is bound by a very thick layer of ice.

4th place - Lake Huron, which is located on the border of America and Canada. Its area is 59 square kilometers, and it has a very large number of islands. The lake is located among the rocks, stones and looks very picturesque in the photographs.

Lake Victoria is the 3rd largest lake in Africa. Its area is almost 70 square kilometers, and it is considered the largest African and tropical lake in the world. It is replenished due to abundant tropical rains, has many islands and attracts attention with a beautiful, olive hue.

2nd place - Lake Superior, located in North America. Its area is 82 square kilometers. This is not the largest lake in the world, but it is very wide. There is a plain around it, so there is a rare phenomenon there - standing waves destroying its fragile shores.

The 1st place in the world is occupied by the Caspian Sea. Yes, it's actually a lake. And, although it is not the largest and cleanest freshwater lake in the world, it has an area of ​​​​371 square kilometers. The shores of the reservoir are swampy, washed out. And it appeared from the tectonic plates and faults that separated it from the oceans.

The largest lake in the world by area

This is the Caspian Sea, although it is correct to call it a lake. Its area is more than 371 square kilometers.

The largest lake in the world and Russia

This is the well-known Lake Baikal, which is considered the single largest source of fresh water in the world. If we take a lake that does not contain fresh water, then the Caspian Sea becomes it.

So the largest freshwater lake in the world, like, is Russian Baikal, which attracts many tourists every year.

Whatever you think, this list of 50 breathtakingly beautiful lakes will surely add to your knowledge and expand your horizons right now! This list contains the names and photographs of the most famous lakes in the world, but nonetheless, they may not be familiar to you.

Caspian Sea - Caspian Sea / The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world
371,000 km2 (143,000 sq mi). The Caspian Sea is regarded as the largest lake in the world. It contains an ocean basin. This makes it an oceanic lake and sets it apart from all the other lakes on this list which are continental lakes. The Caspian Sea is the third deepest lake in the world. It has no outflow and borders

Lake Superior - Lake Superior / The largest lake in the world Lake Superior
82,414 km2 (31,820 sq mi). A border lake between Canada and the United States, Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes. North America

Lake Victoria - Lake Victoria
69485 km2 (26828 sq mi). The largest lake in Africa. It is the border lake of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Lake Huron Lake Huron
59,600 km2 (23,000 sq mi). The second largest lake in the Great Lakes. Huron contains the Manitoulin Islands, the world's largest lake islands.

Lake Michigan - Lake Michigan
58,000 km2 (22,000 sq mi). Also one of the five Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is slightly smaller than Lake Huron. It is the world's largest lake located entirely within one country - the United States. Chicago and Milwaukee are located on the shores of Lake Michigan

Lake Tanganyika - Lake Tanganyika
32,893 km2 (12,700 sq mi). The lake is not only the 6th largest lake in the world, but it is also the second deepest lake in the world at 1,470 m (4,820 ft) and the longest lake in the world at 676 km (420 miles). Lake Tanganyika is divided between four countries - Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Zambia.

Moraine Lake, Canada - Moraine Lake

Lake Pinatubo, Philippines - Lake Pinatubo
Formed only recently (in 1991) after the monsoon, this crater lake sits atop Mount Pinatubo, an active volcano in the Philippines.

Lake Annette, Canada - Lake Annette

Laguna Colorada, Bolivia - Wikiwand Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
Located 4,200 meters above sea level in southwestern Bolivia, Laguna Colorada gets its bright red color from pigment deposits and algae beneath its surface. It is an extremely shallow lake with an average depth of 50 cm.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia /
Located in Croatia, the Plitvice Lakes are actually 16 separate bodies of water, and are divided into upper and lower basins of natural dams made up of moss and algae.

Kliluk, Canada
In Osoyoos, British Columbia, a 38-acre natural phenomenon, is a lake with one of the highest concentrations of minerals in the world.

Ancient underground lake reed flute, China - Reed Flute Cave
This is a limestone cave in Guangxi, China. Age over 180 million years. Since the 1940s, it has become famous all over the world because of the colorful caves around the lake.

Loch Rea(Loch RI or Loch Ríbh) - the geographical center of Ireland, the middle mountains. Loch Ree is the second largest lake on the River Shannon after Loch Derg. The other two major lakes are Loch Allen to the north, and Loch Derg to the south. The province of Leinster in County Roscommon Lake is popular with Irish monster legends.

Loch Ness lake(Loch Ness, Scotland) Scotland. Loch Ness (Gaelic: Loch Nis) is the second largest Scottish lake in terms of surface area after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest lake in Scotland by volume of water. The deep, freshwater Loch in Scotland is located about 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Inverness. The lake is known for its Loch Ness Monster. Also of interest to tourists is Urquhart Castle east of Drumnadrochit, the lighthouses at Lochend (Bona Lighthouse) and Fort Augusta.

Lake Okanagan- big, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. The lake is 135 km long and 4-5 km wide. Its interesting feature is the legend of the Demon Lake Ogopogo or Naitaka, and the famous terraces, which are formed by the periodic lowering of the predecessor, glacial Lake Penticton. The maximum depth of the lake is 232 m in the area of ​​Grant Island (called "Whiskey Island" or "Seagull Island" by the locals)

Lake Labynkyr(Labynkyr Lake), Yakutia
This mystical lake is located near the Pole of Cold in the territory of Oymyakon uluss. Legends say that a monster lives deep in the water. It attacks dogs, deer and even humans. History tells how once a monster destroyed an Even caravan.

Lake Kanas(pinyin: Kanasi Hu) in the shape of a crescent is a lake in the Altai Prefecture of Xinjiang Province, China. The lake is located in a valley in the Altai mountains, on the border with Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. The lake was formed 200,000 years ago, during the Quaternary period, as a result of the movement of a glacier. The Kanas River, flowing out of the lake, later merges with the Hemu River, forming the Burkin River, which itself is a tributary of the Irtysh River. The Kanas Valley is home to a population of ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs.

Lake Kok-Kol(Kok-Kol lake) Mysterious Lake in Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan. Occasionally mysterious lake makes some strange sounds, and sometimes you can see signs of ripples, as if a huge creature is drifting inside the lake. Locals believe that the lake is bottomless. Indeed, when hydrographers measured its depth, they could not find the bottom. But, they discovered many channels. This explains the constant water level, despite the fact that nothing flows from the lake and does not flow into it.

Aral Sea(Kazakh: Aral Tenizі; Mongolian: Aral tengis; Tajik: Bahri Aral; Persian: دریای خوارزم Daryâ- you Khârazm) was a closed lake between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in the south. The name translates roughly as "sea of ​​islands" (more than 1100 islands were scattered on its waters). The Aral Sea catchment covers Uzbekistan, parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Formerly one of the four largest lakes in the world with an area of ​​68,000 km2 (26,300 sq mi), the Aral Sea has been steadily shrinking since the 1960s after the rivers that fed the lake were redirected based on Soviet irrigation projects. The drying up of the Aral Sea is called "one of the worst environmental disasters on the planet"

Lake Storshen(Swedish pronunciation: Storsjön, lit. "Great Lake") is the fifth largest lake in Sweden, located in the province of Jämtland (Jämtland). From Storsjön flows the river Indalsälven and the lake contains main island Froson . The city of Östersund lies on its eastern bank, opposite Frösön. Storsjön is considered to be the birthplace of the sea creatures Storsjöodjuret.

Lake Champlain— Lake Champlain lies directly on Burlington, the border between the US and Canada. At the northern end is the historically interesting Fort Ticonderoga. On Lake Champlain cruises and ferries to Vermont and New York.

Lake Natron is a saline and soda lake in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania. The lake is located near the Kenyan border in the eastern rift branch of the East African Wetlands of International Importance. Lake Natron is a basin in the Ramsar Valley, fed mainly by central Kenya's rivers and hot springs. The unusual color of the water is created by cyanobacteria. Because of the high evaporation rates, salt-loving microorganisms begin to thrive.

Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America, known for its cobalt blue waters and surrounding snowy peaks. Lake Tahoe - state border between the states of California and Nevada, and popular resort Sierra Nevada.

Lake Lucerne- among the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland, it stands out with its amazing panorama of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, such as the Eiger and the Jungfrau. The lake is served by vintage steamboats that have been plying here since the 1800s. In spring, the Lake Lucerne basin is fed by Mineralbad streams from the top of Mount Rigi.

pigeon lake(Dove Lake) in Tasmania, Australia. Serene Dove Lake - attraction national park near Cradle Mountain. This lake is the home of the legendary Tasmanian Devil.

Lake Como, Italy - Just 45 minutes from bustling Milan. Lake Como is one of the favorite vacation spots of the rich and famous.

Lake Bled- one of the most charming sights of the Old Continent. Lake Bled of the Julian Alps (Slovene: Bled, German: Veldes) is located in Slovenia, near the borders with Italy and Austria.

Lake Synevyr- the biggest and most famous lake Ukrainian Carpathians. The lake is located in the Gorgany mountain range, in the upper reaches of the Terebly River. The lake has its own beautiful legend about lovers.

The list of the 50 most famous lakes in the world can rightfully include unnamed:

• Lake Ohrid in the Balkan Mountains (located between the Republic of Macedonia and Albania),
• Lake Saimaa (Finland),
• Ladoga/Onega/Chudskoe (Russia),
• Balaton (Hungary),
• Lake Annecy (France)
• Garda / Iseo (Italy),
• Lake Wastwater (England),
• Sogne (Norway),
• Killarney (Ireland)
• Hallstattersee (Austria),
• Königsee / Obersi (Germany),
• Jokulsadlon (Iceland)
• Laguna Verde (Bolivia),
• Lençois Maranhenses (Brazil),
• Lake Nakuru (Kenya),
• Tekapo (New Zealand),
• Lagunas Altiplánicas (Chile),
• Laguna Bacalar (Mexico) and many others.

There are an insane number of lakes in the world. They are found in every corner of the planet, even in Antarctica. Not everyone knows that they are used to calling the sea the largest and widest lake in the world. And not metaphorically at all.

What is the name of the largest lake

The list of the largest lakes is headed by the Caspian Sea. The TSB says that the reservoir is recognized as the largest lake in the world, but this is not entirely clear.

Sea or lake

• The TSB could not accurately identify the Caspian as a lake and attributed it to the seas due to:
• type of deep processes;
• big size;
• salinity percentage;
• history of development (type of the earth's crust under the Caspian Sea, oceanic).

After all, even under the largest lakes (Victoria, Baikal, etc.), the earth's crust is not of an oceanic, but of a tectonic type!
It is wrong to consider the Caspian as a sea, since the reservoir has no access to the ocean, which indicates that the Caspian Sea is a lake. Its water is not salty enough compared to other seas (comparison table below).
Name/Salinity ppm (depending on water layers)

Mediterranean/35-39
Red/Approx 41
Black/18-22
Azov/10-13
Baltic/2-13
Caspian/0.05-13

It can be seen that the salinity of the Caspian Sea only in some areas reaches similar values ​​of the Baltic and Seas of Azov, but it is usually much lower. Many centuries ago, the Caspian Sea had direct communication with the ocean through the lowlands of Ciscaucasia, which is why salt is present at the bottom of the reservoir, but today the main food of the lake is fresh rivers. There are many salt domes and solonchaks around the Caspian Sea, but they cannot provide the required level of salinity of the water.
As for the size of the Caspian Sea, they largely depend on the Volga, although about 130 streams and rivers flow into it (Emba, Artek, Terek, Ural, Gorgan, Kura, etc.). It is the Volga that is the main "supplier of water" for the Caspian, and this river is gradually becoming shallower. Perhaps, in many, many years, the Caspian Sea will turn into the smallest lake in the world, as the inflowing rivers dry up.

The largest lake in facts and figures

The area of ​​​​the largest lake on the planet is 371 thousand square meters. km, depth - 1025 m, length - 1.2 thousand km, and width - 435 km. The coastline has a length of a little more than 6.5 thousand km. From the satellite, it resembles the letter "s", but even with such an uneven shape, it remains the widest lake in the world.
The reservoir actually stretches on the territory of 5 states: the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. There are many cities on its banks: Derbent, Kaspiysk, Baku, Makhachkala, etc. The name of the largest lake in the world comes from the ancient times of the Caspians, who lived in the Caucasus. Also this lake had other names due to other tribes:

• Hyrcanian;
• Khvalynskoye;
• Khazar.

Ecology of the Caspian: is it possible to swim in it

Swimming season in the Caspian Sea: from May to October. In autumn and spring, the water is not very warm, its temperature is about 18 degrees, but in the summer months it is 25-28 degrees.
But the very possibility of swimming remains in question due to the closure of many local beaches by the sanitary services. Annual control measurements show severe water pollution. Industrial waste and oil are regularly dumped into the Caspian.

And scientists from coastal states are sounding the alarm, because. with each release, there are less and less local marine life: seals and sturgeons.

TOP 10 largest lakes in the world

In addition to the Caspian Sea, there are many large lakes, which, of course, cannot be compared with the champion in size, but are uniquely characterized due to the processes taking place in them and the history of formation.
List of the largest lakes in the world without the Caspian Sea based on the area they occupy:

1. Upper
2. Victoria
3. Huron
4. Michigan
5. Tanganyika
6. Baikal
7. big bearish
8. Nyasa
9. Great Slave

Verkhnee is the leader after the Caspian

Lake Superior in the United States is the largest freshwater lake in the world by land area (though not by volume of fresh water). It is one of the Great Lakes and lies on the border between Canada and the United States. The area of ​​the reservoir is 82.4 thousand square meters. km, which is 4.5 times less than the area of ​​the Caspian Sea. The depth of the lake is 406 m, the length is 560 km, and the width is 260 km.
The largest freshwater lake in terms of area is unsuitable for swimming even in the summer months: the highest water temperature reaches 12 degrees. The water level here depends on the time of year: it is the lowest in April and March, and the highest in the summer, because. It is at this time that there are heavy rains. It is the Upper Lake that is known for its mini-tsunamis or seiches: high waves rise on the surface of the water, which crash with force onto the shore.

Victoria is Africa's largest lake

The largest lake on the African continent is Lake Victoria, which belongs to Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The Africans call this lake Nyanza or Ukerewe. Victoria is an alpine reservoir located above sea level at an altitude of 1134 m. The area of ​​\u200b\u200bNyanza is 68.8 thousand square meters. km, depth - 40 m, and length - 337 m.
It is dangerous to swim in this reservoir: it is simply teeming with dangerous crocodiles. In addition to crocodiles, Victoria has a protopter - a unique species that is a transitional link between animals and fish. It can breathe with lungs and gills. But Africans tend to catch common tilapia, while tourists try to catch Nile perch, a fish that can weigh up to 200 kg. Remarkably, this is completely legal. There are no restrictions on the weight of the fish, or on the number, or on the method of fishing (even with dynamite): there are no fines.

The largest freshwater lakes in the world: Huron and Michigan

Huron and Michigan are two more bodies of water from the Great Lakes system. America generally holds the record for the number of huge reservoirs, although it loses in terms of their number: the largest number of lakes (albeit not the most significant) is observed on the Eurasian continent.
Huron and Michigan are connected to each other by the Strait of Mackinac, due to which, from the point of view of hydrography, they can be considered a single system, although they are geographically separated. Huron is not much larger: its area is 59.6 thousand square meters. km, and the area of ​​​​Michigan is 58 thousand square meters. km. But at the same time, Michigan is longer: its length is 494 km against 332 km at Huron.

Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake

Tanganyika is the longest lake of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. The length of Tanganyika is 676 km. The reservoir is located in Central Africa on the territory of 4 countries at once: Congo, Zambia, Burundi and Tanzania. Tanganyika is a very deep body of water: its depth is 1470 m.
Uniquely, this lake has never dried up, thanks to which it has preserved unusual flora and fauna. More than 97% of all cichlids on the planet are present here, several species of crabs, clams and shrimps. This lake has fresh water, but its inhabitants are similar to representatives of the marine fauna.

Baikal - the largest lake in Siberia

Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. In fact, the explored depth is 1637 m. That is why it is considered the largest freshwater reservoir, the volume of which is more than 23 thousand cubic meters. km. In fact, this is the largest of all 5 Great Lakes in America. Due to its low mineralization, the water in Baikal resembles distilled water in its properties. The lake is amazingly clear.
The area of ​​the lake is 31.5 thousand square meters. km, length - 636 km, and width - 81 km. Many rivers and streams flow into this lake (Snezhnaya, Kichera, Selenga, etc.), and only one flows out - the Angara. Many mysteries and legends are connected with Baikal. For example, when a body of water is covered with ice, huge dark rings form on its surface, which can only be seen from a height. Scientists attribute their appearance to methane emissions, although the randomness of the formation of rings is still incomprehensible.
Baikal is a real place of power. This lake is fraught with many mysteries and secrets that are difficult to explain based only on scientific data. The mysteries of Baikal include:

• cliff "White Rock" - a mountain on the shore of the lake, in the bowels of which, according to legend, countless treasures are hidden (found only in legends, in reality it was never found);
• "Black Funnel" - a place in the very center of Baikal, in its deepest part, in which a couple of times a year the water begins to rotate by itself, forming a real funnel;
• mirages on the surface, arising from strong currents of warm air over cold water;
• strong glow of water;
• Cape Ryty - a place on Baikal where the radiation background goes off scale;
• the presence of insect larvae (mosquitoes) at the bottom of the lake.

Local residents often saw UFOs over Lake Baikal, although, of course, there is no documentary evidence of this.

What is the largest subglacial lake in the world

A subglacial lake is a body of water located under a glacier. It is always under the ice layer and does not thaw even in summer. In Antarctica, there are about 380 known subglacial lakes, which in their structure resemble lakes on some cosmic bodies (Jupiter, Saturn, etc.). One of the largest subglacial lakes in the world is Lake Vostok, covered with 4 kilometers of ice. This reservoir got its name thanks to the station "Vostok", standing not far from it. The estimated depth of the lake reaches 1200 m, but this is inaccurate. His study continues. Moreover, traces of the DNA of some organisms have already been found in this sub-ice water, which is already fantastic in itself.

Conclusion

The largest lakes and rivers are significant natural monuments any state. They amaze with their volumes, but in reality you can feel their greatness only from a bird's eye view. But even the biggest fresh lakes of the world can become sources of drinking water.

The total area occupied by all the lakes of the planet is about 2.5 million km², which is 1.8% of the surface of the globe. There are a large number of lakes of various sizes - there are small ones, and there are those that exceed some seas in area.

This collection presents the ten largest lakes in the world.

10th place: Great Slave- the fifth largest and deepest lake in North America, with an area of ​​​​28568 km² and a depth of 614 meters. It is located in the Northwest Territories of Canada at an altitude of 156 meters above sea level. Together with other large lakes of this region, Bolshoe Slave is the remnant of a vast post-glacial reservoir. Southern and eastern shores cut into the granite edges of the Canadian Shield, and the northern and western borders on the Badlands - the Canadian tundra. Cold, freezing from October to June, the lake got its name from the slave Indians who lived in this area. By pure chance, the name of the tribe is very similar in sound to the English "slave", which translates as "slave", "slave".

9th place: Malawi, also known as Nyasa, - a lake of tectonic origin, containing 7% of the world's fresh water. It is part of the African Great Lakes and is the third largest lake in Africa with an area of ​​29,600 km². The depth of the reservoir is 706 meters, which makes it the second deepest on the African continent and the sixth in the world. Lake Malawi, located in the south of East Africa rift valley, fills deep depression between Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi. It feeds on the waters of 14 rivers, among which the most important are Ruhuhu, South and North Rukuru, Bua and Dwangwa. Only one river flows out of Malawi - the Shire, which flows in the southern part of the lake and flows into the Zambezi River. Strong storms and surfs often rage along the steep shores of the lake, which makes navigation very difficult.

8th place: Big Bear- the largest lake in Canada and the fourth largest in North America. The area of ​​the reservoir is 31153 km², the depth is 413 m. The lake is located in the Northwest Territories of Canada in the Arctic Circle at an altitude of 186 meters above sea level. The basin of the Great Bear Lake was formed due to the glacier that covered this area in the past. The Big Bear River flows out of the lake, which merges with the Mackenzie River, which in turn carries water into the Beaufort Sea. In 1930, Canadian explorer Gilbert Labin discovered uranium deposits in this territory, which played a significant role in the history of mankind - uranium mined in the mine built here was used to make bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

7th place: - the deepest (1642 m) lake in the world and the largest reservoir of fresh water. The area of ​​its water surface is 31722 km², and the length of the coastline is 2100 km. Surrounded by mountain ranges and taiga, the reservoir is located on the border of the Republic of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region. Baikal stretches from northeast to southwest for 620 km, forming the shape of a giant crescent. More than 330 rivers flow into the lake, and only one flows out - the Angara. Baikal and its coastal territories abound with unique representatives of flora and fauna, most of which are endemic (i.e. found only here).

6th place: - the second deepest and second largest freshwater lake in the world, located in the western part of the East African Rift, which is called the Albertina Rift. One of the largest lakes on the planet, with a total area of ​​​​32,900 km², belongs to four countries - Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. Elongated from north to south, the reservoir has a length of 673 km, which gives it the status of the longest lake in the world. The main tributaries are the Ruzizi and the Malagarasi, and the only river flowing out of Tanganyika is the Lukuga River. The lake is home to a large number of endemics (190 out of 250 fish species living in Tanganyika), including those from the cichlid family, whose bright representatives are very much appreciated in the aquarium fish market.

5th place: - the only one of the five Great Lakes of North America, located entirely in the United States. Its area is 57,750 km² and it is the third largest among the North American lake quintet. The depth of the lake is 281 m, the height above sea level is 177 m. With the help of the wide Strait of Mackinac, Michigan is connected to Lake Huron, and the Chicago-Lockport shipping channel connects it to the Mississippi River. The reservoir got its name from the word mishigami, translated from the language of the Ojibwe Indians meaning "big water". The first European to reach Lake Michigan in 1634 was the French explorer Jean Nicolet. The states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois have access to the lake, and the largest cities on its coast are Highland Park and Evanston, Chicago, Green Bay and Milwaukee, Hammond and Gary.

4th place: - one of the North American Great Lakes, located on the territory of Canada and the USA. With an area of ​​59,600 km², it has the second largest water surface in North America. The depth of the lake is 229 m, the height above sea level is 176 m. The French were the first to discover it, who gave it a name derived from the name of the Huron Indian tribe that lived here. The lake is replete with islands - there are up to 30 thousand of them here, one of them - Manitoulin - is the most big island world, located in a freshwater body of water. Huron is also known for the fact that a huge number of sunken ships are stored in its waters. According to the Great Lakes Museum of Shipwrecks, about 6,000 ships sank in the lake, but some historians claim that the total number of shipwrecks exceeds 25,000. Several wrecks are found in shallow water, which attracts a large number of diving enthusiasts to these places.

3rd place: - one of the African Great Lakes, located on the territory of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This is the largest lake in Africa and the largest tropical lake in the world. Its area is 68 thousand km², its length is 320 km, and its depth is 80 m. The lake lies in a tectonic trough formed on the East African platform, at an altitude of 1134 m. The African pearl was discovered in July 1858 by the English traveler John Henning Speke, who and gave the lake the name of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. The lake is fed mainly by atmospheric precipitation and many small tributaries. The largest tributary is the Kagera River, which flows into the western part of the lake; two rivers flow out of the lake: the Victoria Nile and Katonga. Lake Victoria seems to be a real paradise for anglers, according to scientists, about 100 species of fish live here, many of which are endemic.

2nd place: - the largest (82.7 thousand km²) of the five North American Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in terms of water surface area in the world. It is located at an altitude of 183 m above sea level in a lake bowl formed by a glacier in the ancient rocks of the Canadian Shield. Lake Superior lies on the border of the United States and Canada - in the north it borders on the Canadian province of Ontario, in the west and south - on the US states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. The coldest body of water in North America is fed by the waters of more than 200 rivers, the largest of them are Nipigon, Peak, Brul, Michipicoten. The water flow is carried out along the St. Marys River, which connects the Superior to Lake Huron. Since the lake is not protected by mountain ranges, it is blown from all sides by winds blowing from the ocean. As a result of this, seiches are often formed on the surface of the reservoir - huge waves, which often lead to significant destruction of the coast.

1st place: - the world's largest enclosed body of water (lake), with a surface area of ​​371 thousand km². The water in the lake is salty - from 0.05% to 11-13%. The maximum depth is 1025 m. The reservoir, the bed of which is formed by the earth's crust of the oceanic type, is located at the junction of Asia and Europe. There are five states on its shores - Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The lake, shaped like the Latin letter S, has a length of approximately 1200 km, and its width ranges from 195 to 435 km. Such large rivers as Volga, Ural, Sulak, Terek, Emba flow into it. In the east, the Caspian adjoins the salt lake Kara Bogaz Gol. His animal world has 1809 species, of which 415 are vertebrates, while the flora is represented by 728 species. More than 100 species of fish live in the Caspian Sea, as well as marine mammals - Caspian seals.