There are more than two million freshwater and salt lakes in Russia. The largest lakes in the European part of the country include Ladoga (17.87 thousand km²) and Onega (9.72 thousand km²) in the northwest, Lake Peipsi (3.55 thousand km²) on the Estonian border, as well as the Rybinsk reservoir ( 4.58 thousand km²) on the Volga north of Moscow.

Narrow lakes from 160 to 320 km in length are located behind the dams on the Don, Volga and Kama. In Siberia, similar artificial lakes are located on the upper Yenisei and its tributary, the Angara, where the Bratsk reservoir, 570 km long, is one of the largest in the world. But they are all insignificant compared to Lake Baikal, the largest reservoir fresh water on the planet. With a length of 636 km and an average width of 50 km, the surface area of ​​Lake Baikal is 31.72 thousand km², and the maximum depth is 1642 m.

There are countless smaller lakes, located mainly in the poorly drained lowlands of the Russian and West Siberian Plains, especially in more northern regions. Some of them reach significant sizes, in particular, Lake Beloe (1.29 thousand km²), Topozero (0.98 thousand km²), Vygozero (0.56 thousand km²) and Lake Ilmen (0.98 thousand km²) on the territory of the European north-west of the country, and Lake Chany (1.4-2 thousand km²) in south-west Siberia.

List of the largest lakes in Russia

We present to your attention the 10 largest lakes of the Russian Federation with a description, photo and geographical location on the map of the country.

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland water body (area: 371 thousand km²). It is called a sea, not a lake, because the ancient Romans who arrived in this region discovered that its water was salty and named it the sea after the tribes of the Caspian who lived near the shores of the lake. The Caspian Sea borders the following five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Iran. The main river feeding the lake is the Volga, which provides about 80% of the inflow of the Caspian Sea, and the remaining 20% ​​falls on other smaller rivers.

The Caspian Sea is rich in oil and natural gas deposits, but these are under development. Also, the extraction process is hindered by the problem of dividing the natural resources of the lake between the five countries bordering it. About 160 species and subspecies of fish from 60 genera live in the Caspian Sea and the deltas of the rivers flowing into it. About 62% of the species are endemic.

Baikal

Baikal is the deepest (1642 m), the oldest (25-35 million years) and the most voluminous (23.6 thousand km³) of all lakes in the world, it is a superstar reservoir in the field of hydrology, geology, ecology and history. Today, Lake Baikal contains about 20 percent of the fresh water on the Earth's surface, which is comparable in volume to the entire Amazon River basin. Baikal has 27 islands, including one over 70 km long (Olkhon Island).

More than 1,500 species of animals live off the shores of the lake, 80% of which are found nowhere else on the planet. The most famous representative of the Baikal fauna is the seal, which lives exclusively in fresh water. According to some reports, the population of seals is about 100,000 individuals. Also near the lake there are such large predators as wolves, which occupy the top positions of the Siberian food chain, feeding on deer, birds, rodents and smaller predators.

Ladoga lake

Lake Ladoga is the largest freshwater lake in Europe, located in the north-west of Russia, 40 km east of St. Petersburg. The area of ​​the lake is 17.87 thousand km², the volume is 838 km³, and the maximum depth at a point to the west of Valaam Island it reaches 230 m.

The depression of the lake appeared under the influence of glaciers. The northern shores are mostly high and rocky, and are also separated by deep, ice-covered bays. The southern shores have many sandy or rocky beaches, mostly low, slightly concave, overgrown with willow and alder. In some places there are ancient coastal embankments covered with pine trees. The largest tributaries are the Volkhov, Svir and Vuoksa rivers.

48 different species of fish were found in the lake, of which the most common are roach, carp, bream, pike perch, perch and smelt. Of the 48 species, 25 are of commercial importance and 11 are in the important food fish category.

Lake Ladoga also serves as a key stopping point for the migratory birds of the North Atlantic Flyway, which typically mark the arrival of spring.

Lake Onega

Lake Onega- the second largest lake in Europe, located in the north-west of the European part of Russia, between Lake Ladoga and the White Sea. It covers an area of ​​9.72 thousand km², 248 km long and up to 83 km wide. The greatest depth is about 127 m.

The basin of the lake was formed by the movement of the earth's crust and glaciers. The high rocky shores in the north and northwest are composed of layered granite and covered with forest. There are deep bays in Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Pevenets. The southern shores are narrow, sandy, often swampy or flooded. Lake Onega has about 1650 islands, covering a total of about 260 km², usually in the northern and northwestern bays.

The lake is home to over 40 species of fish, including vendace (a small member of the salmon family), smelt, burbot bream, pike, perch, roach and salmon. Many types of fish have significant economic value.

Taimyr

Taimyr is the second (after Baikal) largest lake in the Asian part of Russia, located in central regions the Taimyr Peninsula. It is located south of the Byrranga mountains, in the zone.

The lake and tundra zone is a popular destination for birds such as geese, swans, ducks, buzzards, peregrine falcons and snowy owls. Lake Taimyr is home to a large number of fish, including grayling, muksun, char and whitefish. Although the area is relatively remote, depletion of stocks of certain commercial fish species is still observed.

Taimyr is famous for the largest population of reindeer in Eurasia. Also in this region there are such animals as argali, arctic fox, wolf and lemmings. In 1975, the area was re-introduced.

Since 1983, the lake and its environs have been included in the Taimyr nature reserve. Scientists have discovered plutonium in the sediments of a lake believed to have entered Taimyr via wind-blown radioactive particles from nuclear tests conducted on Novaya Zemlya during the Cold War.

Khanka

Lake Khanka has an area of ​​4 thousand km², of which approximately 97% is located in Russia. The maximum depth of the lake is 10.6 m, and the average volume is 18.3 km². The lake is fed by 23 rivers, 8 of which are in China, and the rest in the territory of the Russian Federation. The only outflow is the Sungacha River, which flows east to the Ussuri River, which forms the international border, and flows north where it joins the Amur River.

Khanka is famous for being home to the highest diversity of birds in the entire temperate zone of Eurasia. At least 327 species of nesting, wintering and migratory birds have been sighted in the lake area.

Chudsko-Pskovskoe Lake

Lake Peipus-Pskovskoye is the largest transboundary and fifth (after Ladoga, Onega, Swedish Venern and Finnish Saim) lake in Europe, located on the border between Estonia and Russia. It occupies 3.6% of the total area of ​​the Baltic Sea basin. A total of 30 islands are located on Lake Peipsi, and another 40 in the delta of the Velikaya River. Most of them rise only 1-2 m above the water level, and often suffer from floods.

About 54 species of coastal aquatic plants grow in the basin of Lake Peipus-Pskov, including reed, calamus, reeds and various herbs. 42 species of fish live in the waters of the lake, such as smelt, vendace, bream, perch, pike, roach and whitefish. Wetlands serve as important nesting and feeding grounds for migratory birds such as swans, geese and ducks that migrate from White Sea to the Baltic Sea. The region is home to one of the largest swallow colonies in Estonia.

Ubsu-Nur

Ubsu-Nur is the largest lake in Mongolia in terms of surface area (3.35 thousand km²), as well as the largest salt lake in the country. The Ubsu-Nur basin is one of the most important biodiversity poles of Eurasia. Although most of the lake is located in Mongolia, its northeastern shores are located in the Republic of Tuva Russian Federation.

The lake is shallow, very salty, and is the remnant big sea that existed several thousand years ago. The basin covers an area of ​​about 70 thousand km² and is one of the best preserved natural steppe landscapes on the continent. It is here that the northernmost part of the desert and the southernmost part of the tundra meet.

Reed and freshwater river deltas serve as resting and nesting sites for numerous migratory birds. Over 220 species of birds can be found around the lake, including the black stork, osprey, white-tailed eagle, whooper, and black-headed gull. About 29 different species of fish live in the waters of the lake, one of which is suitable for human consumption. mountainous area serves as a home for Mongolian gerbils, wild sheep and Siberian ibex.

vats

Although Lake Chany is not well known outside of Siberia, it is one of the most big lakes country. Chany is not deep lake with salty and constantly fluctuating water, the level of which can vary from season to season and from year to year. The lands of the lake basin serve as pastures for cattle.

Tanks play an important role in the region's fisheries. The most common species are silver carp, carp, ide, perch. Recently, there has been a trend of depletion of fish stocks of the lake.

Lake Beloe

In terms of area, Beloye is the second (after Onega) natural lake in the Vologda region, and the third (after Rybinsk reservoir). It is one of the ten largest natural lakes in Europe. The lake has a relatively round shape with a diameter of 46 km. Its area is 1.29 thousand km², and the basin area is about 14 thousand km².

The lake is famous for its fish stocks, the most famous delicacy is the Belozersky smelt. The forage base and high level of oxygen create favorable conditions for the life of many species. The following fish species are common in the waters of the lake: perch, pike, bream, ruff, sabrefish, roach, bleak, burbot, chub, rudd, whitefish, ide, tench, asp, dace and gudgeon).

Table of 10 largest lakes in Russia

lake name	Area, km²	Volume, km³	Dimensions, km	Maximum depth, m	Average depth, m
Caspian Sea	371000	78200	1200 by 435	1025	208
Baikal	31722	23615	636 by 79.5	1642	744,4
Ladoga lake	17870	838	219 by 125	230	46,9
Lake Onega	9720	285	248 by 83	127	30
Taimyr	4560	12,8	-	26	2,8
Khanka	4070	18,3	90 to 45	10,6	4,5
Chudsko-Pskovskoe Lake	3555	25	width 50	15	7,1
Ubsu-Nur	3350	35,7	85 to 80	20	10,1
vats	1400-2000	-	91 to 88	7	2,1
White lake	1290	5,2	46 to 33	20	4

Many consider the most beautiful lakes to be those that are located nearby and are familiar from childhood. Someone gives preference to reservoirs where the whole family goes to rest from year to year. However, there are lakes on Earth that attract tourists from all over the world. These are real wonders of nature, legends about which began to be composed since time immemorial.

Baikal

Lake Baikal in winter

It is customary to talk about the largest lake on the planet in superlatives. Baikal is called the most beautiful and majestic lake on Earth. There are many poems, fairy tales and legends about him. Baikal water is so clear that objects lying at a depth of 40 m can be seen through it.

This is the deepest lake in the world. It was formed in a tectonic basin, so the maximum depths reach 1642 m. Almost 20% of the world's fresh water is stored in a huge bowl. Seismic activity in the Baikal region is very high, and several earthquakes a year occur in the vicinity of the giant reservoir. However, they are so small that most shocks are detected only by highly sensitive equipment.

loch ness

Ruins of Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness

Most mysterious lake planet attracts tourists with legends about a monster living here. It is interesting that the legends about him appeared even among the ancient Celts. Every year, more than half a million travelers from all over the world rush to the shores of the Scottish reservoir to see the mysterious lake monster Nessie.

Like Baikal for Russia, Loch Ness is the largest reservoir of fresh water in the UK. There is a lot of peat suspension in the water of Loch Ness, so it is not transparent and does not allow video shooting at depth.

Como

Yachts on the background Alpine mountains on Lake Como

The natural pearl of Italy is recognized as one of the deepest lakes in the Old World. The maximum depth of Como reaches 410 m. Tourists come here to spend time among the amazing beautiful nature and breathe in the clean air of the Alpine foothills.

The picturesque slopes close the reservoir from cold winds, so Como has a mild climate. Since the 19th century, the Italian lake has become a favorite vacation spot for Europeans. It is considered a true paradise for swimmers. From May to the end of October, the temperature of the lake water does not drop below +24°C.

Plitvice lakes

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Popular national park in Croatia, it includes not one, but as many as 16 large lakes located in a picturesque cascade with a height difference of 130 m. The shores of these lakes are overgrown with beech and pine forests and attract travelers with ancient karst caves and beautiful waterfalls. Plitvice Lakes are beautiful at any time of the year. In summer, you can see flocks of river trout in clear water. In winter, the surrounding forests are wrapped in snow, the waterfalls freeze and turn into pillars of ice sparkling in the sun.

Michigan

View of Chicago from Lake Michigan

The largest freshwater lake in the United States has an area of ​​​​57.75 thousand square meters. km. It is part of the Great Lakes system and is connected by straits to Lake Hudson and the majestic Mississippi River. The name "Michigan" was given to the lake by the local Indians. Translated from one of their dialects, it means "big water".

In the first half of the 20th century, industrial megacities grew up on the shores of the lake. Harmful chemical discharges almost ruined the nature of Michigan. However, in the 1960s, environmentalists sounded the alarm and the lake water was saved. Fishing enthusiasts are coming to Michigan today. Salmon, pike perch, trout, salmon, carp and perch are caught in the lake. In addition, there are about 30 beaches scattered along the coast of Michigan, covered with pure white sand.

Issyk-Kul

Lake Issyk-Kul on the background of mountains

The largest lake in Kyrgyzstan is one of the largest alpine lakes in the world - it lies at an altitude of 1609 m. In terms of transparency, Issyk-Kul is second only to Baikal. Mild winters and a large amount of heat accumulated during the summer do not allow this lake to freeze. Due to the mild mountain-sea climate, the air in the lake basin is very clean, so many people come here to improve their health. Holidaymakers rush to Issyk-Kul for a tan, because 300 days a year the sun shines over the Kyrgyz lake. Picturesque places attract fans active rest- lovers of hiking and water tourism, skiers and fishermen.

Titicaca

Floating reed islands of the Uru Indians on Lake Titicaca

The mysterious lake, sacred to the indigenous peoples of the Andes, is located in beautiful mountains, on the border of Peru and Bolivia. According to legend, it is the cradle of Indian civilization. In ancient times, the lake lay at the level of the world ocean, but over time, the spurs of the Andes grew, and together with the mountains, the reservoir rose to a height of 3812 m.

The narrow Strait of Tikuin divides it into two basins. There are many islands on Titicaca and some of them are inhabited. Travelers choose this lake for its blue clear water, steep cliffs and islands overgrown with green forest.

Lake Geneva

The terraced vineyards of Lavaux on Lake Geneva

The largest in Western Europe Lake Geneva is called Leman by the French. Most of it belongs to Switzerland, while about 40% belongs to France. Lake Geneva looks like a crescent moon, the horns of which are facing south. It appeared after the retreating glacier, and today it is divided into Big and Small lakes. The coast is surrounded by high green mountains, behind which peep snow-covered mountains. high peaks. From several points of Lake Geneva, excellent views of the majestic Mont Blanc open up.

bled

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on Lake Bled

Lake Bled is known as the most beautiful natural attraction in Slovenia. It is located on the conditional border between Southern and Central Europe. Tourists come to the picturesque shores to admire the oldest Slovenian castle, which hangs on a steep cliff right above the water. Another attraction of Lake Bled is a beautiful church that rises on a small island. Bled is very easy to get to. From the capital of Slovenia - the city of Ljubljana, the lake separates about 50 km.

Tacho

Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe

The shores of the American Lake Tahoe have long been one of the main tourist centers California and Nevada. Here, coniferous forests grow in abundance, dominated by pines and firs, and numerous streams and channels attract a large number of beavers in the vicinity of Tahoe. Many recreation centers have been built along the lake. Lovers come here in the summer beach holiday, fishing and aquatic species sports, and in winter, fans of mountain skiing go to Tahoe.

Lake Jellyfish

Golden and Moon Jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake

One of the unique reservoirs of our planet is located on the Pacific archipelago, which is owned by the Republic of Palau. Medusa Lake has dimensions of 460 by 160 m and is separated from the ocean coast by a two-hundred-meter strip of land. About 2 million jellyfish live in its slightly salty waters! They have no natural enemies, so a huge population actively breeds and thrives.

This is the only place on Earth where you can swim surrounded by a large number of jellyfish and at the same time not be afraid of their bites. That is why many divers are in a hurry to get to an unusual body of water. The reason for such an unusual behavior of jellyfish is their autonomous existence. Living in a closed reservoir, they adapted to a different type of food and learned to “grow” symbiotic algae on themselves, and before that the poisonous tentacles stopped stinging.

Seliger

Nilo-Stolobenskaya Hermitage on Lake Seliger

The long lake is often referred to as the blue necklace. Middle lane Russia. Seliger lies on the border of the Novgorod and Tver regions and was named Lake Ostashkovsky by the locals. More than one and a half hundred large and small islands are scattered across the water surface of Seliger. The protruding land areas, uneven coasts and beautiful channels became the legacy of the Ice Age.

Russia is a country with rich and unique natural resources, it has something to surprise and amaze: forests, rivers, fields, and of course its lakes, which are also called “the blue eyes of our planet”, which is undoubtedly very beautiful and poetic. About two million lakes are located on its territory of the Russian Federation, their total area is 350 thousand km 2, the volume of water in all lakes is more than 26 thousand m 3. Most of the lakes are of glacial origin.

Large lakes of Russia

The largest lakes located in the European part of Russia are Onega, Ladoga, Chudsko-Pskov, Ilmen, great amount lakes in the "lake region" of the Republic of Karelia.

The lakes of the Asian part of Russia are the Caspian Sea-Lake, Baikal, the northernmost lake in Russia, Taimyr, the Far Eastern Lake Khanka and the salt lake Chany in southwestern Siberia.

The Caspian Lake is the largest drainless, closed reservoir on Earth, its area is 371 thousand km 2, and the level is 28 meters below sea level (in Russia it is the Baltic Sea). Due to the large size and specific structure of the bed (it contains the earth's crust of the oceanic type), it is also called the sea. A conditional border between Europe and Asia passes along its surface, it washes the shores of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. The Russian Caspian Sea is the territory of the Republic of Dagestan, Kalmykia, Astrakhan region(northern and northwestern part of the Caspian Sea)...

Lake Baikal is one of the most scenic spots of our country, this is the deepest lake on the planet, huge reserves of fresh water are stored here - 85% of all Russia's reserves and 22% of the world's. Its area is 31.7 thousand km 2, length - 636 km, width 48 km, max gubina indicators - 1637 m. Baikal - ancient lake, it is about 30 million years old, its basin is located in a rift basin, its water is particularly clean and transparent, the area around the lake (mountains, hills, dense deciduous forests) is uniquely picturesque...

North and East coast Lake Ladoga are located on the territory of the Republic of Karelia, southern and western - Leningrad region. Its area, together with the islands, is 18.3 thousand km 2, this is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Has access to Atlantic Ocean, more than 40 rivers and lakes flow into it, the Neva River flows out (it flows into the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, which is part of the Atlantic). In the southern part there are three large bays, large cities on its coast - Priozersk, Shlisselburg, Novaya Ladoga ( Leningrad region), Sortavala, Lahdenpokhya (Karelia)...

Lake Onega is located in the north-west of Russia, 80% of it is located on the territory of the Republic of Karelia, 20% - in the Leningrad and Vologda regions. Its area, together with the islands, is 9.7 thousand km 2, it is the second largest freshwater lake in Europe. The lake basin is located at the junction of the Baltic Shield and the Russian Platform. About 50 rivers carry their waters into the lake, one flows out - the Svir. Kondopoga, Petrozavodsk, Medvezhyegorsk (Republic of Karelia) were built on its banks...

Lake Taimyr with an area of ​​4.5 thousand km 2 is called the "northern brother" of Baikal, because it is the second largest fresh lake in the Asian part of Russia. It is located on the Taimyr Peninsula in the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Russian Federation. The lake is located beyond the Arctic Circle, its surface is covered with ice from September to July. The Upper Taimyr flows into it, the Lower Taimyr (Kara Sea basin) flows out ...

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. Read, rate, leave comments and feedback in the discussions.

Sasha Mitrahovich 22.03.2016 15:06

Most big lake in the world- Caspian Sea.

The Caspian Sea leads the ranking - 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 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, on average 310-320 kilometers.

The Caspian Sea is conditionally divided according to physical and geographical conditions into 3 parts - the North Caspian, the Middle Caspian and the South 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. The maximum depth of the Caspian Sea is in the South Caspian depression, 1025 meters from its surface level. 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.

Sasha Mitrahovich 22.03.2016 15:19

In second place among 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, Lake Superior is 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 worked out 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.

The fluctuations in the level of the Upper Lake are artificially regulated for the purposes of shipping, 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

Sasha Mitrahovich 22.03.2016 15:26

Lake Victoria closes the top three - 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 freshwater lake in the world after Lake Superior and the largest lake in Africa

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

Area 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 locals are engaged in fishing.

The northern coast of the lake crosses the equator. lake at maximum depth 80 m refers 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 a huge amount of water from the rains, more 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.

Sasha Mitrahovich 22.03.2016 15:30

Lake Huron is the fourth largest among. 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.

Sasha Mitrahovich 22.03.2016 15:37

In the middle of the list, in 5th place among 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, and to the Mississippi River system by 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.

Area 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.

Sasha Mitrahovich 22.03.2016 15:42

The sixth among is Aral Sea.

The Aral Sea is drainless salt Lake in Central Asia, on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Since the 1960s of the XX century, the sea level (and the volume of water in it) has been rapidly decreasing due to the withdrawal of water from the main supply rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya for irrigation purposes. Prior to the start of shallowing, the Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world.

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 fears 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:

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 practical implementation of these projects yet.

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

Sasha Mitrahovich 22.03.2016 15:47

Lake Tanganyika is a large lake in Central Africa. It is one of the same and 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. Coastline dotted with coves 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 west coast and flows west, joining 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.

About tourism

TOP Russian lakes with unusual names

Russia can be safely called a lake region. Of course, there are countries with a large number of freshwater reservoirs, but for a Russian person, nothing can be more beautiful than native expanses. In addition, almost all of our lakes have original original names.

"Gechepsin". This lake is located in the Crimean region Krasnodar Territory, in the valley of Lefkadia. Translated from the Adyghe, this reservoir is called "a well, the water in which is suitable for washing." Why such a name was chosen - history is silent. We can only speculate. So, the water in the lake could be soft and clean, or “Gechepsin” was specially created for various bath procedures.

"Dead Lake" In the southern part of Eastern Siberia, next to Lake Baikal, there is the Dead Lake. This is a reservoir with clean water, but no one swims there, because it is mostly swampy, and its banks are mostly peaty and unsteady. Also, this lake has another name - " warm lake". It's all about the gas, the bubbles of which rise from the bottom to the surface.

"Dead Lake"."Smerdyache Lake" is located in the Shatursky district of the Moscow region. The reservoir got its name for the characteristic smell of hydrogen sulfide. In 1985, a hypothesis was put forward about the meteorite origin of the lake, which was subsequently confirmed. According to scientists, the meteorite that formed the "Smerdyache Lake" collided with the Earth about 10 thousand years ago.

"Svetloyar". To see Lake Svetloyar, you need to get to the Voskresensky district of the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to legend, it is under the water of this reservoir that the magical city of Kitezh is hidden. Only the righteous, bright people, are worthy to hear this holy city. They say that from the bottom of the "Svetloyar" a rumble is sometimes heard, similar to the ringing of bells.

"Tsagan-Khag". This lake is located in the Republic of Kalmykia. Its name is translated from Kalmyk as "white silt". Most likely, there is no legend here, there are observations. "Tsagan-Khag" is located on a saline area and periodically dries up. It is during these periods that white salt forms on the surface of the reservoir, which in ancient times was most likely taken for silt.

Lake "Boiling". On Sakhalin, on the island "Kunashir", the lake "Boiling" is located. According to legend, this reservoir was formed as a result of a volcanic explosion. The name "Boiling" lake was due to the fact that its water is heated by volcanic gases. Here you can often observe volleys of boiling water, which are echoed by jets of sulfur and hydrogen sulfide gases.

"Bottomless Lake". It would seem that there is nothing easier than measuring the depth of the lake. However, not in the case of the "Bottomless Lake", the depth of which is still unknown. Hence the name. This reservoir is located in the Moscow region, near the Vertlinskoye highway. Another feature of the "Bottomless Lake" is that it does not have solid shores (they swim only from the pier), but, nevertheless, it never changes its rounded shape.