Three percent: that is the amount of water on Earth that is freshwater, a defining feature of lakes, and the only water that is drinkable or useful for agriculture. Clearly, if lakes are primary sources of freshwater, there is an imperative to study and maintain them for the sake of the present and the future. Yet, not all lakes are equal in terms of size, and some of the lakes on this list contain up to 20% of the world's unfrozen water reserves! More evidently, the Great Lakes of North America refuse to be grouped into one entity, so they occupy four of the top ten spots in this collection. So, read on to check out the most stunning bodies of freshwater (with one notable exception) that this planet possesses.
Caspian Sea Lake Superior Lake Victoria Lake Huron Lake Michigan Lake Tanganyika Lake Baikal Lake Great Bear Lake Malawi Lake Great Slave Lake { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "The 10 Largest Lakes In The World", "description": "From the breathtaking expanse of the Caspian Sea to the mystic beauty of Lake Baikal, join us on an awe-inspiring journey as we unveil the top 10 largest lakes on the planet. ????In this captivating video, we'll explore the geography, ecology, and fascinating facts about these remarkable bodies of water. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, geography buff, or just curious about the world's most stunning landscapes, this video is for you!Check out Wolrdatlas.com for more #geography history and other #educational content. #naturelovers #explore #environment Link to full Article: https://www.worldatlas.com/lakes/the-10-largest-lakes-in-the-world.htmlSoundtrack: The Dark Glow of the Mountains by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/darkglow/Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vJ8NcKCxCI4/hqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2023-10-06T22:00:28Z", "duration": "PT4M33S", "contentUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ8NcKCxCI4", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/vJ8NcKCxCI4" }
What is the Difference Between a Lake and a Sea?
A lake is an inland body of standing water, usually fresh, formed by natural processes like glacial, tectonic, or volcanic activity, or by human activities like damming. It is generally smaller than a sea and closed off from larger water bodies. A sea, on the other hand, is a large body of saltwater partially enclosed by land but connected to an ocean. Seas are larger and deeper than lakes and influenced by tides. Notably, these terms are often disputed, and locations like the Dead Sea (which is considered a salt lake) further blur the lines.The Caspian Sea is another exception; it is called a "sea" but classified as a lake. Despite its salt water, it is landlocked and not connected to any ocean. It is also the world's largest lake by surface area. Its name might be a historical artifact or possibly because of its large size and saltiness. But scientifically speaking, its isolation from the world's oceans makes it a lake.
The 10 largest lakes in the world, ranked by surface area
1. Caspian Sea - 371,000 km2
![Caspian Sea](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/31/07/15/shutterstock-647598886.jpg)
2. Lake Superior - 82,103 km2
![Lake Superior](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/f9/85/7c/shutterstock-677300044.jpg)
3. Lake Victoria - 69,484 km2
![Lake Victoria](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/2e/71/6e/shutterstock-1230001765.jpg)
4. Lake Huron - 59,590 km2
![Lake Huron](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/1b/7e/b8/shutterstock-681852613.jpg)
5. Lake Michigan - 57,753 km2
![Lake Michigan](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/32/44/61/shutterstock-121183414.jpg)
6. Lake Tanganyika - 32,900 km2
![Lake Tanganyika](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/26/cd/d2/shutterstock-512767849.jpg)
Artisanal fishing, particularly of species like sleek lates and Tanganyika sardines, is a significant staple in the local economy. Water extraction for municipal and industrial use is another essential function. Despite its utility, the lake presents challenges such as bilharzia, a parasitic disease affecting local communities. Waterborne diseases from untreated waters here are an issue that needs to be confronted sooner rather than later.
7. Lake Baikal - 31,722 km2
![Lake Baikal](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/65/5a/76/shutterstock-1259297428.jpg)
Dating back to the Mesozoic era around 25 million years ago, Lake Baikal is among Earth's most ancient lakes. Geologically, its basin belongs to the Baikal Rift Zone, an active continental rift that is widening by about 2 centimeters annually. The bed of the lake mainly consists of sedimentary rocks such as limestone and dolomite, as well as metamorphic rocks like gneiss. From a hydrological perspective, the lake holds roughly 20% of Earth's unfrozen freshwater reserves, marked by exceptional clarity due to minimal suspended organic and inorganic matter. Seasonally, the lake freezes between January and May, and the ice can achieve a thickness of up to 1.4 meters.
8. Great Bear Lake - 31,328 km2
![Great bear lake](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/5b/a2/60/deline4.jpeg)
The lake's isolation from human settlements minimizes anthropogenic impacts, making it one of the world's cleanest lakes (oof — we need to do better). Its clarity allows sunlight to penetrate deep into the water column, providing an optimal environment for photosynthetic organisms like phytoplankton. In the winter months, Great Bear Lake is encased in ice that can reach up to two meters in thickness (although there are reports that this thickness is decreasing over time).
9. Lake Malawi - 29,600 km2
![Lake Malawi](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/12/33/31/shutterstock-254903929.jpg)
One distinct geographic aspect of Lake Malawi is the presence of a massive rift valley, which serves as both a geographic and ecological demarcation. This rift has led to high levels of endemism (when a species is restricted to a single area) among its fish population, making it a hotspot for biological research on a unique species of crab and other creatures. Despite its large size, the lake is subject to pressures such as overfishing and pollution from nearby agriculture and settlements.
10. Great Slave Lake - 28,568 km2
![Great Slave Lake](/uploads12/r/w768/upload/2a/95/93/shutterstock-548563720.jpg)
Great Slave Lake, in line with most (but not all) lakes of this collection, is a significant resource for fishing, and its shores contain several small communities and the city of Yellowknife, which relies on the lake for freshwater. Due to the intensity of a Canadian winter, the lake remains partially frozen for approximately eight months of the year, restricting boat travel and certain industrial activities. Thankfully, some truly incredible ice roads appear across the lake during winter months.
"One of NASA's guiding policies in the search for life is to follow the water." At the end of the day, the lakes of our world embody just how rare and special our planet is. Each of these bodies of water seems gargantuan, but remember, freshwater is literally a drop in the bucket compared to the less-amicable salt water in Earth's oceans. So, it is imperative that the conservation and preservation of these ecological wonders becomes a focus for the countries that host them; after all, they were around a long time before us, and with any luck, these amazing lakes will continue to exist for eons to come.
Next UpDiscover the world's 10 longest rivers.
30 Largest Lakes In The World
Rank | Name | Countries with shoreline | Area |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Caspian Sea |
Kazakhstan Russia Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Iran |
371,000 km2 |
2 |
Superior |
Canada United States |
82,103 km2 |
3 |
Victoria |
Uganda Kenya Tanzania |
68,484 km2 |
4 |
Huron |
Canada United States |
59,590 km2 |
5 |
Michigan |
United States |
57,753 km2 |
6 |
Tanganyika |
Burundi Tanzania Zambia Democratic Republic of the Congo |
32,900 km2 |
7 |
Baikal |
Russia |
31,722 km2 |
8 |
Great Bear Lake |
Canada |
31,328 km2 |
9 |
Malawi |
Malawi Mozambique Tanzania |
29,600 km2 |
10 |
Great Slave Lake |
Canada |
28,568 km2 |
11 |
Erie |
Canada United States |
25,700 km2 |
12 |
Winnipeg |
Canada |
24,514 km2 |
13 |
Ontario |
Canada United States |
18,960 km2 |
14 |
Ladoga |
Russia |
18,130 km2 |
15 |
Balkhash |
Kazakhstan |
16,400 km2 |
16 |
Bangweulu |
Zambia |
15,100 km2 |
17 |
Vostok |
Antarctica |
12,500 km2 |
18 |
Onega |
Russia |
9,700 km2 |
19 |
Titicaca |
Bolivia Peru |
8,372 km2 |
20 |
Nicaragua |
Nicaragua |
8,264 km2 |
21 |
Athabasca |
Canada |
7,850 km2 |
22 |
Turkana* |
Ethiopia Kenya |
6,405 km2 |
23 |
Reindeer Lake |
Canada |
6,330 km2 |
24 |
Issyk-Kul |
Kyrgyzstan |
6,200 km2 |
25 |
Urmia* |
Iran |
6,001 km2 |
26 |
Vänern |
Sweden |
5,545 km2 |
27 |
Winnipegosis |
Canada |
5,403 km2 |
28 |
Albert |
Uganda Democratic Republic of the Congo |
5,299 km2 |
29 |
Mweru |
Zambia Democratic Republic of the Congo |
5,120 km2 |
30 |
Nettilling |
Canada |
5,066 km2 |