The deepest lake in the world. The largest lake on earth

When we all hear the word “lake,” we imagine some quiet body of water surrounded by a visible shore line. There will be no such lakes in this article. Have you ever heard of lakes that are subject to storm surges 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 photographs. Read, rate, leave comments and feedback in discussions.

10th place

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

Located in a fault depression at an altitude of 472 m. Area 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 shores are framed by a narrow strip of coastal plain. The average annual flow 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 tilapi species, there are crocodiles, hippos, and a lot of waterfowl. With the light hand of some scientists it is called the birthplace aquarium fish. also characteristic of Lake Nyasa severe storms and surf along steep shores, making navigation difficult (passengers are carried 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

In 9th place - Great Bear Lake

Great Bear Lake - largest lake in Canada, the fourth largest in North America. The lake is located in 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.

You can see such beauty on this lake)

8th place

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

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

For more than half of the year the lake is covered with ice, the freeze-up 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 Lake 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 hollow, 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 flatter (in some places the mountains recede tens of kilometers from the coast).

7th place

Lake Tanganyika- large lake in Central Africa. This is one of the largest lakes in the world 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 length of the lake is about 650 km, width - 40-80 km. Area 34 thousand sq. km. It 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, consist of huge rocks and only on the eastern side the shores are gentle. On the west coast, the steep side walls of the East African Rift Zone that form the coastline reach 2000 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 river that flows out is the Lukuga, which 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 hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and many 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 found in the lake, about 170 are endemic.

Tanganyika is inhabited to approximately a depth of 200 m; below this level there is a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide and there is no life until 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 varies strictly among layers. So, in top layer the temperature ranges from 24 to 30 degrees, with a decrease at greater depths. Due to different densities of water and the absence of bottom current, the layers do not mix, and the temperature on the lower horizons reaches only 6-8 degrees.

The depth of the temperature jump layer is about 100 m. The water of Tanganika is very transparent (up to 30 m). Many salts are dissolved in it in small concentrations, so its composition resembles highly diluted sea salt. Water hardness (mainly caused by 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 flowing from the fields into the bed of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya 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 toxic chemicals up to 500 km. Sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate are airborne and destroy or retard 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, and digestive disorders. Liver and kidney diseases and eye diseases have become more frequent.

In 2001, as a result of a drop in water level, Vozrozhdenie Island connected with the mainland. On this island Soviet Union tested bacteriological weapons: pathogens anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, plague, typhus, smallpox, and botulinum toxin were tested here on horses, monkeys, sheep, donkeys and other laboratory animals. This is the reason for fears that deadly microorganisms have remained viable, and infected rodents may spread them to other regions.

According to scientists' calculations, it is no longer possible to save the Aral Sea. Even if we completely abandon the intake of 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 area in the world. Now its area is about 10% of that recorded in the 60s last century. Photos from 1989 and 2003:

And this is a photo from 2008

From the 1950s to the present, projects have been repeatedly proposed to build a canal to transfer water from the Ob basin to the basin Aral Sea, 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), so there is no talk yet about the practical implementation of these projects.

Some scientists predict the Aral Sea will completely disappear 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 Great Lakes located entirely within the United States. Located south of the lake The upper one is connected to Lake Huron by the Strait of Mackinac, with the Mississippi River system - the Chicago - Lockport canal.

From a hydrographic point of view, 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), length about 500 km, width about 190 km. The surface height above sea level is 177 m (same as 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. Major cities on Lake Michigan include Chicago, Evanston and Highland Park (IL), Milwaukee and Green Bay (WI), and Gary and Hammond (IN).

The name of the lake comes from the word mishigami, meaning in the Ojibwa Indian language " big water" 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. This lake is in the USA and Canada, one of the North American Great Lakes. Located east of the lake Michigan, connected to it by the Straits of Mackinac. From a hydrographic point of view, Michigan and Huron form a single system (they are connected by the Strait of Mackinac), but geographically they are considered to be separate lakes.

The area of Huron is about 59.6 thousand square kilometers (the second largest among the Great Lakes). The surface height above sea level is about 176 m (same as 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.

Huron is home to Manitoulin, the largest island in the world, located in a fresh lake.

3rd place

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

The lake was discovered and named in honor of 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. Many islands. The high-water Kagera River flows in and the Victoria Nile River flows out. The lake is navigable; local residents fish on it.

The northern coast of the lake crosses the equator. The lake, with a maximum depth of 80 m, is a fairly deep lake.

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

30 million people live in the vicinity of the lake. On the southern and western shores of the lake live 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

Confidently secured second place 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 limited by the territory of the Canadian province of Ontario, in the west - American state Minnesota, in the south - 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 - in the limestone, dolomite and sandstone of the Paleozoic North American platform. The basin of Lake Superior was formed as a result of tectonic movements, pre-glacial river and glacial erosion.

Origin water mass 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 shape.

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

1st place

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

The Caspian Sea is shaped like Latin letter S, its length from north to south is approximately 1200 kilometers, from west to east - from 195 to 435 kilometers, on average 310-320 kilometers.

The Caspian Sea is conventionally 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 Northern and Middle Caspian Seas runs along the line Chechen (island) - Tyub-Karagansky Cape, between the Middle and Southern Caspian Seas - along the line Zhiloy (island) - Gan-Gulu (cape). The area of the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian is respectively 25, 36, 39 percent of total area Caspian Sea.

The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is estimated at approximately 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 banks are low and swampy, and the water surface in many places is covered with thickets.

On east coast Limestone coasts predominate, adjacent to semi-deserts and deserts. The most winding shores are on the western coast in the area of the Absheron Peninsula and on the eastern coast in the area of the Kazakh Gulf and Kara-Bogaz-Gol.

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

Area and volume of water Caspian Sea varies significantly depending on fluctuations in water level. At 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.

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

It's incredible on ours beautiful planet There are a huge number of beautiful corners of nature. The mystery of some of them has not yet been fully solved; they frighten with their desert silence, centuries-old trees and thousand-year-old stones. Travelers, tourists and just vacationers have long trodden the path to others. All the paths there have been studied for a long time, every stone has been photographed and the path has been concreted...

Among all natural phenomena, lakes can be distinguished into a separate category. They are not as huge as the sea, not as fast as the river, but there is something special in their magical beauty and mysterious silence. It attracts you to these places like a magnet and doesn’t want to let you go back. In this collection you can see the 10 largest lakes in the world, which at the same time are simply fabulously beautiful, and you will learn interesting facts about them.

Caspian Sea

Despite its inaccurate name, it is the largest lake on our planet. It is located at the junction of Europe and Asia, and received its name because of its enormous size. The shape of the Caspian Sea resembles the Latin letter S. The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is almost 7,000 kilometers. Its maximum depth is 1,025 meters. In this regard, it is second only to Baikal.

Victoria

This lake is the third largest in the world in general and the second largest freshwater lake. It is located simultaneously in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. British explorer John Henning Speke discovered this lake in 1858 and named it in honor of Queen Victoria. The area of the reservoir is 68 thousand square meters. km, length 320 km, maximum width 275 km. The northern coast of this lake crosses the equator. Victoria's surrounding area is home to 30 million people.

Michigan

The area of this North American lake is approximately 57,750 square meters. km. It is the only Great Lake that is entirely within the United States. It is covered with ice for about four months of the year. The states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin have access to the lake.

Huron

One of the North American Great Lakes, which is located simultaneously in the USA and Canada. It is located just north of Lake Michigan, and is connected to it by the Strait of Mackinac. The area of Huron is approximately 59.6 thousand km. square (the second largest area among the Great Lakes). This lake is bordered by the state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. The name of the reservoir was given by the French after one of the Indian tribes.

Upper

The largest, coldest and deepest of the North American Great Lakes, the second largest in the world, the largest freshwater lake in the world. The origin of Lake Superior is associated with the melting of the ice sheet, the retreat of which formed a number of large reservoirs that changed their shape many times.

Aral Sea

This salt lake in Central Asia, on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Over the past few decades, the water level in it has been constantly decreasing due to the constant intake of water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for the purpose of irrigation. Water flowing from the fields into the beds of these two rivers has caused the deposit of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals on the bottom of the lake. Dust storms lift and carry chemicals over long distances. Therefore, local residents suffer greatly from respiratory and other diseases.

Tanganyika

A large lake located in Central Africa. It was discovered in 1858 by English travelers R. Burton and J. Speke. The shores of the reservoir unite four countries: Democratic Republic Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi. The area of the lake reaches 34 thousand km. sq. Its shore consists mainly of rocks. The lake is home to hippopotamuses and crocodiles, the local population engages in fishing, and shipping is developed. Living organisms are found in this lake only up to 200 meters deep, and beyond that the water is saturated with concentrated hydrogen sulfide.

Baikal

The most deep lake of our planet. It is located in Southern Siberia and is of tectonic origin. The lake and the area around it are unique in the number and diversity of its flora and fauna. More than half of this lake is covered with ice. Baikal is surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges.

Great Bear Lake

The largest lake in Canada, which is located in the Arctic Circle. It drains into the Mackenzie River. In the vicinity of the reservoir you can see incredibly beautiful paintings.

Nyasa

This lake is simultaneously located in Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi. Its area is approximately 30.8 thousand km. sq., and the depth is up to 706 m. The shores are very high and rocky. This reservoir is very rich in fish, and it is also home to crocodiles, hippos, and various waterfowl have chosen the shores.

There are about 5 million lakes on our planet, both natural and artificially created. They are found on almost all continents, but more often large lakes by area are found in the vastness of Russia.

The largest lakes in Russia

Russian lakes are its natural resources. Among the many lakes, ten of the largest can be distinguished.

The largest Russian lake is named after the sea. This is the Caspian Sea. Its area is almost one hundred seventy-one thousand square meters. km. This is a salty body of water. It washes the shores of five countries at once and is actually the border of Asia and Europe.

Lake Baikal ranks second in area, but first in depth. In addition, among freshwater ones it is the largest in Eurasia. Surprisingly, its waters account for ninety percent of all fresh water in Russia. It has long been considered the purest and at the same time the most transparent; its waters were once recognized as medicinal. The area of Baikal is slightly less than thirty-two thousand square meters. km.

Lake Ladoga is recognized as the next largest Russian lake. In size it does not exceed eighteen thousand square meters. km. It is interesting to know that thirty-five rivers flow into it, and this one originates from it famous river, like Neva.

Lake Onega ranks 4th in area among Russian lakes. Its size is slightly less than ten thousand square kilometers. Its banks are full historical monuments. Local residents call their pond “Onego-father”.

There is a lake in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its name is Taimyr. It is located on the peninsula of the same name and is considered the northernmost lake on the planet. The water level in it constantly fluctuates, because of this, its surface area constantly changes. It can be determined approximately - it is four and a half thousand square meters. km.

Far Eastern Lake Khanka is located almost on the border with China. The surface area is almost four thousand square meters. km. Khanka has always been interesting for tourists, as it will allow them to study the customs and culture of both countries at once.

The 7th largest lake in terms of area is Lake Chany. It contains salty waters. It is located in Novosibirsk region. However, there is no exact data on its area. It is known that it varies from one and a half to two thousand square meters. km.

In the Volgograd region lies White Lake, which is called a “paradise” for fishermen. Area – almost one thousand three hundred square meters. km.

Karelian Lake is in 9th position. He has unusual name- Topozero. This favorite place There are kayakers and many fishermen there. The area of the reservoir is slightly less than a thousand square meters. km.

Rounding out the top ten large lakes in Russia is Ilmen. It is located in the Novgorod region. The area is only four meters less than the area of the lake, which is in 9th position in the ranking.

You can also read more about the largest Russian lakes on the website.

The largest lakes in the USA

There are a considerable number of huge lakes in America. This is due to geographical location, which contributes to the formation of reservoirs. It should be noted that the largest mass of fresh water on the planet is concentrated on the border of Canada and America. The Great American Lakes are located in that area. In fact, these are five large bodies of water. Their total area is two hundred forty-six thousand square meters. km.

The largest is Verkhneye. Its area is almost eighty-three thousand square meters. km. Huron is next, followed by Michigan and Erie. The smallest of these five lakes is Ontario. Moreover, its area is nineteen and a half thousand square meters. km, which is not small at all. In the western United States lies the Great Salt Lake, the salinity and area of which directly depend on precipitation. The maximum area that this lake has is six thousand square kilometers.

On the Florida Peninsula there is another American lake of considerable size - Lake Okeechobee. Through channels it connects with Atlantic Ocean. The area of this reservoir is two thousand six hundred square meters. km.

Largest freshwater lake

Located on the North American continent, Lake Superior, once formed by melting glaciers, is recognized as the largest among all freshwater bodies of water. Its area is constantly changing. Because of this, new lakes appear nearby.

In some places its shores are cliffs and rocks. To facilitate navigation and energy, the water level in the reservoir is maintained artificially. The highest level occurs in summer months, but in winter the water level drops.

Longest lake

It is interesting to know that in addition to large lakes, there are also very long lakes. Lake Taganyika, located in Central Africa, is recognized as the leader among them.

This lake stands out among other lakes due to its ancient origin and depth. It should be noted that it is second only to Lake Baikal in volume and depth.

The length of the reservoir is six hundred and fifty km, while the width varies from forty to eighty km. Such a giant has a rather large surface area - thirty-four thousand square meters. km.

Basically, its coastal landscapes are rocky, but there are gentle banks only on the eastern side. Natural composition The lake is very unusual. It is known to be many millions of years old and has not changed since then.

The largest lake in the world by area

Despite the fact that the Caspian Sea is called a sea, it is still a lake. Its shape resembles the Latin letter "S". Its surface area is three hundred seventy-one thousand square meters. km. His maximum width reaches four hundred thirty-five kilometers, its maximum depth is one thousand twenty-five meters.

The fauna of the Caspian Sea is also rich - these include Caspian seals, about a hundred species of fish, more than four hundred species of vertebrates and a diverse flora.
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Our planet is lucky with water. More than three quarters are covered with it: endless oceans and seas, a network of vessels-rivers, rivulets, streams, waterfalls and swamps. And lakes. Surely, you also know how pleasant it is: to sit on the shore, swim across and across, dive to the bottom... These natural reservoirs of fresh water seem so cozy, homely, close and understandable. At the same time, the largest lakes in the world can compete with many seas in area and depth. At least this applies to the representatives of the TOP 10, which we will talk about in this article.

The largest lake on Earth was called a sea for a reason. Its size really corresponds more to this league, and not to the lakes we are used to. Suffice it to say that, standing on one shore of the Caspian Sea, you will never see the other.

Let's look at the numbers. The surface area of this lake is 371 thousand square kilometers. The depth also corresponds to the scale - up to 1025 meters. This may well be a credit to any sea. This lake even has its own islands and bays, just like the big ones.

On its banks in different times There were dozens of tribes, each of which gave it its own name. Girkanskoe, Khazarskoe, Khvylyanskoe, Saraiskoe, Derbentskoe and Dzungarianskoe (apparently like hamsters) ... But in each of these cases they added “sea”. Indeed, it’s hard to call this huge lake a lake. By the way, the water in it is really brackish.

Upper

Even those who skipped all geography classes at school know about the Great Lakes of Canada. This system includes several reservoirs, but Verkhneye deserves special attention. This is the world's largest freshwater lake, which holds more than 12 thousand cubic meters of water. Not surprising, given the area of 82 thousand square meters and an average depth of 147. It is also the highest of all the Great Ones.

Perhaps this lake can be assigned another “most” - the most picturesque. Its shores are surrounded by rocks, mountains, hills, plains, coniferous and deciduous forests. The nature of Canada is amazingly beautiful, but here it has outdone itself.

Many people perceive Africa as an arid continent where water is the greatest treasure. But the third largest lake in area is located here. Its area is about 68,000 square kilometers, but its depth is not enough, up to 80. Victoria is a wide and flat lake, like a plate. It is shared between three countries (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) and each got an impressive piece.

Victoria's fresh water is a treasure, but so is its flora and fauna. Its banks are divided between several national reserves, because almost all the rarest and most famous species of the Dark Continent live here. True, everyone would be happy to get rid of one of them - the tsetse fly.

We have already studied the largest of the Great Lakes, now we can talk about the second - Huron. Its area is noticeably smaller - about 59,000 square kilometers. In comparison with those already listed, it is small, but if compared with the banal lakes, Huron is a real giant.

This lake was once full of fish, especially trout, which love cool water. But then people decided to improve what was already good, and introduced lampreys, smelt and some other species into Huron. Having no natural enemies or other restraining factors, they began to actively reproduce, displacing the old-timers.

The Great Lakes are named so for a reason. There are three of them in the top five largest by area alone. And Michigan is well worthy of getting here. It is only slightly smaller in size than Huron - 58,000 square kilometers. The difference is insignificant. By the way, geographers believe that Michigan and Huron are a single entity and separate them only out of habit.

The Great Lakes are not fairly divided between the US and Canada. Only one fell to the share of the States - Michigan.

There was already one large African lake, we can move on to the second. Tanganyika or Tanganaika, as it was previously called, is also the longest freshwater lake in the world, at least. In terms of depth, she fell just short of the championship title, but it is quite difficult to surpass Baikal, which we will talk about later.

The length of this lake is 676 kilometers with an average width of only 50. It is not surprising that its area is significantly smaller compared to the previous one - 33,000 square kilometers.

Its name is interesting. Translated it means “reservoir, full of fish" Well, there really are a lot of fish here. For centuries it was the main source of food for the tribes living nearby.

Baikal has the best place on this site. Although this is not the largest lake in the world, it is the first in depth, the oldest, the cleanest, the most... Baikal is so huge that many people seriously call it the sea.

Some numbers:

The surface area of Lake Baikal is 31,722 square kilometers.
The length of the coastline is 2000 kilometers.
The depth at the maximum point is 1642 meters.
The volume of liquid is 23,615 cubic kilometers.
Water transparency is 40 meters.

What is hidden behind these dry numbers? Firstly, Baikal is huge. Its area is three times larger than that of the Sea of Marmara. Secondly, it is very deep. Of course not like Mariana Trench, but may well compete with dozens of seas. Thirdly, the water in it is very clean. Imagine a column of water 40 meters deep through which you can see the bottom. Incredible feeling. But the lake itself is just water. Baikal is valuable for its inhabitants. Most of them, about 1000 species, are found here and only here.

The fragile ecosystem of Lake Baikal, like many others, is hanging on the brink. Environmentalists have documented its contamination many times with a variety of waste. And if we don’t start solving this problem now, it may soon be too late for Baikal.

This African lake extends across three countries: Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi. Its area is more than 30,000 km2, and the northern part reaches more than 700 meters in depth, which is much lower than sea level. The shores of Nyasa are mostly rocky and high, especially in its northern part, while in the south the lake lies framed by a narrow flat strip. Huge predators live in this lake: crocodiles, as well as hippos and water birds. Due to the large number of predators, Nyasa is not very popular among people - they prefer to look at it from afar. Weather conditions They are also not conducive to tourist excursions: Nyasa is characterized by frequent severe storms, the water level can rise or fall sharply, so ships almost never sail on this lake (rare passenger transportation is carried out exclusively during the daytime).

Nyasa is nicknamed “the birthplace of aquarium fish” among researchers, as it is home to a huge variety of fish

Big bearish

Great Bear Lake is a real wonder that embodies all the beauty northern nature. The reservoir itself is located in Canada and ranks fourth in size among all North American lakes, with an outflow of big river Mackenzie. Big Bear's area reaches 31,000 km² and is located at an altitude of 186 meters above sea level. Thanks to its location in the Arctic Circle, this reservoir allows you to observe the most beautiful natural phenomena: during the northern lights, many lights are reflected in the water surface, and they say that you can even lose reality somewhere between the sky and the surface of the lake. However, even if there is no mystical effect, visiting this Great Bear Lake is a great opportunity to admire the nature of the North, and it leaves no one indifferent!

Despite the beauty and large area, very few people live around Great Bear Lake, this is explained by the fact that it is almost all year round frozen in ice.

The lake is navigable and has two port settlements: Deline (a port in the southwest) and Port Radium (located in the northeast part)

This is another sea on our list that is actually a huge salt lake. It is located in Central Asia and belongs to two states - Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Aral Sea has a rather sad history: it was once one of the largest on Earth (it took fourth place in the world ranking), but now the Aral Sea is experiencing the consequences of severe shallowing. In the 2000s, its area reached a minimum - just over seven thousand square kilometers, and its colossal shallowing is not at all natural pattern. The water level has dropped so much because a huge amount of agricultural chemicals and pesticides began to flow into the lake along with drainage water.

The once huge lake is drying up before our eyes

Unfortunately, such aggressive intervention in natural environment soon made itself known: dust storms They carried poisoned salt from the lake, as well as sediment from toxic chemicals, over a distance of 500 km around the reservoir. This led to the fact that many natural phenomena slowed down or even stopped happening there: all vegetation now grows very slowly or does not grow at all, and the shore simply dies out, and with it the lake itself. Despite the fact that environmentalists managed to stop the rate of drying of the Aral Sea, it is no longer possible to return it to its previous volumes. For this reason, all the attention of ecologists is now focused on the Small Aral - the northern part of the reservoir, which it was decided to save.

There are tens of thousands of lakes on the planet. There are huge, large, large, small and tiny. Today we learned about the seven largest lakes in the world. But who can say that a small lake near your city is somehow worse?

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 north-west, Lake Peipus (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, located behind 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 570 km long Bratsk reservoir is one of the largest in the world. But they are all insignificant compared to Lake Baikal, the largest reservoir of fresh water on the planet. 636 km long and with an average width of 50 km, Baikal's surface area is 31.72 thousand km² and its maximum depth is 1642 m.

There are also 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 in the Russian Federation with descriptions, photos and geographical location on the map of the country.

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water (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 called it a sea after the Caspian tribes 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 water inflow of the Caspian Sea, and the remaining 20% comes from other smaller rivers.

The Caspian Sea is rich in oil deposits and natural gas, but the extraction of these are under development. The extraction process is also hampered by the problem of separation natural resources lakes between the five countries bordering it. The Caspian Sea and the deltas of the rivers flowing into it are home to about 160 species and subspecies of fish from 60 genera. About 62% of species are endemic.

Baikal

Baikal is the deepest (1642 m), oldest (25-35 million years) and most voluminous (23.6 thousand km³) of all the lakes in the world, it is a superstar reservoir in the fields 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 more than 70 km in length (Olkhon Island).

The shores of the lake are home to more than 1,500 species of animals, 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 like wolves, which occupy the top positions of the Siberian food chain, feeding on deer, birds, rodents and smaller predators.

Lake Ladoga

Lake Ladoga is the largest freshwater lake in Europe, located in northwestern 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 west of the island of Valaam it reaches 230 m.

The lake depression appeared under the influence of glaciers. The northern shores are mostly high and rocky, and are 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. Most large tributaries are the rivers Volkhov, Svir and Vuoksa.

48 were found in the lake various types fish, 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 classified as important food fish.

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

Lake Onega

Lake Onega is 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 in length and up to 83 km in width. Greatest depth is about 127 m.

The lake basin was formed by the movement of the earth's crust and glaciers. The high rocky shores in the north and northwest are composed of laminated 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 1,650 islands covering a total of about 260 km², usually in the northern and northwestern bays.

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

Taimyr

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

The lake and tundra area is a popular spot for birds such as geese, swans, ducks, ruffed buzzards, peregrine falcons and snowy owls. Lives in Lake Taimyr large number fish, including grayling, muksun, char and whitefish. Although the area is relatively remote, there is still depletion of certain commercial species fish.

Taimyr is famous for the largest population of reindeer in Eurasia. Animals such as argali, arctic fox, wolf and lemmings are also found in this region. In 1975, the area was reintroduced.

Since 1983, the lake and its surroundings have been included in the Taimyr nature reserve. Scientists have discovered plutonium in lake sediments, which presumably entered Taimyr through wind-borne radioactive particles after nuclear tests, held 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 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 whole temperate zone Eurasia. At least 327 species of nesting, wintering and migratory birds have been observed in the lake area.

Lake Peipus-Pskov

Lake Peipus-Pskov is the largest transboundary and fifth (after Ladoga, Onega, Swedish Vänern and Finnish Saimaa) largest 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 Peipus, 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 Lake Peipus basin, including reeds, calamus, reeds and various grasses. The waters of the lake are home to 42 species of fish, such as smelt, vendace, bream, perch, pike, roach and whitefish. Wetlands provide important nesting and feeding sites for migratory birds such as swans, geese and ducks that migrate from White Sea To Baltic Sea. The region is home to one of the largest swallow colonies in Estonia.

Uvsu-Nur

Uvsu-Nur is the largest lake in Mongolia by surface area (3.35 thousand km²), as well as the largest salt lake in the country. The Uvs-Nur basin is one of the most important biodiversity poles in Eurasia. Although most of the lake is in Mongolia, its northeastern shores are located in the Tyva Republic of the 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 represents one of the best preserved natural steppe landscapes on the continent. It is here that the northernmost part of the desert and the most southern part tundra

Reed and freshwater river deltas serve as resting and nesting sites for numerous migratory birds. More than 220 species of birds can be found around the lake, including 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. The mountainous region is home to Mongolian gerbils, wild sheep and Siberian ibex.

Vats

Although Lake Chany is not very well known outside of Siberia, it is one of the largest lakes in the country. Chany is a shallow lake with salty and constantly fluctuating water, the level of which can change from season to season and from year to year. The lands of the lake basin serve as pastures for cattle.

The vats play an important role in the region's fisheries. The most common species are silver carp, carp, ide, and perch. IN lately There is a trend towards depletion of the lake's fish stocks.

Lake Beloe

In terms of area, Beloe is the second (after Onega) natural lake in the Vologda region, and the third (after the 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 being Belozersk smelt. The food supply and high oxygen levels create favorable conditions for life of many species. Common in lake waters the following types fish: perch, pike, bream, ruffe, sabrefish, roach, bleak, burbot, chub, rudd, whitefish, ide, tench, asp, dace and gudgeon).

Table of the 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
Lake Ladoga	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
Lake Peipus-Pskov	3555	25	width 50	15	7,1
Uvsu-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 by 33	20	4