At the word "lake" we all 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 that have 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 contain more interesting information and photos. 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, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.
It is located in a fault depression at an altitude of 472 m. The area is 30.8 thousand sq. Km. Depth up to 706 m (in the northern part of the reservoir, where its bottom lies significantly below sea level). The banks are steep and rocky, high, especially in the north and north-east.
The southern part of the basin lies in a wide depression, the coast is framed by a narrow strip of coastal plain. The average annual water arrival in the lake (river flow plus precipitation) is about 72 km2, evaporation is about 66 km3.
The lake is rich in fish (about 230 species), in particular tilapi species, crocodiles, hippos, and many waterfowl are found. With the light hand of some scientists, it is called the birthplace of aquarium fish. Also, Lake Nyasa is characterized by strong storms and surges along the steep shores, which impede navigation (passengers are transported only during the day).
Small, isn't it?) There are 9 more such “crumbs” ahead, and they will be no less ...
9th place
In 9th place - Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake - the 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 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 southwestern tip and Echo Cove on the northeastern side.
On this lake you can observe such beauty)
8th place
Eighth in the list of the largest lakes in the world - Baikal - concurrently also the deepest lake on the planet.
Baikal is a lake of tectonic origin in the southern part of Eastern Siberia, the deepest lake on the planet Earth, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique variety of flora and fauna, most of the species are endemic. Locals and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.
For more than half of the year, the lake is ice-bound, the freezing period is January 15 - May 1, navigation is carried out from June to September. Since 1956, the lake has been an integral part of the Irkutsk (Baikal) reservoir of long-term regulation, formed by the dam of the Irkutsk hydroelectric power station.
Baikal is located in the center of Asia, in Russia, on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. The lake stretches from north to southwest for 636 km in the form of a giant crescent. The width of Lake Baikal ranges from 25 to 80 km.
Olkhon Island
The water surface area is 31,722 square kilometers, which is approximately equal to the area of \u200b\u200bcountries such as Belgium, the Netherlands or Denmark. The length of the coastline is 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 more gentle (in some places the mountains recede from the coast for tens of kilometers).
7th place
Lake Tanganyika is a large lake in Central Africa. This is one of the largest lakes in the world and is just as 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 depression of the East African Rift Valley. 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 sidewalls of the East African Rift Zone that form the coastline reach 2,000 m in height. The coastline is dotted with coves and bays. The largest of these is Burton Bay. The lake is fed by several tributaries. The only outflowing river - Lukuga (Lukuga) begins in the middle of the western coast and flows westward, connecting with the Zaire River, which flows into the Atlantic.
The lake is home to hippos, crocodiles, and many waterfowl. Fishing and shipping are well developed.
The antiquity of the lake and the long period of isolation ended with the development of a large number of endemic organisms, including those from the Cichlidae family (cichlids). Of the more than 200 species of fish living in the lake, about 170 are endemic.
Tanganyika is inhabited to 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 temperature of the Tanganyika water is strictly different by 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 Tanganyka 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 sea salt. Water hardness (mainly due to magnesium salts) ranges from 8 to 15 degrees. Water has an alkaline reaction, pH 8.0 - 9.5.
The lake was discovered in 1858 by English travelers R. Burton and J. Speke.
6th place
The sixth largest lakes in the world is Aral Sea
Collector-drainage water flowing from the fields into the bed of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya caused deposits from pesticides and various other agricultural pesticides, appearing in some 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 away. 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, as well as digestive disorders. Liver and kidney diseases and eye diseases have become more frequent.
In 2001, as a result of a drop in the water level, Vozrozhdenie Island was connected to the mainland. On this island, the Soviet Union tested bacteriological weapons: pathogens 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 survived, and infected rodents could spread them to other regions.
According to the calculations of scientists, it is already impossible to save the Aral Sea. Even if we completely abandon the withdrawal 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 covered 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:
And this is a photograph of 2008
From the 1950s to the present, projects for the construction of a canal for the transfer of water from the Ob basin to the Aral Sea basin have been repeatedly proposed, which would significantly develop the Aral Sea economy (in particular, agriculture) and partially revive the Aral Sea. Such construction will require very large material costs (from several states - Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan), so there is no talk of the practical implementation of these projects yet.
Some scientists predict the complete disappearance of the Aral Sea by 2020 ...
5th place
In the middle of the list of the largest lakes in the world is lake Michigan - one of the North American Great Lakes.
The only Great Lakes located entirely in the United States. Located south of Lake Superior, connected to Lake Huron by the Mackinac Strait, with 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.
Square Michigan - about 57,750 km2 (the third largest among the Great Lakes), about 500 km long, about 190 km wide. The surface height above sea level is 177 m (like that of 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 (Illinois), Milwaukee and Green Bay (Wisconsin), and Gary and Hammond (Indiana).
The name of the lake comes from the word mishigami, which means “big water” in the language of the Ojibwa Indians. The first of the Europeans to discover the lake in 1634 was the Frenchman Jean Nicollet.
4th place
Lake Huron is the fourth largest lake in the world. It is a lake in the United States and Canada, one of the North American Great Lakes. Located east of Lake Michigan, connected to it by the Mackinac Strait. 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.
Huron's area is about 59.6 thousand square kilometers (the second largest among the Great Lakes). The surface height above sea level is about 176 m (like 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 into everyday life by the French, comes from the name of the Indian tribe of the Hurons.
Manitoulin is located on Huron - the largest island in the world, located in a freshwater lake.
3rd place
Closes the three largest lakes Victoria - a 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 after Queen Victoria by the British traveler John Henning Speke in 1858.
Square lake Victoria 68 thousand sq km, length 320 km, maximum width 275 km. It is part of the Victoria Reservoir. Many islands. The high-water Kagera river flows in, the Victoria-Nile river flows out. The lake is navigable, the locals are engaged in fishing on it.
The northern coast of the lake crosses the equator. The lake with a maximum depth of 80 m is considered to be a fairly deep lake.
Unlike its deep-sea 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.
The lake is home to 30 million people. The Khaya people live on the southern and western shores of the lake, who knew how to grow coffee long before the arrival of Europeans. The main ports are Entebbe (Uganda), Mwanza, Bukoba (Tanzania), Kisumu (Kenya), off the northern coast of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
2nd place
The second place is confidently entrenched lake Superior - the largest, deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes and, in combination, the largest freshwater lake in the world.
In the north, Lake Upper is bounded by 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 depressions of the lake in the Upper and northern parts of Lake Huron were mined in the crystalline rocks of the southern part of the Canadian Shield, the depressions of the remaining lakes - in the limestone, dolomite, and sandstone of the Paleozoic of the North American Platform. The basin of the Upper Lake was formed as a result of tectonic movements, preglacial river and glacial erosion.
The origin of the water mass of Lake Upper 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 (altitude up to 400 m) are rocky, steep, very picturesque, especially the shores of Lake Upper and northern parts of Lake Huron.
Fluctuations in the level of the Verkhnee 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, tide heights 3-4 cm
1 place
Caspian Sea tops the rating " The largest lakes in the world"- despite the fact that it is called the sea, in fact it is the largest closed 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 closed 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 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 conventionally divided by 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-Karagan Cape, between the Middle and South Caspian - along the line Zhiloy (island) - Gan-Gulu (cape). The area of \u200b\u200bthe North, Middle and South Caspian is 25, 36, 39 percent, respectively, of the total area of \u200b\u200bthe 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 and smooth. In the northern part, the coastline is cut 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.
The east coast is dominated by limestone shores adjacent to semi-deserts and deserts. The most winding shores are on the western coast in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Absheron Peninsula and on the east coast in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Kazakh Bay and Kara-Bogaz-Gol.
The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian region.
Water area and volume Caspian Sea varies significantly depending on fluctuations in water level. With a water level of 26.75 m, the area is approximately 371,000 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 above its surface. In terms of maximum depth, the Caspian Sea is second only to Baikal (1620 m) and Tanganyika (1435 m). The average depth of the Caspian Sea is 208 meters. At the same time, the northern part of the Caspian 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 of Scotland, which are dedicated to a separate photographic tape.
This list of 50 stunningly beautiful lakes is sure to add knowledge and broaden your horizons! This is a list of the most famous lakes in the world, but some may not be familiar to you.
Lake Victoria
69,485 km2 (26,828 sq mi). The greatest lake in Africa. It is a border lake, and.
Lake Tanganyika - Lake Tanganyika
32,893 km2 (12,700 sq mi). The lake is not only the 6th largest lake in the world, but it is also the second deepest lake in the world at 1,470 m (4,820 ft) and the longest lake in the world at 676 km (420 mi). Lake Tanganyika is divided between four countries - Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Zambia.
Moraine Lake, Canada - Moraine Lake
Lake Pinatubo, Philippines - Lake Pinatubo
Formed only recently (in 1991) after the monsoon, this crater lake sits atop Mount Pinatubo, an active volcano in the Philippines.
Lake Annette, Canada - Lake Annette
Laguna Colorada, Bolivia - Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
Located 4,200 meters above sea level in southwestern Bolivia, Laguna Colorada gets its bright red color from pigment deposits and algae beneath its surface. It is an extremely shallow lake with an average depth of 50 cm.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia /
Located in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes are actually 16 separate bodies of water, and are divided into upper and lower basins of natural dams made of moss and algae.
Spotted Lake or Kliluk, Canada
In Osoyoos, British Columbia, a 38-acre natural phenomenon is a lake with one of the highest mineral concentrations in the world.
Dead Sea, Jordan /
The name can be misleading - in fact, it is the world's deepest hyper-mineralized lake. It has 8 times the salt concentration of the ocean, making it extremely difficult to drown in it.
Sheosar Lake, Pakistan
Lake Deosai National Park, in the alpine steppe of the Tibetan Highlands.
Riffelsee, Switzerland
The Riffelsee is an incredible view of the mirrored surface with the Matterhorn in the background.
Peyto Lake, Canada
Peyto Lake is a glacial lake in the Banff National Park of the Canadian Rockies. Billa Peyto belongs to the category of colored lakes. The lake has a bright turquoise color due to the large amount of icy mountain flour sliding into the lake.
Lake Solbjornvannet, Norway
Mirror Lake, California - Mirror Lake -a small, seasonal lake off Tenaya Creek Canyon in US National Park, Yosemite.
New Zealand also has Mirror Lake, which has amazing reflection properties like a mirror. It is one of the great lakes of Asia: Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), Uhua-Hai (China), Inle (Myanmar), Biwa (Japan), Tonle Sap (Cambodia) and Lake Toba in Sumatra (Indonesia).
Horseshoe Lake, Canada - Horseshoe Lake
Emerald lake, Canada - Emerald Lake
Lake Plastiras, Greece - Lake Plastiras, Greece
The artificial lake in Greece holds up to 400 million cubic liters of fresh water and is one of the highest in Europe.
Mystic Lake, Montana - Mystic Lake
The largest lake in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana offers several world famous hiking trails and incredible views.
Yamdrok Tso lake, Tibet - Yamdrok Tso Lake
This lake in Tibet has over 72 km of peaks and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Lake Malawi, Tanzania - Lake Malawi / Malawi and Mozambique (Malawi and Mozambique) 30,044 km2 (11,600 sq mi). The lake is divided between Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi. The second deepest lake in Africa, this tropical reservoir has more fish species than any other lake on Earth.
Lake Louise, Canada - Lake Louise, Canada
Lake Isabella, Colorado - Lake Isabelle, Colorado
A popular tourist destination, Lake Isabelle offers incredible views of the Navajo and Apache peaks.
Crater Lake, Oregon - Crater Lake, Oregon
Barclay Lake, Washington - Barclay Lake, Washinton
Lake Mono, California - Mono Lake
This shallow lake of California's Mono County Desert was formed over 760,000 years ago and has a very similar ecosystem to the Colorada Lagoon.
Ancient underground lake Reed flute, China - Reed Flute Cave. This is a limestone cave in Guangxi, China. More than 180 million years old. Since the 1940s, it has become famous all over the world because of the multi-colored caves around the lake.
Loch Ree lake (Loch RI or Loch Ríbh) - the geographical center of Ireland, midlands. Loch Rea is the second largest lake on the Shannon River after Loch Derg. The other two major lakes are Loch Allen to the north, and Loch Derg to the south. The Province of Leinster in County Roscommon Lake is popular for Irish monster legends.
Loch Ness (Loch Ness, Scotland) Scotland. Loch Ness (Gaelic: Loch Nish) is the second largest Scottish lake in terms of surface area after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest lake in Scotland in terms of water volume. The deep, freshwater Loch in Scotland lies approximately 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Inverness. The lake is famous for its Loch Ness Monster. Also of interest for tourists are Urquart Castle east of Drumnadrochit, lighthouses at Lochend (Bona Lighthouse) and Fort Augusta.
Okanagan lake Is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. The lake is 135 km long and 4 - 5 km wide. Its interesting feature is the legend about the Demon of Lake Ogopogo or Naitaka, and the famous terraces that are formed due to the periodic decline of its predecessor, the glacial Lake Penticton. The maximum depth of the lake is 232 m in the area of \u200b\u200bGrant Island (called by the locals "Whiskey Island" or "Seagull Island")
Lake Labynkyr (Labynkyr Lake), Yakutia
This mystical lake is located near the cold pole in the territory of Oymyakon uluss. Legends say that a monster lives deep in the water. It attacks dogs, deer and even people. History tells how one day a monster destroyed a caravan of Evens.
Lake Kanas (pinyin: Kanasi Hu) crescent-shaped lake in Altai prefecture of Xinjiang province, China. The lake is located in a valley in the Altai mountains, on the border with Mongolia and. The lake was formed 200,000 years ago during the Quaternary as a result of the movement of the glacier. The Kanas River, flowing out of the lake, merges with the Hemu River, forming the Burkin River, which itself is a tributary of the Irtysh River. Ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs live in the Kanas Valley.
Kok-Kol lake (Kok-Kol lake) Mysterious lake in Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan. From time to time, the mysterious lake makes some strange sounds, and sometimes you can see signs of ripples, as if a huge creature is drifting inside the lake. Locals believe that the lake is bottomless. Indeed, when hydrographers measured its depth, they could not find the bottom. But, they found many channels. This explains the constant water level, despite the fact that nothing flows from the lake or flows into it.
Aral Sea (Kazakh: Aral Tengis; Mongolian: Aral tengis; Tajik: Baҳri Aral; Persian: دریای خوارزم Daryâ- you Khârazm) was a drainless lake between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in the south. The name translates roughly as "sea of \u200b\u200bislands" (more than 1100 islands were scattered on its waters). The catchment area covers parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Previously one of the four largest lakes in the world with an area of \u200b\u200b68,000 km2 (26,300 sq mi), the Aral Sea has been steadily declining since 1960 after the rivers that fed the lake were redirected through Soviet irrigation projects. The drying up of the Aral Sea is called "one of the worst ecological disasters on the planet"
Lake Storshen (Swedish pronunciation: Storsjön, lit. “Great Lake”) is the fifth largest lake in Sweden, located in the province of Jamtland (Jämtland). The Indalsälven river flows from Storsjön and the lake contains the main island of Frösön. The city of Östersund is located on its eastern bank, opposite Frösön. Storshen is considered the birthplace of the sea creatures Storsjöodjuret.
Lake Champlain - Lake Champlain lies directly on Burlington, the border between the United States and Canada. At the northern tip is the historically interesting Fort Ticonderoog. Lake Champlain offers cruises and ferries to Vermont and New York.
Lake Natron is a salt and soda lake in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania. The lake is located near the Kenyan border in the eastern rift East African branch of an international wetland. Lake Natron, a basin of the Ramsar Valley, is fed mainly by rivers in central Kenya and hot springs. The unusual color of the water is created by cyanobacteria. Due to the high fumes, salt-loving microorganisms begin to thrive.
Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America, famous for its cobalt blue waters and surrounding snow-capped peaks. Lake Tahoe is a state border between the states of California and Nevada, and a popular resort in the Sierra Nevada.
Lake Lucerne - among the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland, it stands out with an amazing panorama of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, such as the Eiger and Jungfrau. There are old steamers on the lake that have been operating here since the 1800s. In the spring, the Lake Lucerne pool is fed by the Mineralbad streams from the top of Mount Riga.
Dove lake (Dove Lake) in Tasmania, Australia. The serene Dove Lake is a national park attraction near Cradle Mountain. This lake is the home of the legendary Tasmanian Devil.
Lake Como, Italy - just 45 minutes from bustling Milan. Lake Como is one of the favorite holiday destinations of the rich and famous.
Lake Bled Is one of the most charming landmarks of the Old Continent. Lake Bled in the Julian Alps (Slovenian: Bled, German: Veldes) is located in Slovenia, near the borders with Italy and Austria.
Lake Synevyr - the largest and most famous lake in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The lake is located in the Gorgany mountain range, in the upper reaches of the Terebli River. The lake has its own beautiful legend about lovers.
The list of the most famous lakes in the world can rightfully include unnamed:
- Lake Ohrid in the Balkan Mountains (located between the Republic of Macedonia and Albania)
- Saimaa lake (Finland)
- Ladoga / Onega / Chudskoe (Russia)
- Balaton (Hungary)
- Annecy (France)
- Garda / Iseo (Italy)
- Wastwater (England)
- Sogne (Norway)
- Killarney (Ireland)
- Hallstattersee (Austria)
- Königsee / Obersee (Germany)
- Jokulsadlon (Iceland)
- Laguna Verde (Bolivia)
- Lençóis Maranhenses (Brazil)
- Nakuru (Kenya)
- Tekapo (New Zealand)
- Lagunas Altiplánicas (Chile)
- Laguna Bacalar (Mexico) and many others.
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 such lakes on Earth that attract tourists from all over the world. These are real miracles of nature, the legends about which have begun to be formed 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. A lot of poems, fairy tales and legends have been written about him. Baikal water is so pure that objects lying at a depth of 40 m are visible through it.
It is the deepest lake in the world. It was formed in a tectonic depression, so the maximum depths reach 1642 m. The huge bowl contains almost 20% of the world's fresh water. Seismic activity in the Baikal region is very high, and in the vicinity of the giant reservoir there are several earthquakes a year. However, they are so small that most tremors are only detected by highly sensitive equipment.
Loch Ness
Ruins of Arkarth Castle on the shores of Loch Ness
The most mysterious lake on the planet attracts tourists with legends about the 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 a Scottish reservoir to see the mysterious lake monster Nessie.
Like Baikal for Russia, Loch Ness is the largest freshwater reservoir in the UK. There is a lot of peat suspended in the water of Loch Ness, so it is not transparent and does not allow video filming at depth.
Como
Yachts on the background of the 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 stunningly beautiful nature and breathe in the clean air of the Alpine foothills.
Picturesque slopes protect 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 real paradise for swimmers. From May until the end of October, the temperature of the lake water does not drop below + 24 ° C.
Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice Lakes National Park
The popular national park in Croatia includes not one, but as many as 16 large lakes located in a picturesque cascade with a vertical drop 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 the clear water. In winter, the surrounding forests are shrouded 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 \u200b\u200b57.75 thousand square meters. km. It is part of the Great Lakes system and is connected by straits with the Hudson Lake and the majestic Mississippi River. The name "Michigan" was given to the lake by local Indians. Translated from one of their dialects, it means "big water".
In the first half of the 20th century, industrial megalopolises arose on the shores of the lake. Harmful chemical discharges nearly ruined Michigan's natural environment. However, in the 1960s, environmentalists sounded the alarm and the lake water was saved. Fishing enthusiasts come to Michigan today. Salmon, pike perch, trout, salmon, carp and perch are caught in the lake. In addition, about 30 beaches of clean white sand are scattered along the shores of Michigan.
Issyk-Kul
Issyk-Kul lake against 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 over 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. Resorts rush to Issyk-Kul for a tan, because the sun shines over the Kyrgyz lake 300 days a year. Picturesque places attract fans of outdoor activities - lovers of hiking and water tourism, skiers and fishermen.
Titicaca
Floating reed islands of the Uru tribes 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 Chikuin Strait divides it into two basins. There are many islands in Titicaca, and some of them are inhabited. Travelers choose this lake for its blue transparent water, steep cliffs and islands overgrown with green forests.
Lake Geneva
Lavaux Terraced Vineyards on Lake Geneva
The French call Lake Geneva, the largest lake in Western Europe, Leman. Most of it belongs to Switzerland, and about 40% to France. Lake Geneva looks like a crescent with the horns facing south. It appeared after the retreating glacier, and today it is divided into the Big and Small lakes. The coast is surrounded by high green mountains, behind which high peaks covered with snow can be seen. Several points of Lake Geneva offer excellent views of the majestic Mont Blanc.
Bled
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on Lake Bled
Lake Bled is known as the most beautiful natural landmark in Slovenia. It is located on the conditional border between South and Central Europe. Tourists come to the picturesque shores to admire the oldest Slovenian castle, which hangs on a steep cliff just above the water. Another attraction of Lake Bled is the beautiful church that dominates a small island. It is very convenient to get to Bled. The lake is about 50 km away from the capital of Slovenia - the city of Ljubljana.
Tacho
Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe
The shores of the American Lake Tahoe have long been one of the main tourist centers in California and Nevada. Here, coniferous forests grow in abundance, in which pines and firs prevail, 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. In summer, lovers of beach recreation, fishing and water sports come here, and in winter, fans of downhill skiing go to Tahoe.
Lake Medusa
Golden and Moon Jellyfish in Lake Medusa
One of the unique bodies of water on our planet is located in the Pacific archipelago, which is owned by the Republic of Palau. Lake Medusa has a size of 460 x 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 reproduces and thrives.
This is the only place on Earth where you can swim surrounded by a large number of jellyfish and not be afraid of their bites. That is why many divers are in a hurry to get to this unusual body of water. The reason for such an unusual behavior of jellyfish is in their autonomous existence. Living in an enclosed reservoir, they changed to a different type of food and learned to "grow" symbiotic algae on themselves, and before the poisonous tentacles stopped stinging.
Seliger
Nilo-Stolobenskaya desert on Lake Seliger
The extended lake is often spoken of as the blue necklace of Central Russia. Seliger lies on the border of the Novgorod and Tver regions and was named Ostashkovskoye Lake by local residents. More than one and a half hundred large and small islands are scattered along the water surface of Seliger. Jutting land areas, uneven banks and beautiful streams are 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 "blue eyes of our planet", which is undoubtedly very beautiful and poetic. On its territory of the Russian Federation there are about two million lakes, their total area is 350 thousand km 2, the volume of water in all lakes is more than 26 thousand m3. 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, a huge number of lakes in the "lake land" of the Republic of Karelia.
The lakes of the Asian part of Russia are the Caspian Sea-Lake, Baikal, the northernmost lake of Russia, Taimyr, the Far East Lake Khanka and the salt lake Chany in southwestern Siberia.
The Caspian Lake is the largest drainless, closed body of water 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 an oceanic type of crust), it is also called the sea. The conditional border between Europe and Asia runs 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, the Astrakhan region (northern and northwestern part of the Caspian Sea) ...
Lake Baikal is one of the most picturesque places in our country, it is the deepest lake on the planet; huge reserves of fresh water are stored here - 85% of all reserves in Russia and 22% of the world. Its area is 31.7 thousand km 2, length - 636 km, width 48 km, maximum indicators of the bay - 1637 m.Baikal is an ancient lake, it is about 30 million years old, its basin is located in a rift depression, its water is particularly clean and transparency, the area around the lake (mountains, hills, dense deciduous forests) - unique picturesque ...
The northern and eastern shores of Lake Ladoga are located on the territory of the Republic of Karelia, the southern and western ones are located in the Leningrad region. Its area, together with the islands - 18.3 thousand km 2, is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. It has access to the 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, Lakhdenpohja (Karelia) ...
Lake Onega is located in the northwest of Russia, 80% of it is located in the Republic of Karelia, 20% - in the Leningrad and Vologda regions. Its area, together with the islands - 9.7 thousand km 2, 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 flow into the lake, one flows out - the Svir. Kondopoga, Petrozavodsk, Medvezhyegorsk (Republic of Karelia) were erected on its banks ...
Lake Taimyr with an area of \u200b\u200b4.5 thousand km 2 is called the “northern brother” of Baikal, because it is the second largest freshwater 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 in the Arctic Circle, its surface is covered with ice from September to July. The Upper Taimyr flows into it, the Lower Taimyr flows out (the basin of the Kara Sea) ...
There are about 5 million lakes in the world, but we have only heard of a few of the largest. Do you think that Baikal is the largest lake in the world? In fact, Baikal is only 7th in the ranking of the largest lakes!
Did you know that the area of \u200b\u200bthe largest lake on the planet is equal to the area of \u200b\u200b52 million football fields and is comparable to the area of \u200b\u200bMoscow multiplied by 150 times? No? Then read below!
No. 10. Big Slave Lake - 28,930 square kilometers. North America.
The Great Slave Lake is the 10th largest lake in the world, and it is also the deepest lake in North America. Its depth is 614 meters. The dimensions of the Great Slave Lake: 480 km in length, 19-109 km in width, and the area is 28,930 square kilometers.
From October to June, the lake is frozen, and in winter the ice can support the weight of trucks. Rivers flowing into the lake: Hay, Slave, Snowdrift, etc. The Mackenzie River flows out of the lake. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.
No. 9. Lake Nyasa - 30,044 square kilometers. East Africa.
Lake Nyasa (Malawi) is the ninth largest lake in the world. Lake Nyasa fills a crack in the earth's crust in the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, between Mozambique and Tanzania. The lake is 560 km long and 706 m deep. Nyasa contains 7% of the world's reserves of liquid fresh water.
Nyasa is known for its rich ecosystem, many of the species found in the lake are endemic. The origin of the lake is tectonic.
No. 8. Big Bear Lake - 31,080 square kilometers. Canada.
Big Bear Lake is located 200 km south of the Arctic Circle in Canada. The lake is the eighth largest lake in the world and the fourth largest in North America. Dimensions of the lake: length - 320 km, width - 175 km, maximum depth - 446 m.
The lake has not a very good history. Uranium was found here. It was from here that uranium was mined for the manufacture of bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The lake is almost always frozen, the ice rarely melts before the end of July. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.
No. 7. Lake Baikal - 31,500 square kilometers. Eastern Siberia.
Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, the largest water reservoir, which contains 20% of the world's reserves of liquid fresh water. Baikal is also considered one of the cleanest lakes in the world.
The lake ranks seventh in area in the world and first in volume. Dimensions of the lake: length - 636 km, width - 80 km, maximum depth - 1642 m, volume - 23 600 km3.
The origin of the lake is tectonic, more than 25 million years old. The fauna of Lake Baikal is one of the most unique in the world, many species are endemic.
No. 6. Lake Tanganyika - 32,893 square kilometers. Central Africa.
Lake Tanganyika is one of the deepest lakes in the world, along with Lake Baikal. The lake lies between 4 countries - Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi.
Dimensions of the lake: length - 676 \u200b\u200bkm, width - 72 km, maximum depth - 1470 m, volume - 18,900 km3. The origin of the lake is tectonic.
Tanganyika lies in the deepest tectonic depression in Africa and is part of the basin of the Congo River, one of the largest rivers in the world.
No. 5. Lake Michigan - 58,016 square kilometers. North America.
Lake Michigan is one of the Great Lakes. This lake is the largest of all lakes in the United States. Michigan is the fifth largest in the world and the third largest in the Great Lakes. The volume of the lake is 4918 m3, length - 494 km, width - 190 km, maximum depth - 281 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.
No. 4. Lake Huron - 59,596 square kilometers. North America.
Lake Huron is one of the Great Lakes. This lake is located on the territory of two countries: the USA and Canada. Huron is the fourth largest lake in the world. The volume of the lake is 3538 m3, length - 331 km, width - 295 km, maximum depth - 229 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.
No. 3. Lake Victoria - 69,485 square kilometers. East Africa.
Lake Victoria is located in Tanzania, Kenya. After the construction of the Owen Falls Dam in 1954, the lake was converted into a reservoir. There are many islands on the lake. Fishing is developed on the lake and there are many ports on the territory of the three countries. On the island of Rubondo (Tanzania), a national park was formed.
Victoria is the third largest lake in the world. The volume of the lake is 2760 m3, length - 320 km, width - 274 km, maximum depth - 80 m. The origin of the lake is tectonic.
The lake was discovered and named after Queen Victoria by the British traveler John Henning Speke in 1858.
No. 2. Lake Superior - 82,414 square kilometers. North America.
Lake Superior is the second largest lake in the world and the largest of the Great Lakes, located on the border of the United States and Canada. The volume of the lake is 12,000 m3, length - 563 km, width - 257 km, maximum depth - 406 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.
Etymology of the name. In the Ojibwe language, the lake is called Gichigami, which means "big water".
# 1. Caspian Sea - 371,000 square kilometers. Europe Asia.
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth and is classified as the largest lake or sea due to its size. Located on the knock of Europe and Asia. Volume - 78,200 m3, length - 1200 km, width - 435 km, maximum depth - 1025 m. The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is approximately 6500 kilometers.
130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, the largest of which are the Volga, Terek, Sulak, Ural, Kura, Artek, etc. The Caspian Sea washes the shores of Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Russia, Azerbaijan.
The origin of the lake is oceanic.
