The Five Largest Lakes in the World

Lakes serve as an important source of water, recreation, and as a basis of economy around the world, both historically and today. They are also a part of our treasured natural heritage that we must preserve for future generations. The following is a list of the five largest lakes in the world by area, as well as some interesting facts about each lake.
Caspian Sea
Area: 386,400 km2 (143,000 sq mi)
Length: 1,119 km (745 mi)
Max. Depth: 1,025 m (3,360 ft)
Water Volume: 78,200 km3 (18,800 mi3)
Continent: Asia
Countries which share a shoreline with this lake: Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
Some Interesting Facts About the Caspian Sea:
- The Caspian Sea, the biggest salt lake on our planet, holds approximately one-third of the world’s surface water that is inland.
- At one time, the Caspian Sea was connected to the ocean by way of the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
- There are approximately 850 animal and more than 500 plant species that live in the Caspian Sea region. Most of those species are only found in that area[sc:1].
Lake Superior
Area: 82,414 km2 (31,820 sq mi)
Length: 560 km (350 mi)
Max. Depth: 406 m (1,332 ft)
Water Volume: 12,100 km3 (2,900 mi3) or approximately 3 quadrillion gallons
Continent: North America
Countries which share a shoreline with this lake: Canada and the United States
Some Interesting Facts About Lake Superior:
- It is the largest freshwater lake in the world by area
- It is the third largest lake in the world by volume.
- Is so large that it could hold the water volume of all of the other Great Lakes combined, as well as three additional lakes the size of Lake Erie.
- Is a very cold and clean lake.
- Holds 10% of the world’s unfrozen fresh water supply[sc:2].
Victoria
Area: 69,485 km2(26,828 sq mi)
Length: 337 km (210 mi)
Max. Depth: 82 m (270 ft)
Water Volume: 2,750 km3(660 mi3)
Continent: Africa
Countries which share a shoreline with this lake: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania
Some Interesting Facts about Lake Victoria:
- Lake Victoria is known locally as “Victoria Nyanza”
- It is Africa’s largest lake.
- It is the primary reservoir of the Nile River.
- Contains more than 200 species of fish, including Tilapia.
- The region surrounding Lake Victoria is one the most densely populated regions in Africa[sc:3].
Lake Huron
Area: 59,600 km2(23,000 sq mi)
Length: 332 km (206 mi)
Max. Depth: 229 m (750 ft)
Water Volume: 3540 km3 (850 mi3)
Continent: North America
Countries which share a shoreline with this lake: Canada and the United States)
Some Interesting Facts about Lake Huron:
- It receives water from Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
- Lake Huron has many shipwrecks located on the bottom. There are five preserves located in the state of Michigan and a national park located in Ontario that are designated to protect some of the most significant shipwrecks.
- The area around Lake Huron has many forests, a low population, and has very beautiful scenery.
- Lake Huron has one of the longest Great Lakes shorelines if the shorelines of its 30,000 islands are included[sc:4].
Lake Michigan
Area: 58,000 km2 (22,000 sq mi)
Length: 494 km (307 mi)
Max. Depth: 282m (925 ft)
Water Volume: 4,920 km3 (1,180 mi3)
Continent: North America
Countries which share a shoreline with this lake: United States
Some Interesting Facts About Lake Michigan:
- Lake Michigan experiences some small lunar tide effects.
- The Lake Michigan shoreline contain the world’s largest freshwater dunes.
- Lake Michigan is a very large tourist attraction in the Great Lakes region, with millions of visitors annually that visit the sand dunes and the beaches.
- Lake Michigan is joined to Lake Huron at the Straits of Mackinac, so they are hydrologically considered to be a single lake[sc:5].
[sc:2] http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/superior/facts
[sc:3] http://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Victoria
[sc:4] http://www.great-lakes.net/lakes/ref/huronfact.html
[sc:5] http://www.great-lakes.net/lakes/ref/michfact.html