Gajendra Singh Godara
Sep 13, 2025
15
mins read
Lakes, whether freshwater or saline, rank among the largest natural reservoirs on Earth. The largest lake in the world, the Caspian Sea, spans multiple countries, while others like Lake Superior and Lake Victoria are renowned as the largest freshwater lakes. Lakes provide critical habitats for diverse wildlife and support local economies through fishing and tourism. The deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal, is a prime example of rich biodiversity. These water bodies play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and sustaining livelihoods across the globe.
The Caspian Sea is recognized as the Largest Lake in the world, according to Britannica which is located between Europe and Asia and covers a vast area 389,000 square kilometres (150,000 square miles). The length of the Caspian Sea is approximately 1119 kilometres (745 miles) and reaches depths of up to 1,025 metres (3,365 feet). It has a volume of 78,200 cubic kilometres (18,800 cubic miles). This lake shares the boundaries with Eastern Europe, West Asia, and Central Asia, the Caspian Sea making an impression of lake as well as the sea.
Below is a comparison of the top 10 by surface area (km²):
Rank | Lake | Area (km²) | Type | Countries |
1 | Caspian Sea | 389,000 | Saltwater | Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan |
2 | Lake Superior | 82,100 | Freshwater | USA, Canada |
3 | Lake Victoria | 59,940 | Freshwater | Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya |
4 | Lake Huron | 59,590 | Freshwater | USA, Canada |
5 | Lake Michigan | 58,030 | Freshwater | USA |
6 | Tanganyika Lake | 32,900 | Freshwater | Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Zambia |
7 | Baikal Lake | 31,722 | Freshwater | Russia |
8 | Great Bear Lake | 31,153 | Freshwater | Canada |
9 | Malawi Lake | 29,600 | Freshwater | Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania |
10 | Great Slave Lake | 27,200 | Freshwater | Canada |
Key Takeaways:
The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest lake by area.
Lake Superior (Great Lakes) is the largest freshwater lake by area.
Africa’s largest is Lake Victoria, also a Nile source.
Image Credit: GeoJango Maps
Table of content
Beyond area, lakes are compared by depth and volume.
Lake Baikal (Russia) – Deepest freshwater lake (1,642 m). It is also the oldest lake and a UNESCO site.
Lake Tanganyika (Africa) – second deepest, longest freshwater , and second-largest volume..
Saline Deep Lakes: Dead Sea (Middle East) is the lowest terrestrial point (~430 m below sea level) and hypersaline.
Deepest lake: Baikal (1,642m); 2nd deepest: Tanganyika.
Highest Large Lake: Pumoyong Tso in TIbet lies around 5018m, frequently referenced as the highest sizable lake.
Highest commercially navigable lake: Lake Titicaca on the Peru-Bolivian border is roughly 3812m, it’s also South America’s largest lake by surface area.
Lowest Lake: The Dead Sea, between Israel and Jordan, lies more than 400m below sea level (commonly 430-440m below),making it earth’s lowest lake and one of the saltiest lakes.
Africa: Lake Victoria- also the world’s third largest freshwater lake by surface area.
Asia: Lake Baikal: if the Caspian Sea is classified as sea; otherwise Caspian (often treated as the largest lake) spans Eurasia.
Antarctica: Lake Vostok: a vast subglacial lake buried beneath ice.
Australia: Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda): an endorheic salt lake that often remains dry or shallow.
Europe: Lake Ladoga: followed by Lake Onega, both in northwestern Russia.
North America: Lake Superior: the largest freshwater lake by surface area globally.
South America: Lake Titicaca: highest navigable lake; Lake Maracaibo is larger by area but it is typically excluded as it connects to the sea.
Rank | Largest by Area | Largest by Volume | Deepest | Longest |
1 | Caspian Sea | Caspian Sea | Lake Baikal | Caspian Sea |
2 | Lake Superior | Lake Baikal | Lake Tanganyika | Lake Tanganyika |
3 | Lake Victoria | Lake Tanganyika | Caspian Sea | Lake Baikal |
4 | Lake Huron | Lake Superior | Lake Vostok** | Lake Superior |
5 | Lake Michigan | Lake Malawi | Lake Malawi | Lake Balkhash |
** Lake Vostok is a subglacial lake in Antarctica. A subglacial lake is a lake that is found under a glacier, typically beneath an ice cap or ice sheet.
India is home to a variety of lakes - from glacial high-altitude ones in the Himalayas to saline desert lakes in Rajasthan. These lakes are not just geographical features but also cultural, ecological, and economic lifelines.
Type of Lake | Examples in India | Key Features / Significance |
Freshwater Lakes | Wular Lake (J&K), Loktak Lake (Manipur) | Wular is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia; Loktak is famous for its floating phumdis. |
Saltwater Lakes | Chilika Lake (Odisha), Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) | Chilika is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and a Ramsar site; Sambhar is India’s largest inland salt lake. |
Glacial Lakes | Pangong Tso (Ladakh), Gurudongmar Lake (Sikkim) | Formed by melting glaciers, located at high altitudes, important for ecology and tourism. |
Man-made Lakes | Gobind Sagar (Himachal Pradesh), Rana Pratap Sagar (Rajasthan) | Created by dams; crucial for irrigation, hydropower, and fisheries. |
Crater Lakes | Lonar Lake (Maharashtra) | Unique lake formed by a meteorite impact; alkaline and saline. |
Freshwater Resource: Large lakes store huge amounts of fresh water for drinking, irrigation and hydropower (e.g., Great Lakes hydro dams). They affect regional water security.
Biodiversity Hotspots: Lakes like Baikal and Tanganyika harbor many endemic species. Biodiversity conservation in lake ecosystems is crucial.
Climate Moderation: Inland waters moderate local climates and water cycles. Shrinkage of lakes (due to warming) affects rainfall and temperatures regionally.
Livelihoods & Culture: Millions depend on fishing and tourism (e.g., Africa’s lake fisheries, Alpine lakes tourism). Many lakes have cultural/religious importance (Lake Mansarovar for Hindus, Lake Victoria tribes).
Geomorphology & Geology: Lakes indicate tectonic features (rift valleys) or glacial history; e.g., African Rift lakes vs. glacial lakes of Canada.
They are focal in environment (wetlands, Ramsar sites) and biodiversity (endemic species) discussions.
For more updates on Ramsar Sites check Ramsar Sites in India: An Overview
Climate Change: Many lakes are shrinking or fluctuating. >50% of large lakes have lost water in recent decades.
Pollution & Eutrophication: Agricultural runoff, sewage cause algal blooms (e.g., Lake Victoria’s eutrophication). Industrial pollution threatens water quality (Lake Baikal affected by industries).
Water Diversions/Overuse: Dams and irrigation reduce inflows. Caspian Sea drop is linked to damming of Volga, Amu Darya–Syr Darya..
Salinization: Land-locked lakes concentrate salts when inflow decreases (Dead Sea rising salinity, Caspian sea freshening).
Invasive Species: Non-native fish or weeds disrupt lake ecosystems (e.g., Nile perch in Victoria).
Transboundary Conflicts: Shared lakes lead to disputes (Aral Sea fishing/tourism between Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan; Caspian oil rights among littoral states).
Global Efforts: Ramsar Convention (Wetlands of International Importance) covers many lakes (e.g., India has Ramsar lakes like Wular, Vembanad).
NDMA & GLOF Mitigation: India’s NDMA launched GLOF monitoring for high-risk Himalayan lakes(GS3 – disaster mgmt).
National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA): In India, NLCP merged into NPCA (2013) for wetlands (including lakes) conservation, cost-shared by Centre/States.
River Rejuvenation Missions: Schemes like Namami Gange and Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (2024–25) focus on water harvesting and lake revival. Mission Amrit Sarovar (2022) aimed to develop water bodies across districts.
Community Projects: Local efforts (e.g., Kundli Bandh rejuvenation) and afforestation around lakes (Jal Jangal-Jan campaign).
Research & Monitoring: Satellite surveys (e.g., NASA, ISRO) track lake changes. Experts call for early warning systems (satellite EWS for glacial lakes).
While both lakes and seas are beautiful and vital water bodies, they differ in how they’re formed, what kind of water they hold, and the role they play in human and natural life. The table below makes the contrast clearer:
Feature | Lake | Sea |
Location | Found inland, fully surrounded by land. A lake feels like nature’s bowl holding water. | Found at the edge of continents, partially enclosed by land but still connected to the vast ocean. |
Water Type | Usually freshwater (though some, like the Dead Sea, are saline). | Always saltwater, forming part of the ocean system. |
Size | Smaller in comparison; can range from a tiny pond-like body to giant freshwater lakes. | Much larger, stretching over thousands of square kilometres. |
Connection | Isolated – not connected to oceans. | Connected to oceans, exchanging water and energy. |
Tides & Currents | Calm and steady – little to no tides, minimal water movement. | Dynamic – influenced by tides, waves, and strong ocean currents. |
Formation | Created by glaciers melting, tectonic shifts, volcanic activity, or even man-made dams. | Formed by tectonic activity and as extensions of ocean basins. |
Examples | Lake Victoria, Lake Superior, Dead Sea (a salt lake). | Arabian Sea, South China Sea, Mediterranean Sea. |
Q. What is the world’s largest lake?
A. The Caspian Sea, a landlocked saltwater lake of ~389,000 km², is the largest lake by area.
Q. Which is the deepest lake on Earth?
A. Lake Baikal in Russia, with a maximum depth of 1,642 m.
Q. Which lake has the largest freshwater volume?
A. Lake Baikal holds ~23,610 km³ of water, the greatest freshwater volume worldwide.
Q. Name the largest lake in Africa.
A. Lake Victoria (≈59,940 km²) is Africa’s largest lake and second-largest freshwater lake globally.
Q. Why are lakes important in geography/environment?
A. Lakes store fresh water, support ecosystems, influence climate, and are critical for water security, fisheries, and biodiversity conservation (key in GS-1 and GS-3 syllabus).
Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements: [2023]
1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake
2 Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake
3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake
How many of the statements given above are correct?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Answer: (a)
Q. Consider the following pairs: [2022]
Wetland | Lake Location |
|---|---|
Hokera Wetland | Punjab |
Renuka Wetland | Himachal Pradesh |
Rudrasagar Lake | Tripura |
Sasthamkotta Lake | Tamil Nadu |
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
a) Only one pair
b) Only two pairs
c) Only three pairs
d) All four pairs
Answer: (b)
Q. With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of: [2021]
a) Glaciers
b) Mangrove areas
c) Ramsar sites
d) Saline lakes
Answer: (d)
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