The World’s 25 Largest Lakes

It is scientifically proven that almost 70% of earth is covered by water, Lakes are some of major water bodies that contribute to this percentage. 

Lake size might vary in terms of the quantity of land they occupy. 

According to satellite data, there are approximately 100 million lakes larger than one hectare (2.47 acres) to be found globally. The largest lakes, which rival the size of entire nations, are more of a rarity.

One might expect the world’s largest lakes to be very alike, but from depth to saline content, their properties can be quite different. As well, the ranking of the world’s largest lakes is far from static, as human activity can turn a massive body of water into a desert within a single generation. 

Today’s graphic – created using the fantastic online tool, Slap It On A Map! – uses the Great Lakes region as a point of comparison for the largest 25 lakes, by area. This is particularly useful in comparing the scale of lakes that are located in disparate parts of the globe. 

 Greatest Lakes In the World 

The largest lake in the world by a long shot is the Caspian Sea. Caspian Sea is a name that hints at a past when it was contiguous with the ocean around 11 million years ago. 

This massive saline lake, which is nearly the same size as Japan, borders five countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran. An estimated 48 billion barrels of oil lay beneath the surface of the basin.  

The five Great Lakes, which run along the Canada–U.S. border, form one of the largest collections of fresh water on Earth. This interconnected series of lakes represents around 20% of the world’s fresh water and the region supports over 100 million people, roughly equal to one-third of the Canada–U.S. population. 

Surprisingly, Lake Baikal holds as much fresh water as all the Great Lakes combined. 

This rift lake in Siberia has a maximum depth of 5,371ft (1,637m).  

For comparison, the largest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior) is only 25% as deep, with a maximum depth of 1,333ft (406m). Lake Baikal is unique in a number of other ways too. It is the world’s oldest, coldest lake, and around 80% of its animal species are endemic (not found anywhere else).  

1.) Caspian Sea

It's surface is 143,000 square meters (371,000km²), Caspian Sea is a Saline type of lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake;

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

🇷🇺 Russia

🇹🇲 Turkmenistan

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan

🇮🇷 Iran 

2.) Superior 

It's surface is 31,700 square meters (82,100km²), Superior is a Fresh water type of lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇨🇦 Canada

🇺🇸 U.S. 

3.) Lake Victoria

It's surface is 26,590 square meters (68,870km²), Lake Victoria is a Fresh water type of lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇺🇬 Uganda

🇰🇪 Kenya

🇹🇿 Tanzania

4.) Lake Huron

It's surface is 22,000 square meters (59,600km²), Lake Huron is a Fresh water Lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake;  

🇺🇸 U.S. 

5.) Lake Tanganyika

It's surface is 12,600 square meters (32,600km²), Lake Tanganyika is a Fresh water lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇧🇮 Burundi

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🇿🇲 Zambia

🇨🇩 D.R.C.  

6.) Lake Baikal

It's surface is 12,200 square meters (31,500km²), Lake Baikal is a Fresh water lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇷🇺 Russia 

7.) Great Bear Lake

It's surface is 12,000 square meters (31,000km²), Great Bear Lake is a Fresh water lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake;  

🇨🇦 Canada 

8.) Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is 11,400 square meters (29,500km²). It is a fresh water lake.

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇲🇼 Malawi

🇲🇿 Mozambique

🇹🇿 Tanzania 

9.) Great Slave Lake

This lake is 10,000 square meters (27,000km²). It is a fresh water lake. 

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇨🇦 Canada 

10.)Lake Erie

• 9,900 square meters (25,700km²)

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇨🇦 Canada

🇺🇸 U.S.   

11.) Lake Winnipeg 

• 9,456 square meters (24,514km²)  

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇨🇦 Canada 

12.) Lake Ontario 

• 7,320 square meters (18,960km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇨🇦 Canada

🇺🇸 U.S. 

13.) Lake Ladoga

• 7,000 square meters (18,130km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇷🇺 Russia  

14.) Lake Balkhash 

• 6,300 square meters (16,400km²) 

Saline lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 

15.) Lake Vostok 

• 4,800 square meters (12,500km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇦🇶 Antarctica 

16.) Lake Onega

• 3,700 square meters (9,700km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇷🇺 Russia 

17.) Lake Titicaca 

• 3,232 square meters (8,372km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇧🇴 Bolivia

🇵🇪 Peru 

18.) Lake Nicaragua 

• 3,191 square meters (8,264km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇳🇮 Nicaragua 

19.) Lake Athabasca

• 3,030 square meters (7,850km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇨🇦 Canada 

20.) Lake Taymyr 

• 2,700 square meters (6,990km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇷🇺 Russia 

21.) Lake Turkana 

• 2,473 square meters (6,405km²) 

Saline lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇰🇪 Kenya

🇪🇹 Ethiopia 

22.) Lake Reindeer Lake 

• 2,440 square meters (6,330km²) 

Freshwater lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇨🇦 Canada 

23.) Lake Issyk-Kul 

• 2400 square meters (6,200km²) 

Saline water lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan 

24.) Lake Urmia 

• 2,317 square meters (6,001km²) 

Saline water lake

The following are the countries on shoreline with this lake; 

🇮🇷 Iran