SplendidSands
Exploring the Science and Beauty of Sand
Large Lakes Worldwide
Lake Michigan, Muskegon, Michigan
Kate Clover
We’re talking bragging rights here. Superlatives. Which is the largest lake by volume of water, by surface area, or by depth? In North America, Africa, Europe or South America? Which is the greatest? It’s probably your favorite vacation destination. (Statistics from Wikipedia and other sites.)
By area, Lake Superior is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world and the largest lake in the United States. It is the 3rd largest lake in the world by water volume. It borders Ontario, Canada to the north and Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan to the south.
Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and the 2nd deepest lake the US. It straddles California and Nevada.
By area, Lake Michigan is the 5th largest fresh water lake in the world and the 2nd largest of the US Great Lakes. It is entirely within the USA and borders Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois.
By area, the Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed inland water body in the world (despite the name “sea” being used in its name). It is located between Asia and Europe. It is a saline lake.
By area, Lake Ontario is the 13th largest lake in the world. It is surrounded on the north, west and southwest by Ontario and to the south and east by the state of New York, USA.
By area, Lake Nicaragua is the 19th largest lake in the world and the largest in Central America.
By area, Lake Titicaca on the border of Bolivia and Peru, is the 18th largest lake in the world and the largest lake by both area and volume in South America. It is also the highest navigable lake in the world.
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is a dry lake most of the time, but during the rainy season it is the largest lake in Australia. It has the same salinity as the ocean.
By area, Lake Malawi, (aka: Lake Nyasa and Lago Niassa) is the 9th largest lake in the world. By volume, it is the 3rd largest fresh water lake and 2nd deepest on the African continent. It is located between Mozambique and Tanzania in Africa.
By area, Lake Erie is the 11th largest lake in the world, but the smallest by volume of the US Great Lakes. It borders Ontario to the north and the US states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York to the south and eastern shores.
By area, Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territory of Canada is the 10th largest lake in the world and the deepest lake in North America.
By area, Lake Huron is the 4th largest fresh water lake in the world. By volume, it is the 3rd largest of the US Great Lakes. It borders Ontario, Canada and Michigan, USA.