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list of lakes by volume

{{Short description|Overview of the world's largest lakes by volume}}

This article lists lakes with a water volume of more than 100 km3, ranked by volume. The volume of a lake is a difficult quantity to measure.{{Cite journal|last1=Cael|first1=B. B.|last2=Heathcote|first2=A. J.|last3=Seekell|first3=D. A.|date=2017|title=The volume and mean depth of Earth's lakes|url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/2016GL071378|journal=Geophysical Research Letters|language=en|volume=44|issue=1|pages=209–218|doi=10.1002/2016GL071378|bibcode=2017GeoRL..44..209C|issn=1944-8007|hdl=1912/8822|s2cid=132520745 |hdl-access=free}} Generally, the volume must be inferred from bathymetric data by integration. Lake volumes can also change dramatically over time and during the year, especially for salt lakes in arid climates. For these reasons, and because of changing research, information on lake volumes can vary considerably from source to source. The base data for this article are from The Water Encyclopedia (1990).{{Citation|last1=van der Leeden |last2=Troise |last3=Todd |title=The Water Encyclopedia| location=Chelsea, MI| publisher=Lewis Publishers| year=1990| pages=198–200| edition=2nd| isbn=9780873711203}} Where volume data from more recent surveys or other authoritative sources have been used, that usage is referenced in the respective entry. The total volume of Earth's lakes is 199,000 km3.

The list

The volumes of the lakes below vary little by season. This list does not include reservoirs; if it did, six reservoirs would appear on the list: Lake Kariba at 26th, Bratsk Reservoir, Lake Volta, Lake Nasser, Manicouagan Reservoir, and Lake Guri.

Estuaries and lagoons are not included either. Examples: Lake Melville (estuary) and Lake Maracaibo (lagoon), comparable with Lagoa dos Patos.

{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}

border="0"
colspan="2" align="center"|

{| class="wikitable" align="center"

bgcolor="#CCCCCC"

!colspan="7" align="center"| Continent color key

bgcolor="#CCCCFF"|Africa

|bgcolor="#FFFFFF"|Antarctica

|bgcolor="#FFFF99"|Asia

|bgcolor="#98FF98"|Eurasia

|bgcolor="#FFCCFF"|Europe

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF"|North America

|bgcolor="#FFEBAD"|South America

|}

class="wikitable sortable"

! align="left" valign="bottom" | Name

! align="center" valign="bottom" | Country

! align="center" valign="bottom" | Region

! align="center" valign="bottom" data-sort-type="number" | Surface area

! align="center" valign="bottom" data-sort-type="number" | Water volume

!Salinity

align="right" valign="top"

| bgcolor="#98FF98" align="left" | Caspian SeaThe Caspian Sea is generally regarded by geographers, biologists and limnologists as a huge inland salt lake. It is endorheic (having no outlet), and can be compared to other large (but still much smaller) endorheic salt lakes, such as the Aral Sea, Great Salt Lake and Lake Van. However, the Caspian's large size means that for some purposes it is better modeled as a sea. Geologically, the Caspian, Black, and Mediterranean seas are remnants of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Politically, the distinction between a sea and a lake may affect how the Caspian is treated by international law.

| align="left" |

{{flag|Kazakhstan}},

{{flag|Turkmenistan}},

{{flag|Azerbaijan}},

{{flag|Russia}},

{{flag|Iran}}

| align="left" | Caspian endorheic basin

| {{convert|371000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|78200|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|1.2%

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" | BaikalLake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and the largest freshwater lake by volume.

| align="left" |

{{flag|Russia}}

| align="left" | Southern Siberia: Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast

| {{convert|31722|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|23610|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCCCFF" align="left" | Tanganyika

| align="left" |

{{flag|Tanzania}},

{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}},

{{flag|Burundi}},

{{flag|Zambia}}

| align="left" | African Great Lakes

| {{convert|32900|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|18750|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Superior

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}},

{{flag|United States}}

| align="left" | North American Great Lakes

| {{convert|82100|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|12070|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCCCFF" align="left" | Malawi

| align="left" |

{{flag|Malawi}},

{{flag|Mozambique}},

{{flag|Tanzania}}

| align="left" | African Great Lakes

| {{convert|29600|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|8640|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" | Vostok

| align="left" |

{{flag|Antarctica}}

| align="left" | Under the East Antarctic Ice Sheet

| {{convert|12500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| 5,400±1,600 km3 (~1,300 cu mi)

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Michigan{{#tag:ref|Although Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are usually considered distinct, they are sometimes regarded as a single lake known as Lake Michigan–Huron. When treated as a single entity, it is the fourth largest freshwater lake by volume, at {{convert|8443|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}.[http://geology.com/records/largest-lake.shtml Which Lake is the World's Largest?]"Lakes Michigan and Huron are considered to be one lake hydraulically because of their connection through the deep Straits of Mackinac." Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "[http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Programs/glscf/hydrology.html Great Lakes Sensitivity to Climatic Forcing: Hydrological Models] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808074846/http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Programs/glscf/hydrology.html |date=2010-08-08 }}." NOAA, 2006."Lakes Michigan and Huron are considered to be one lake, as they rise and fall together due to their union at the Straits of Mackinac." U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, "Hydrological Components" [http://www.edisonsault.com/CustServ/USACOE%20LS%20WATER%208%2007.pdf Record Low Water Levels Expected on Lake Superior] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015125647/http://www.edisonsault.com/CustServ/USACOE%20LS%20WATER%208%2007.pdf |date=2008-10-15 }}. August 2007. p.6{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3313_3677-15926--,00.html |title=Great Lakes Map |publisher=Michigan Department of Environmental Quality |access-date=20 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://geology.com/records/largest-lake.shtml |title= Largest Lake in the World |publisher= geology.com |access-date= 28 September 2012}}|name=longest|group=n}}

| align="left" |

{{flag|United States}}

| align="left" | North American Great Lakes

| {{convert|58030|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|4930|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Huron

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}},

{{flag|United States}}

| align="left" | North American Great Lakes

| {{convert|59590|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|3520|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCCCFF" align="left" | Victoria

| align="left" |

{{flag|Tanzania}},

{{flag|Uganda}},

{{flag|Kenya}}

| align="left" | African Great Lakes

| {{convert|59940|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|2420|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Great Bear{{Citation|last=Hebert|first=Paul| date=2007| contribution=Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories| title=Encyclopedia of Earth |access-date=2007-12-07| url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Great_Bear_Lake,_Northwest_Territories| publisher=Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment | location=Washington, DC}}

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Northwest Territories

| {{convert|31153|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|2234|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" | Issyk-Kul

| align="left" |

{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}

| align="left" | Tien Shan Mountains

| {{convert|6236|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|1736|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|0.6%

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Ontario

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}},

{{flag|United States}}

| align="left" | North American Great Lakes

| {{convert|18970|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|1631|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Great Slave{{cite web|url=http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/153100/|title=Search – The Encyclopedia of Earth|website=www.eoearth.org}}

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Northwest Territories

| {{convert|27200|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|1115|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFEBAD" align="left" | Titicaca

| align="left" |

{{flag|Peru}},

{{flag|Bolivia}}

| align="left" | Puno Region (Peru) and La Paz Department (Bolivia)

| {{convert|8372|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|896|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFCCFF" align="left" |

Ladoga

| align="left" |

{{flag|Russia}}

| align="left" | Leningrad Oblast and Republic of Karelia

|

{{convert|17700|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|837|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFEBAD" align="left" |

General Carrera-Buenos Aires{{citation |first1=Ruth E. |last1=Murdie |first2=David T. |last2=Pugh |first3=Peter |last3=Styles |first4=Miguel |last4=Muñoz |year=1999 |chapter=Heatflow, Temperature and Bathymetry of Lago General Carrera and Lago Cochrane, Southern Chile |chapter-url=http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers09-03/010022648.pdf |title=Extended Extracts of the Fourth International Symposium on Andean Geodynamics, Gottingen, Germany 04-06/10/1999 |publisher=Institut de Recherche pour le Développement |place=Paris |pages=539–542 }}

| align="left" |

{{flag|Chile}},

{{flag|Argentina}}

| align="left" |

General Carrera Province (Chile) and Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)

|

{{convert|1850|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|740|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCCCFF" align="left" | Kivu

| align="left" |

{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}},

{{flag|Rwanda}}

| align="left" | African Great Lakes

| {{convert|2700|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|648|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" | Van

name=Degens_1984>

{{Citation|last1=Degens|first1=E.T.| last2=Wong|first2=H.K.|

last3=Kempe|first3=S.|

last4=Kurtman|first4=F.| title=A geological study of Lake Van, eastern Turkey |

journal=International Journal of Earth Sciences|

publisher=Springer|date=June 1984|

volume=73| issue=2| page=701-734|

doi=10.1007/BF01824978|bibcode=1984GeoRu..73..701D|s2cid=128628465}}

| align="left" |

{{flag|Turkey}}

| align="left" | Armenian Highlands

| {{convert|3755|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|642|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|2.3%

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Erie

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}},

{{flag|United States}}

| align="left" | North American Great Lakes

| {{convert|25667|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|488|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" | Khövsgöl

| align="left" |

{{flag|Mongolia}}

| align="left" | Nearby the eastern, Sayan Mountains

| {{convert|2760|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|381|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Winnipeg

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Manitoba

|

{{convert|24514|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|294|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFCCFF" align="left" | Onega

| align="left" |

{{flag|Russia}}

| align="left" | Leningrad Oblast, Vologda Oblast and Republic of Karelia

| {{convert|9700|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|291|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Nipigon{{cite web |title= Lake Nipigon |work= World Lake Database |publisher= International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) |url= http://wldb.ilec.or.jp/Lake.asp?LakeID=SNAM-099&RoutePrm=0%3A%3B4%3Aload%3B |access-date= 22 December 2014 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200835/http://wldb.ilec.or.jp/Lake.asp?LakeID=SNAM-099&RoutePrm=0%3A%3B4%3Aload%3B |archive-date= 4 March 2016 }}

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Ontario

| {{convert|4848|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|266|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" | TobaAlthough some parts of Indonesia are often regarded as belonging to Oceania, Sumatra and Lake Toba are generally placed in Asia.

| align="left" |

{{flag|Indonesia}}

| align="left" | Sumatra

| {{convert|1130|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|244|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" |

Nueltin{{cite book|author1=Walter K. Dodds|author2=Matt R. Whiles|title=Freshwater Ecology: Concepts and Environmental Applications of Limnology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ht4O0Uez3KAC&pg=PA141|access-date=22 February 2012|date=23 September 2010|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-12-374724-2|pages=141–142}}

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Nunavut and

Manitoba

|

{{convert|2279|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

|

{{convert|228|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFEBAD" align="left" | Argentino

| align="left" |

{{flag|Argentina}}

| align="left" | Santa Cruz Province

| {{convert|1466|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|220|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" |

Athabasca

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Saskatchewan and Alberta

|

{{convert|7850|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|204|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" |

Concordia

| align="left" |

{{flag|Antarctica}}

| align="left" | Antarctic Plateau

|

{{convert|800|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|200|km3|cumi|abbr=on}} + or - {{convert|40|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCCCFF" align="left" | Turkana

| align="left" |

{{flag|Kenya}},

{{flag|Ethiopia}}

| align="left" | African Great Lakes

| {{convert|6405|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|193|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|0.24%

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFEBAD" align="left" |

Llanquihue

| align="left" |

{{flag|Chile}}

| align="left" | Llanquihue Province and Osorno Province

|

{{convert|871|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|158|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFCCFF" align="left" | Vänern

| align="left" |

{{flag|Sweden}}

| align="left" | Västergötland, Dalsland, Värmland

| {{convert|5650|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|153|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Tahoe

| align="left" |

{{flag|United States}}

| align="left" | California and Nevada

| {{convert|490|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|151|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" |

Mistassini

name="DoddsWhiles2010"/>

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Quebec

| {{convert|2164|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|150|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCCCFF" align="left" | Albert

| align="left" |

{{flag|Uganda}},

{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

| align="left" | African Great Lakes

| {{convert|5300|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|133|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" |

Nettilling

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" |

Nunavut (Baffin Island)

|

{{convert|5542|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|130|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFEBAD" align="left" |

Fagnano

| align="left" |

{{flag|Argentina}},

{{flag|Chile}}

| align="left" |

Tierra del Fuego

|

{{convert|645|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|125|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFEBAD" align="left" |

Viedma

| align="left" |

{{flag|Argentina}}

| align="left" | Santa Cruz Province

|

{{convert|1193|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|119|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Iliamna

| align="left" |

{{flag|United States}}

| align="left" | Alaska

| {{convert|2622|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|116|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" |

Dead Sea

| align="left" |

{{flag|Jordan}},

{{flag|Palestine}},

{{flag|Israel}}

| align="left" | Southern District, West Bank, Balqa Governorate, Madaba Governorate and Karak Governorate

|

{{convert|605|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

|

{{convert|114|km3|cumi|abbr=on}} (decreasing)

|34% (increasing)

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" |

Baker

name="DoddsWhiles2010"/>

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Nunavut

|

{{convert|1887|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

|

{{convert|113|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" |

Reindeer

| align="left" |

{{flag|Canada}}

| align="left" | Saskatchewan and Manitoba

|

{{convert|6650|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|113|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#CCFFFF" align="left" | Nicaragua

| align="left" |

{{flag|Nicaragua}}

| align="left" | Rivas Department, Granada Department and Río San Juan Department

| {{convert|8264|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|110|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|Fresh

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" |

Qinghai

name="DoddsWhiles2010"/>

| align="left" |

{{flag|China}}

| align="left" | Qinghai Province

|

{{convert|4583|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|108|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

|1.4% (variable)

align="right" valign="top"

|bgcolor="#FFFF99" align="left" |

Balkhash

| align="left" |

{{flag|Kazakhstan}}

| align="left" | Karaganda Region, Jambyl Region and Almaty Region

|

{{convert|16400|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|100|km3|cumi|abbr=on}} (decreasing)

|0.3% (variable)

align="right" valign="top"

In 1960, the Aral Sea was the world's twelfth-largest known lake by volume, at {{convert|1100|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}. However, by 2007 it had shrunk to 10% of its original volume and was divided into three lakes, none of which are large enough to appear on this list.{{cite news | author=Philip Micklin; Nikolay V. Aladin | title=Reclaiming the Aral Sea | url=http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=reclaiming-the-aral-sea&sc=rss | work=Scientific American | date=March 2008 | access-date=2008-05-17}}

By continent

See also

{{portal|Lakes}}

Notes and references

= Notes =

{{reflist|group=n}}

= References =

{{reflist|2}}

*

Lakes