The name of the deepest lake on earth. What is the deepest and cleanest lake on earth

Lakes are natural bodies of water formed in depressions on land that store 67.4% of all fresh water on Earth. The sizes and depths of lakes can be very different, and some of them are significantly superior to many seas in these indicators.

IN this review presented ten deepest lakes in the world.

10th place: – a lake of tectonic origin, located in the south of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Its depth is 590 meters. Matano is the deepest lake in Indonesia. Lake Matano is an important source of fresh water in Indonesia, famous for its crystal clear waters, which are home to many rare species plants, fish and crustaceans. On its banks there are deposits of nickel ore. The Patea River has its source in Matano, which, flowing through a waterfall, flows into Lake Mahalona.

9th place: – crater lake, which has a depth of 594 meters. Crater - deepest lake in the USA and the second deepest in North America. This lake is the main attraction of the same name national park, located in Oregon. Crater Lake was formed in a deep volcanic basin (caldera) more than 7 thousand years ago due to the destruction of the Mount Mazama volcano. Thanks to the melting snow, the water in the lake is particularly clean and blue. Crater Lake has an unusual attraction - a huge log called the "Old Man of the Lake", which has been floating in a vertical position in the reservoir for more than a century. In 2005, Crater Lake was featured on the Oregon commemorative coin.

8th place: Great Slave Lake – the deepest lake in Canada and all of North America. Its maximum depth reaches 614 meters. For eight months of the year, the surface of the lake is covered with ice, which in winter is so thick that it can support a heavy truck. In the 1930s, gold was discovered here, which led to the founding of the city of Yellowknife on the shores of the lake.

7th place: Issyk-Kul is a salty closed lake in the northern part of the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan. The maximum depth of this deepest lake in Central Asia is 702 meters. From the Kyrgyz language “ysyk kel” is translated as “hot lake”. It received this name due to the fact that its brackish water does not freeze even in severe winters. There are several connections with Lake Issyk-Kul interesting legends and stories. According to one of them, an ancient Armenian monastery with the relics of St. Matthew is kept in the lake. Another legend says that it was in this place that Tamerlane’s warriors built their famous cairns. In 2006, traces were found at the bottom of the lake ancient civilization, which existed 2.5 thousand years ago.

6th place: Malawi(another name is Nyasa) is the southernmost lake of the East African Rift Valley, located between Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. This is the second deepest lake in Africa - its maximum depth is 706 meters. The tropical waters of Malawi contain the greatest diversity of fish species of any lake on Earth. Scientists have concluded that over the past 100 thousand years the depth of the lake has decreased by more than 100 meters. The causes of water loss are surface evaporation (up to 80%) and the Shire River, flowing from the southern part of the lake.

5th place: San Martin(another name is O'Higgins) is a fjord-shaped lake in Patagonia, located on the border of Argentina and Chile at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level. The area of ​​the lake is 1058 km² and its depth is 836 meters. This deepest lake in South America. In Argentina the lake is called San Martin, in Chile - O'Higgins. The lake is named after national heroes José de San Martin of Argentina and Bernardo O'Higgins of Chile, who fought together for the freedom of South America. The lake is fed by the waters of the Mayer River and small glacial streams, and flows into the Pascua River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. A unique feature of the lake is the milky blue hue of the water, which occurs due to particles of rock sediments that fall into the lake along with the meltwater of glaciers and settle on its bottom.

4th place: Caspian Sea – the largest endorheic lake on the planet with salt water, called the sea due to the fact that its base is made up of the earth's crust of the oceanic type. Located between Europe and Asia, the lake washes the shores of five countries - Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. The maximum depth of the Caspian Sea reaches 1025 meters, and its area is 371 thousand km². More than 130 rivers flow into the lake, the largest of which is the Volga. The Caspian Sea has a rich fauna - it is home to the Caspian seal, many sturgeon, and some species of fish are found only here. This huge body of water is a rich source of energy resources. Today, the total cost of oil and gas in the sea is 12 trillion. dollars.

3rd place: East – the deepest and largest of all subglacial lakes on Earth, covered with a thickness of ice of 4 kilometers. The unique reservoir is located in Antarctica, next to the Russian Antarctic station "Vostok", in honor of which it received its name. The estimated maximum depth of the lake is more than 1200 meters. The lake was opened in 1996. In February 2012, Russian scientists reached the surface of Lake Vostok, drilling into the ice shell of which lasted 20 years. Lake research can reveal a lot useful information world, because the conditions there are similar to those that existed many millions of years ago, and there is also an assumption that similar lakes exist on the satellites of Jupiter.

2nd place: Tanganyika- This deepest lake in Africa and the second deepest (1470 meters) in the world. It is also the first longest lake in the world (673 km), belonging to four countries - Tanzania, Congo, Burundi and Zambia. The lake is located in the deepest tectonic depression in Africa. It was discovered by chance in 1858 by British explorers John Speke and Richard Burton, who discovered it while searching for the source of the Nile. The lake is fed by several channels, and only one river flows out of it - Lukuga. Tanganyika is home to crocodiles, hippos, many waterfowl, and many unique fish species. After National Geographic magazine published a story about a 9-meter killer crocodile that caused the death of several dozen people, Lake Tanganyika has long been an object of special interest.

1st place: Baikal- This the deepest lake in Russia, Eurasia and the whole world, reaching a depth of 1642 meters. Located in the south of Eastern Siberia, the reservoir is the largest natural reservoir of fresh water - it stores 20% of the total supply of surface fresh water on the planet. The volume of water in Baikal is greater than in all US lakes combined. Baikal is also known as the oldest lake on Earth, formed 25-35 million years ago, although lakes usually do not exist for more than 15 thousand years. Baikal is a unique ecosystem; about 1,700 species of flora and fauna live here, many of which are found nowhere else. The lake is included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

The Earth's hydrosphere occupies a volume of 1458.38 million cubic kilometers. To imagine this, let’s put it more simply – two-thirds of the planet. Of this number, about 94% of the water “belongs” to the World Ocean, which contains various salts and gases. The rest of the water is frozen in glaciers (1.65%), hidden underground (0.01%), flows in rivers and rises into the atmosphere as steam. Against this background, it seems that there is very little water left for the lakes. Only 0.02%.

Basically, this is fresh water, vital for land inhabitants. There are lakes where the water is salty. How many lakes are there on Earth? The “final” answer was given by scientists from the Swedish University of Uppsala in 2014 - they named the figure - one hundred and seventeen million (the smallest that were taken into account was 0.2 hectares). Let's find out where the deepest lake in the world is located.

From a huge number, we will select 10 + 1 of the deepest lakes in the world. Let's start in order with the “small deep-water lakes”. There are two with the same indicator - 590 meters. They share tenth place among the leaders. Both are freshwater.

Not only the deepest South America. It is also the second largest lake in area, dividing Chile with Argentina. Today its area is 1850 sq. km. It is 870 kilometers in Argentina, where it is called General Carrera. The rest belongs to Chile.

Carlos Maria Moyano "found" this lake while exploring the Patagonian Andes in the late nineteenth century.
Thanks to the shifts of glaciers, a pit was formed, gradually filling with water. Its initial level above the sea was more than four hundred meters, and the lake flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. When the glacier began to actively melt (from the Chilean side), the flow changed towards Pacific Ocean, and the level dropped to 208 meters.

The lake is high-altitude, so the climate is quite cold and strong winds blow. But tourists come to admire the amazing “Marble Cathedral” - an island consisting of minerals of white and turquoise shades.

Lake Matano – tenth place

In Indonesia, on the southern side of Sulawesi, the waters of Lake Motano splash. Depth, like Buenos Airos, but the origin is different - the water filled a geological fault in the earth’s crust. Motano's area is almost three times smaller.

It is part of the unique closed ecosystem of Malili, consisting of five lakes that are surrounded by mountains and tropical forests. The lakes are inhabited by endemic animals. Many unusual aquarium inhabitants come from this area.

The lake water is distributed over two layers: saturated with oxygen in the upper layer and free of oxygen and sulfates in the lower one. Deeper waters are oversaturated with iron. Geologists discovered nickel ore deposits along the shores of the lake. In Indonesia, Matano is the largest body of fresh water.

Crater is the ninth deepest lake

In the USA - the first in depth. Throughout North America - second place. Owned by the State of Oregon. The eruption of Mount Mazama, which occurred more than seven and a half thousand years ago, formed a crater that eventually filled with water. Thus, Crater Lake was “born”. The deepest place reaches almost six hundred meters (594 m). The walls of the caldera rise above the surface of the water. Over time they became overgrown with forests.

For the aborigines - Indians, " Blue Lake"was sacred. Peering into the depths, they tried to “find the truth” there. For the European discoverers it was interesting only from the point of view of finding gold.

Since 1902, the area surrounding the Crater (this is the third version of the name) has become a National Park. The shape of the Crater resembles an oval. The area is more than sixty kilometers. Scientists are confident that the lake is not yet fully formed - the bottom is constantly subject to hydrothermal activity. This means that the Mazama volcano has just “fallen asleep.”

Great Slave Lake – 8th place

It is not the largest - it is smaller than the Big Bear and occupies only the tenth place in area. But for North America it is the deepest - 614 meters. Located in Canadian territory.

In the post-glacial period, on the site of three lakes - Great Slave, Athabasca, Great Bear - there was one large glacial lake. Now they are connected to each other by rivers. The Mackenzie, the largest of them, flows into the Beaufort Sea. Thus, the lakes are part of the Arctic Ocean.

Indians have lived on their banks since ancient times. Europeans learned about this area thanks to the British Samuel Chiron in 1771. His expedition crossed the Great Slave on ice so strong that it could support the weight of a modern heavy truck. The lake has been free of ice for only two months.

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It is known that the name Big Slave received by mistake - “difficulty of translation” (slave - slave, slave). The Slavey aborigines were never slaves.

In the thirties of the twentieth century, the city of Yellowknife was founded thanks to gold mines. Diamond mines also operate in the same places (upper reaches of the Coppermine River). In winter, cargo transportation is carried out on ice.

These three lakes are not part of the American Great Lakes system, but the nature surrounding them is no less picturesque. Like most high-mountain lakes, Great Slave is a huge body of fresh water.

Lake Issyk-Kul is the seventh deepest

The recorded depth is seven hundred and two meters. In the Kyrgyz language it means Warm (or hot) lake. It is one of the ten deepest, and in thirtieth place in terms of area occupied. The purity of the waters is slightly inferior to the waters of Lake Baikal.

This body of water is 1600 meters higher than the sea, in a depression between two Tien Shan ranges. It is filled by small mountain tributaries, but there are many of them (80). The lake has no drainage. The lake water level changes cyclically over several decades. Its uniqueness is salt water, despite the location in the mountains. But the water is not sea water. Dissolved minerals give it salinity. This combination created a rare ecological system around the never-freezing Issyk-Kul.

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The flora is distributed “stepwise”:
close to the shores there is a bush (sea buckthorn);
higher up are spruce forests (Schenk spruce);
at an altitude of two and a half kilometers there are mountain meadows, like in the Alps.

Of more than twenty species of fish, fourteen live only in Issyk-Kul.
There are many folk tales and legends about the lake and the places surrounding it.

Lake Nyasa is sixth in the ranking

The lake “belongs” to three African states – Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi, located in the southeast of the continent. One of the reservoirs of the Great Rift Valley, the deepest is 706 meters. Although a hundred years ago it was deeper.

The reservoir is located at an altitude of 472 m. Figures show that its bottom is 234 m lower maritime border. The lake's flow is very weak. Water is renewed slowly. Research shows a period of more than a hundred years. During the rainy season, the basin can become overcrowded, leading to flooding. During dry times, the level drops, causing the Shire River, the only drainage, to dry up.

One of the few places where the natural self-cleaning system is practically absent. Ecology is very sensitive to conditions environment, pollution. The water in Nyasa, like in Issyk-Kul, is salty, but their composition is different. In addition, the water column is not like a three-layer cocktail. The top layer is full of life, the bottom contains almost no oxygen. This lake is home to only 230 to 500 species of fish (according to some sources - 1000) - the richest “lake collection” in the world, most of the “exhibits” in which are endemic.

The coast is also quite busy - in addition to birds, there are dangerous animals - crocodiles, hippos...
The rest of the world learned of the existence of a "great inland sea" in the center of the African continent in 1616. The Dutch traveler Bukaru became the first European to see Malawi (another “name” of the lake). Although for some time David Livingston was considered the official discoverer of Lake Nyasa.

Lake San Martin - fifth place

San Martin - the greatest recorded depth (near the O'Higgins Glacier) is 836 meters. The location is 250 meters above sea level in the Andes of Patagonia. San Martin is the divider between Argentina and Chile. Residents of these countries call the same body of water differently - San Martin and O'Higgins.
It is interesting that in both cases the lake received its “name” in honor of the heroes whom these peoples honor - José de San Martin and O'Higgins Bernardo.

The southern intermontane depression of the Patagonian Andes of South America is filled with water. The shape of this lake is unusual - eight separate “sleeves”. The flow occurs through the Pasuka River, reaching the Pacific Baker Fjord.
Lake water has a milky blue hue. The lake basin is filled with glaciers (Chico and O'Higgins), the Mayer River, and small streams flowing into it. At the same time, rock particles enter the water in the form of a suspension. This is what makes the lake so unusual.

The surrounding landscape is reminiscent of Scandinavian fjords. But not only the beauty of nature attracts tourists, also fishing. The main catch is trout.

The Caspian Sea is in fourth place. Is it the sea or is it still a lake?

The only closed sea on the planet that has no drainage. Because of huge size(371,000 sq. km) and “non-standard” origin, disputes arise among researchers. According to the method of origin, it is a lake, and the dimensions “say” are the sea.

The deepest point is 1025 meters. 44% of the world's lake water is in the Caspian Sea. Thirteen million years ago, the transformation of the earth’s crust began, which led to the appearance of the “bed” of the Caspian Sea. Subsequently, at the junction of the continents - Europe and Asia - an immense lake arose.

Archaeologists, when they explored the Khuto cave (district south coast Caspian Sea), proved that people inhabited these places seventy-five thousand years ago. The first known mention of this sea and the peoples living there date back to the fifth century BC. Herodotus spoke about him.
Water contains salts, but their percentage and composition differs greatly in different places of the sea, not to mention the ocean.

Its level is very dependent on changes climatic conditions, the flow of rivers flowing into it. Evaporation and precipitation are of great importance. Just like any other closed lake, the Caspian Sea is susceptible to pollution. The ecology of such places needs additional support.

Vostok - a lake hidden under ice, in third place

Not only the deepest, but also the largest of the Antarctic relict lakes. The unofficial name is “Time Capsule”.

The east is hidden under a four-kilometer ice sheet. Its dimensions are not known exactly. The estimated area is fifteen and a half thousand square kilometers, and the maximum depth is more than 1200 meters.

For several million years this lake has existed completely isolated. The oxygen in it, according to unverified data, is fifty times higher than the amount that can be in standard fresh water. This indicator gives scientists the right to expect that there may be living organisms in the lake.

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By the way, the only thing that can be said about this lake (theoretically) for sure is that the water in it is fresh.
Lake Vostok has been little explored due to its inaccessibility. Therefore, there are very few proven facts - basically everything that is said about him is speculation. Even more openly it was done on the basis of theoretical calculations by Andrei Kapitsa in the late fifties of the twentieth century. And “physically” this theory was confirmed in 1996 by Russian polar explorers who conducted research at Vostok station.

Tanganyika - on the other side of the planet, a lake that ranks second

Depth, a little less than one and a half thousand kilometers. But this lake, a world record holder due to its length, stretches for 676 km. Four African states: Congo (DRC), Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia are located along the banks of Tanganyika.

At an altitude of 773 meters, in the deepest rift basin of the African continent, there is a lake. Its depth reaches a record 1470 meters. In terms of antiquity, it is almost the same as Lake Baikal. Surrounding landscape – majestic rocks. Only in the east do the banks gradually become gentle.

Several tributaries fill the lake, the largest flowing in the north is the Ruzizi River. From the east, the lake is filled by the Malagarasi, a river that predates Tanganyika itself. This river in ancient times flowed directly into the Congo. Now Tanganyika is part of the basin of one of the largest rivers on Earth. The only drainage of the lake water is the Lukuga River. It connects to the Congo. Together they flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

In Tanganyika, as in the Black Sea, the upper layers of water do not mix with the lower ones due to natural reasons. In terms of the amount of oxygen-free waters, it ranks second, right behind the Black Sea.

Animal and flora The lake and its surrounding area are very rich, thanks to the tropical climate. The presence of 600 endemic species is explained by its ancient origin, the fact that it never dried out and was isolated (drainless) for a long time. The discoverers of such a huge reservoir in 58 of the nineteenth century were the Englishmen Richard F. Burton and John H. Speke.

Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. First place in the ranking.

So where is the deepest lake on the planet? The answer is clear - in the same place where the most big country peace. Lake Baikal is located on Russian territory. Baikal is not only the “most-most” lake in terms of depth.

The oldest rift in Eastern Siberia, shaped like a crescent, is located in the south of the region. It was in this fault that Baikal was formed. It is recognized as the largest natural reservoir of pure fresh water, with an area of ​​31,722 square meters. kilometer Russia's deepest lake contains 19 percent of the world's fresh water.
The length of the lake is only forty kilometers shorter than the African Tanganyika. But the depth of Baikal is 1642 meters (a difference of almost two hundred meters). Although these are only official figures. Many researchers say that the depth of the lake is much greater.

Located near the border of Mongolia and Russia on the territory of the Russian Federation in Southern Siberia. The depth of Lake Baikal reaches 1642 meters and it is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth.

Lake Baikal is also home to 1,700 different species of fauna and flora. The most interesting thing is that more than half of them are inhabitants of this lake only and are not found anywhere else. According to some sources, the age of Baikal is estimated at 25-30 million years, making it also the oldest lake in the world.

The second deepest lake on Earth is Lake Tanganyika, located in Africa between the countries of Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi and Congo. The depth of this lake reaches 1470 meters, which makes it the deepest fresh lake on the continent of Africa. It is home to more than 200 species of fish, 170 of which are rare.

The third deepest is Caspian Sea, called the sea because of its oceanic origin. In fact, the Caspian Sea is the largest closed lake on our Planet. It is located between Europe and Asia, and its maximum depth reaches 1025 meters. More than 2,500 species of flora and fauna have found their home in the Caspian salt water.

The fourth deepest is the subglacial lake East, located in Antarctica under a thickness of ice of approximately 4000 meters, on which the Russian Vostok station is located. The depth of this lake is about 900 meters. There is no evidence of life in Lake Vostok yet, but there are assumptions about its presence.

In fifth place we have a lake known in Chile as O'Higgins, and in Argentina as San Martin. It is located in South America in Patagonia. Its maximum depth stopped at 836 meters.

The sixth deepest lake on Earth is Lake Nyasa or under another lake Malawi, located in Africa between countries such as: Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi. The maximum depth in this lake reaches 706 meters.

Seventh place belongs to the lake Issyk-Kul, located in the northern Tien Shan mountains in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. The name of this lake comes from the Kyrgyz words “ysyk kel”, literally translated meaning “hot lake”, since in winter time it doesn't freeze. The maximum depth mark of Issyk-Kul is 702 meters.

The eighth lake itself deep depression it bears the name Great Slave, which is located in Canada and is the deepest lake in North America. Its maximum depth reaches 614 meters. Almost all year round the lake is under ice and only for 4 months does it wake up from “hibernation”.

The ninth place in depth was taken by a lake located in the US state of Oregon and called Crater. It is also the deepest lake above sea level, with a depth equal to 594 meters. This lake is familiar with the rather pronounced blue surface of its waters.

And in tenth place is the lake Matano, which is located in Indonesia and is the most important source of fresh water in that area. This is the deepest lake in the country, its depth reaches 590 meters. Lake Matano is known for its clear water.

By the way, any person now has the opportunity to observe all the beauty of these lakes and not only them, but our entire Planet Earth as a whole, from space online. All kinds of maps from a satellite are of course great and very useful, but watching our Planet Earth online from space in real time is doubly more interesting and picturesque. And for this you now only need Internet access and a computer.

Deep lakes are found on all continents. The border zone of Argentina and Chile is especially rich in such reservoirs; given the area of ​​the countries, they will be among the leaders. As for the origin of deep-sea lakes, there is complete diversity: glacial, volcanic, tectonic. The picture is approximately the same for temperature conditions.

But reservoirs with great depths often have differences from shallow ones. Some have atypical mineral composition or inhabitants that cannot be found anywhere else. Richness in fish is typical for most representatives of the list, although there are exceptions. The tourism industry is also not developed everywhere, but the potential is there and visible to the naked eye.

The deepest lakes on earth

1. Baikal

This is the deepest lake in the world. It is also the largest reservoir of fresh water not only in Russia, but on the entire planet. The Angara flows out of it, and many rivers flow in. The distribution area of ​​many species of animals and plants is limited. There are many natural monuments in the area: Cape Ludar, Ushkany Islands, Chersky Peak, etc. In winter, the surface is almost completely covered with a thick layer of ice. Although the lake is protected, there are environmental problems.

Depth – 1642 meters.

2. Tanganyika

It is the longest freshwater lake, with an area of ​​32,900 km². Located in Central Africa, it belongs to four countries at once. A hot climate affects changes in water levels at different times of the year. When the inflowing rivers partially dry up, the lake follows suit. There are special environmental problems in the north of the lake, since waste from enterprises was dumped here, and fishing was put on stream.

Depth – 1470 meters.

3. East

Features of the location - the lake is located in Antarctica - could not but affect the characteristics. There is no larger (15,790 km²) subglacial lake in the world. At the same time, the water is heated to +10°C due to geothermal sources. A Russian research station with the same name is based in close proximity. The study of microorganisms living in these waters has not yet been completed.

Depth – 1200 meters.

4. Caspian Sea

It falls under the control zone of five states, which includes Russia. Economic activities associated with the use of the waters of the lake, which has an area of ​​371,000 km², are diverse: there are oil deposits, fishing, and there are ports and recreational areas on the coast. Is . In terms of tourism, reliance is placed on nearby mineral springs, mud therapy is also popular. However, there are problems with infrastructure.

Depth – 1025 meters.

5. San Martin

Located in South America, the lake has an area of ​​1058 km². Particularly noteworthy is the shape of the reservoir: it is divided into widely spread uneven branches. The specificity of the name is connected with this: those parts of the shoots that belong to Chile have a different name among the locals - O'Higgins. The lake is fed by small rivers flowing into it, as well as by the larger Mayer.

Depth – 836 meters.

6. Nyasa

Also called Malawi, it covers an area of ​​29,600 km². It belongs to three East African countries, which makes it difficult to agree on environmental protection for the territory. It is elongated in shape and has virtually no sharp bends. Used for fishing, but the coastal zone is sparsely populated. The area is picturesque, as there are different types of relief, many species of rare plants and fauna.

Depth – 706 meters.

7. Issyk-Kul

It is located in Kyrgyzstan and has an area of ​​6236 km². It is drainless and fed by 80 tributaries. 4 picturesque bays are used for fishing, tourism and as ports. Travelers are largely attracted by the combination of climate types: mountain and sea. There are camping areas as well as full resort areas. The beach season is short, from mid-June to the end of August.

Depth – 702 meters.

8. Great Slave

Peculiarity Canadian lake, having an area of ​​28568 km² - an ice crust that covers the surface for 8 months. The thickness of the cover allows the reservoir to be used as a full-fledged road for trucks in winter. The vegetation on the opposite coasts varies: in the west there are dense forests, and in the east there is tundra. There are mines in the area and the search for diamonds is underway.

Depth – 614 meters.

9. Crater

It is located in the USA on the territory of the national park of the same name. The area is 53.2 km², the shape is round, to which the reservoir owes its volcanic origin. A local landmark is the “Old Man of the Lake” - a log that has been floating in a vertical position in the lake for a hundred years. Its preservation is ensured by low temperatures. Hydrothermal activity continues, so eruptions are still possible.

Depth – 594 meters.

10. Matana

The Indonesian lake has an area of ​​164.1 km². tectonic origin. Its shores are rich in nickel ore deposits. This caused a number of contradictions: the reservoir is an important source of drinking water for the region, and mining led to pollution. The composition of water at depth is unique: the oxygen content tends to zero, but iron compounds prevail over other elements.

Depth – 590 meters.

11. Buenos Aires

Located on the border of Argentina and Chile. It covers an area of ​​1850 km² and is of glacial origin. At the end of the 19th century, the channel of one of the tributaries was artificially changed, which affected the water level in the lake, albeit slightly. The western and eastern parts of the reservoir are very different in appearance and vegetation. One of the attractions is the marble grottoes.

Depth – 586 meters.

12. Hornindalsvatnet

Norwegian lake with an area of ​​50.42 km². There is a contradiction between official data regarding depth and those indicators obtained when laying cable along the bottom of a reservoir. The telephone company announced that the lowest point of the lake is 612 meters from its surface. In mid-summer, a massive marathon is held along the coast. It is considered the cleanest of the lakes in Scandinavia.

Depth – 514 meters.

13. Quesnel

Located in Canada, it is of glacial origin and has an area of ​​266 km². The shape is oblong, there are three clearly defined sleeves. Researchers have measured that the lake's water is completely renewed within 10 years. Popular tourist destination: some come for the picturesque views, others for fishing, for example, for rainbow trout. Small piers have been built along the banks, and water transport runs regularly.

Depth – 506 meters.

14. Sarezskoye

It is located on the territory of Tajikistan and covers an area of ​​80 km². Formed due to the blocking of the bed and basin of the mountain river Bartang by rubble. The water level fluctuates. In theory, it is dangerous for settlements downstream, since in case of a breakthrough of natural barriers it can bring down huge volumes of water on them. There are many types of flowering plants on the banks, but there are few fish in the reservoir.

Depth – 505 meters.

15. Toba

Formed in the caldera of the volcano of the same name. It belongs to Indonesia and has an area of ​​1103 km². The tourism industry relies on travelers' interest in the ethnic culture of the area, especially the Batak people. Another popular destination among foreigners is ecotourism. The influx of guests occurs once a year: in May, when the weather becomes warmest, and in Chinese New Year in February.

Depth – 505 meters.

16. Tahoe

Located in the USA, it is one of the popular holiday destinations, especially for domestic tourism. Area – 495 km², coastline – 114 km. There is one island - Fannett. It is small in size, but rises above the water due to its mountain-like shape and is clearly visible from many points. There are dense forests around, and there are few settlements on the coast itself, although they are aimed, among other things, at visitors.

Depth – 501 meters.

17. Lago Argentino (500 m)

Argentinean area freshwater lake– 1415 km². The largest in the country, put on maps in the 80s of the 18th century. Belongs to the territory of the national park. Nutrition comes from the melting of glaciers and rivers carrying melt water to the lake. Tourists come here for the fishing and also for the unusual species not found anywhere else in South America.

Depth – 500 meters.

18. Kivu

Located on the territory Central Africa and belongs to two countries at once. Belongs to the list of Great African Lakes. Connected to Lake Tanganyika via the Ruzizi River. Area – 2700 km². The most famous story related to the reservoir occurred in 1948. A volcano nearby became active for a long time, and the water in Kivu began to boil, and all the fish were cooked.

Depth – 480 meters.

19. Salsvannet

There are discrepancies about the depth of this Norwegian lake. Perhaps official sources understate it somewhat. Area – 44.77 km². At depth there is practically no oxygen in the water. In addition, the salinity there is higher, which also affects the density of the water. The reasons for such deviations from the norm may be hidden both in the origin of the reservoir and in as yet undiscovered factors. Research continues to this day.

Depth – 464 meters.

20. Nahuel Huapi

The name is translated from the local dialect as “Jaguar Island”. It belongs to the territory of Argentina and covers an area of ​​530 km². The shape is elongated, there are branch sleeves. The largest of the lakes in the local national park. Tourism is widely developed. There are many hotels in cities on the coast. Visitors are attracted by ethnic groups, history, and environmental features. There are several types of tourism programs.

Depth – 464 meters.

21. Hauroko

Located in New Zealand, the southernmost in the country, it belongs to the national park. Area – 63 km². The shape is very curved and resembles the letter “S”. There are many camping spots nearby, but no hotels or shops. There is no mass tourism, although the lake is often used as a transit point for long journeys.

Depth – 462 meters.

22. Pueyrredon

Has another name - Cochrane. It belongs to the territory of Chile and Argentina and has an area of ​​270 km². Nearby are the southern Andes, the reservoir is fed by a glacier. The shores are predominantly high, mountainous or hilly. There are small areas of land on the surface of the water, but they are too small to be called islands. The vegetation is often low, there is a lot of fish, although there is no constant fishing.

Depth – 460 meters.

23. Tinsho

It is located in Norway and has an area of ​​51.43 km². The reservoir was used by the Nazis during the occupation of the country. Local waters with an atypical composition were to be used for nuclear research. Already in the 90s, one of their sunken ferries was discovered. In addition, previously unknown fish species were found. The study of the lake’s features continues to this day.

Depth – 460 meters.

24. Adams Lake

It is located in Canada and belongs to the glacial type of formation. Area – approximately 137 km². The lake is elongated and narrow. Bends coastline quite smooth and consistently taper to extreme points. Popular as an object of domestic tourism: local residents come here to fish. The main commercial fish species is rainbow trout.

Depth – 457 meters.

25. Chelan

Located in the United States, its name is translated from the Indian language as “deep water”. Area – 135 km², the largest in Washington state. The river of the same name flows out and Sthekin flows in. Belongs to the North Cascades National Park. A boarding house has been built on the coast, open all year round. There are several settlements, including a city of the same name in the southeast.

Depth – 453 meters.

26. Van

The endorheic Turkish lake with salt water is located on an area of ​​3574 km². It is the largest soda lake in the world. The name can be translated as “inhabited place.” It is surrounded by several mountain systems, which affects the climate and air saturation. There are several islands in the reservoir. Some have preserved Armenian landmarks: monasteries, churches, etc.

Depth – 451 meters.

27. Poso

The Indonesian lake has an area of ​​323.2 km². The lake attracts tourists with its nature. Particularly noteworthy are the species of shrimp and snails that live here. Also, local coastal settlements are ready to offer guests a lot of interesting experiences: national flavor coexists with developed infrastructure and services. There is sandy beaches and hotels for almost any budget.

Depth – 450 meters.

28. Fagnano

Belongs to the possessions of Chile and Argentina. It bears the name of a Catholic missionary who visited these regions at the end of the 19th century. The largest (593 km²) of the lakes of Tierra del Fuego. It is the source of the Asopardo River. It is part of the national park on the Argentine side. Traveling along the coastal area in jeeps is popular among tourists. Local operators offer this service to everyone.

Depth – 449 meters.

29. Big Bear

Location – northern Arctic Circle, belongs to Canada and covers an area of ​​31,153 km². There is a uranium deposit, but it is abandoned due to the unprofitability of mining. The lake is navigable, but only for a small part of the year, since most of the time the surface of the reservoir is covered with a crust of ice. There is only one settlement on the shore, which once served as a fort.

Depth – 446 meters.

30. Manapouri

Belongs to the territory of the New Zealand National Park. Area – 142 km², glacial origin. The name translates as “lake of sad heart.” U local residents there are several other names for it, including: Roto-au and Moturau. There are more than 30 islands in the water area of ​​the reservoir; they are mostly covered with forest. Europeans brought red deer here more than a hundred years ago.

Depth - 444 meters.