LAKES

Compiled by Chilman Sahni

Largest lake by volume and area

The Caspian Sea (Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Iran) has a volume of 78,200 cubic km and an area of 374,000sq km, making it the world’s largest body of inland water. It would take 400 years for the entire contents of the Caspian to flow over Niagara Falls!

Largest freshwater lake by area

Some people think that Lake Michigan and Lake Huron (US and Canada) are one lake. Together they have a combined area of 117,612sq km and have a larger area than half the world’s countries.

Largest freshwater lake by volume and deepest lake

Lake Baikal, Russia, contains 22,995 cubic km of water. It has an average depth of 730m and is 1,741m at its deepest point- deep enough to cover more than 4 Empire State Buildings piled on top of one another.

Fastest- shrinking lake

In 1960 the Aral Sea (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) was 64,501sq km. Since then feeder rivers have been diverted for irrigation and the lake has shrunk to about 28,000sq km. it is now in danger of disappearing altogether.

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