# List of lakes by depth

These articles lists the world's deepest lakes.

## Lakes ranked by maximum depth

This list contains all lakes whose maximum depth is reliably known to exceed 400 metres (1,300 ft)
Geologically, the Caspian Sea, like the Black and Mediterranean seas, is a remnant of the ancient Tethys Ocean. The deepest area is oceanic rather than continental crust. However, it is generally regarded by geographers as a large endorheic salt lake. Of these registered lakes; 10 have a deepest point above the sea level. These are: Issyk-Kul, Crater Lake, Quesnel, Sarez, Toba, Tahoe, Kivu, Nahuel Huapi, Van and Poso.
Continent color key :
| Africa | Antarctica | Asia | Eurasia | Europe | North America | Oceania | South America |
| | Name | Country | Region | Depth | Depth | Depth$^2$/area |
| | Name | Country | Region | (meters) | (feet) | Depth$^2$/area |
| 1. | Baikal | Russia | Southern Siberia: Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast | 1,642 | 5,387 | 9.22×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 2. | Tanganyika | Tanzania Democratic Republic of the Congo Burundi Zambia | African Great Lakes | 1,470 | 4,823 | 8.1×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 3. | (Caspian Sea) | Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Russia Iran | Caspian Endorheic basin | 1,025 | 3,363 | 1.68×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 4. | Viedma | Argentina | Santa Cruz Province | ~900 | ~2953 | N/D |
| 4. | Vostok | Antarctica | Under the, East Antarctic Ice Sheet | ~900 | ~2953 | 8.94×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 6. | O'Higgins-San Martín | Chile Argentina | Capitán Prat Province (Chile) and Santa Cruz Province (Argentina) | 836 | 2,742 | 2.63×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 7. | Argentino | Argentina | Santa Cruz Province | 719 | 2,359 | 1.33×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 8. | Malawi | Malawi Mozambique Tanzania | African Great Lakes | 706 | 2,316 | 4.1×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 9. | Issyk Kul | Kyrgyzstan | Tien Shan Mountains | 668 | 2,192 | 8.46×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 10. | Great Slave | Canada | Northwest Territories | 614 | 2,015 | 3.72×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 11. | Crater | United States | Oregon | 594 | 1,949 | 8.16×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 12. | Matano | Indonesia | Southern Sulawesi | 590 | 1,936 | 4.61×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 13. | General Carrera-Buenos Aires | Chile Argentina | General Carrera Province (Chile) and Santa Cruz Province (Argentina) | 586 | 1,923 | 1.36×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 14. | Hornindalsvatnet | Norway | Vestland | 514 | 1,686 | 7.2×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 15. | Quesnel | Canada | British Columbia | 511 | 1,677 | 3.13×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 16. | Sarez | Tajikistan | Gorno-Badakhshan | 505 | 1,657 | 5.66×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 16. | Toba | Indonesia | Sumatra | 505 | 1,657 | 1.5×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 18. | Tahoe | United States | California and Nevada | 501 | 1,645 | 2.26×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 19. | Salvatnet | Norway | Trøndelag | 482 | 1,581 | 6.93×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 20. | Kivu | Democratic Republic of the Congo Rwanda | African Great Lakes | 480 | 1,575 | 9.24×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 21. | Grand Lake | Canada | Newfoundland | 475 | 1,558 | N/D |
| 22. | Nahuel Huapi | Argentina | Río Negro Province and Neuquén Province | 464 | 1,523 | 2.02×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 23. | Hauroko | New Zealand | Southland, South Island | 462 | 1,516 | 5.82×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 24. | Cochrane / Pueyrredón | Chile Argentina | Capitán Prat Province (Chile) and Santa Cruz Province (Argentina) | 460 | 1,509 | 2.55×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 24. | Lake Tinn | Norway | Telemark | 460 | 1,509 | 6.41×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 26. | Adams | Canada | British Columbia | 457 | 1,499 | 3.9×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 27. | Chelan | United States | Washington (state) | 453 | 1,486 | 3.9×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 27. | Mjøsa | Norway | Innlandet and Akershus | 453 | 1,486 | 2.33×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 29. | Van | Turkey | Eastern Anatolia Region | 451 | 1,480 | 7.36×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 30. | Poso | Indonesia | Sulawesi | 450 | 1,476 | 2.5×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 31. | Fagnano | Argentina Chile | Tierra del Fuego | 449 | 1,473 | 1.77×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 32. | Great Bear | Canada | Northwest Territories | 446 | 1,463 | 2.53×10^$^{−6}$ |
| 33. | Manapouri | New Zealand | Southland, South Island | 444 | 1,457 | 3.73×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 34. | Como | Italy | Lombardy | 425 | 1,394 | 3.52×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 34. | Te Anau | New Zealand | Southland, South Island | 425 | 1,394 | 2.29×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 36. | Tazawa | Japan | Akita Prefecture, Honshu | 423 | 1,387 | 8.31×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 37. | Khantayskoye | Russia | Krasnoyarsk Krai | 420 | 1,378 | N/D |
| 37. | Wakatipu | New Zealand | Otago, South Island | 420 | 1,378 | 2.47×10^$^{−5}$ |
| 39. | Grey | Chile | Última Esperanza Province | 410 | 1,345 | N/D |
| 40. | Superior | Canada United States | Ontario (Canada) and Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin (United States) | 406 | 1,332 | 1.42×10^$^{−6}$ |

## Lakes ranked by mean depth

Mean depth can be a more useful indicator than maximum depth for many ecological purposes. Unfortunately, accurate mean depth figures are only available for well-studied lakes, as they must be calculated by dividing the lake's volume by its surface area. A reliable volume figure requires a bathymetric survey. Therefore, mean depth figures are not available for many deep lakes in remote locations. The average lake on Earth has the mean depth 41.8 meters (137.14 feet)
The Caspian Sea ranks much further down the list on mean depth, as it has a large continental shelf (significantly larger than the oceanic basin that contains its greatest depths).
Of the 127 registered lakes; 67 are known to be cryptodepressions. These include: Vostok (subglacial surface), Concordia (subglacial surface), (Caspian Sea) (subsea surface), Dead Sea (subsea surface) and Jökulsárlón (glacial lagoon estuary). The remaining 60 lakes have got their entire basin above the sea level.
This list contains all lakes whose mean depth is reliably known to exceed 100 metres (328 ft).
Continent colour key :
| Africa | Antarctica | Asia | Eurasia | Europe | North America | Oceania | South America |
| | Name | Country | Region | Depth | Depth |
| | Name | Country | Region | (meters) | (feet) |
| 1. | Baikal | Russia | Southern Siberia: Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast | 744.4 | 2,442 |
| 2. | Tanganyika | Tanzania Democratic Republic of the Congo Burundi Zambia | African Great Lakes | 570 | 1,870 |
| 3. | Vostok | Antarctica | Under the, East Antarctic Ice Sheet | 432 | 1,417 |
| 4. | General Carrera-Buenos Aires | Chile Argentina | General Carrera Province (Chile) and Santa Cruz Province (Argentina) | 400 | 1,312 |
| 5. | Crater | United States | Oregon | 352.8 | 1,157 |
| 6. | Tahoe | United States | California and Nevada | 307.6 | 1,009 |
| 7. | Adams | Canada | British Columbia, (Shuswap) | 299 | 981 |
| 8. | Malawi | Malawi Mozambique Tanzania | African Great Lakes | 292 | 958 |
| 9. | Tazawa | Japan | Honshu | 280 | 919 |
| 10. | Issyk Kul | Kyrgyzstan | Tien Shan Mountains | 278.4 | 913 |
| 11. | Shikotsu | Japan | Hokkaido | 265.4 | 871 |
| 12. | Concordia | Antarctica | Antarctic Plateau | 250 | 820 |
| 13. | Crveno | Croatia | Imotski Area | 245 | 804 |
| 14. | Kivu | Democratic Republic of the Congo Rwanda | African Great Lakes | 240 | 787 |
| 14. | Matano | Indonesia | Sulawesi | 240 | 787 |
| 16. | Hornindalsvatnet | Norway | Vestland | 237.6 | 780 |
| 17. | Quilotoa | Ecuador | Cotopaxi Province | 220 | 722 |
| 18. | Toba | Indonesia | Sumatra | 216 | 707 |
| 19. | Heaven | North Korea China | Ryanggang Province (North Korea) and Jilin Province (China) | 213 | 699 |
| 20. | (Caspian Sea) | Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Russia Iran | Caspian Endorheic basin | 211 | 692 |
| 21. | Karakul | Tajikistan | Pamir Mountains | 210 | 689 |
| 22. | Sarez | Tajikistan | Gorno-Badakhshan | 201.8 | 662 |
| 23. | Kurile | Russia | Kamchatka Peninsula | 195 | 640 |
| 24. | Fagnano | Argentina Chile | Tierra del Fuego | 193.8 | 636 |
| 25. | Lake Tinn | Norway | Telemark | 190 | 623 |
| 25. | Todos los Santos | Chile | Llanquihue Province | 190 | 623 |
| 27. | Dead Sea | Jordan Palestine Israel | Middle East | 188.4 | 618 |
| 28. | Chapo | Chile | Llanquihue Province | 183.1 | 601 |
| 29. | Llanquihue | Chile | Llanquihue Province and Osorno Province | 182 | 597 |
| 30. | Maggiore | Italy Switzerland | Lombardy, Piedmont (Italy) and Ticino (Switzerland) | 177.4 | 582 |
| 31. | Ranau | Indonesia | Sumatra | 174 | 571 |
| 31. | Teletskoye | Russia | Altai Mountains | 174 | 571 |
| 33. | Brienz | Switzerland | Bern | 173 | 568 |
| 33. | Colico | Chile | Cautín Province | 173 | 568 |
| 33. | Traful | Argentina | Neuquén Province | 173 | 568 |
| 36. | Lundevatnet | Norway | Rogaland and Agder | 172 | 564 |
| 37. | Slocan | Canada | British Columbia, (West Kootenay) | 171 | 561 |
| 37. | Van | Turkey | Eastern Anatolia Region | 171 | 561 |
| 39. | Ilopango | El Salvador | San Salvador, La Paz and Cuscatlán | 170 | 558 |
| 40. | Te Anau | New Zealand | Southland, South Island | 168.8 | 554 |
| 41. | Lácar | Argentina | Neuquén Province | 167 | 548 |
| 42. | Rupanco | Chile | Osorno Province | 163 | 535 |
| 43. | Riñihue | Chile | Valdivia Province | 162 | 531 |
| 44. | Nimpkish | Canada | British Columbia,(Vancouver Island) | 161 | 528 |
| 45. | Azure | Canada | British Columbia, (Wells Gray) | 157.2 | 516 |
| 46. | Nahuel Huapi | Argentina | Río Negro Province and Neuquén Province | 157 | 515 |
| 46. | Quesnel | Canada | British Columbia, (Likely and Horsefly) | 157 | 515 |
| 48. | Suldalsvatnet | Norway | Rogaland | 156 | 512 |
| 49. | Argentino | Argentina | Santa Cruz Province | 155.4 | 510 |
| 50. | Del Toro | Chile | Última Esperanza Province | 155 | 508 |
| 50. | Ohrid | North Macedonia Albania | Balkans | 155 | 508 |
| 50. | Salvatnet | Norway | Trøndelag | 155 | 508 |
| 53. | Atitlán | Guatemala | Guatemalan Highlands of the Sierra Madre | 154 | 505 |
| 53. | Como | Italy | Lombardy | 154 | 505 |
| 55. | Geneva | Switzerland  France | Vaud, Geneva, Valais (Switzerland) and Haute-Savoie (France) | 153.4 | 503 |
| 56. | Jökulsárlón | Iceland | Vatnajökull National Park | 153 | 502 |
| 57. | Harrison | Canada | British Columbia, (Coast Mountains) | 151.4 | 497 |
| 58. | Mjøsa | Norway | Innlandet and Akershus | 150 | 492 |
| 58. | Powell | Canada | British Columbia, (Sunshine Coast) | 150 | 492 |
| 60. | Menéndez | Argentina | Chubut Province | 149.9 | 492 |
| 61. | Manapouri | New Zealand | Southland, South Island | 149 | 489 |
| 61. | Singkarak | Indonesia | Western Sumatra | 149 | 489 |
| 63. | Lake Superior | Canada United States | Ontario (Canada) and Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin (United States) | 147 | 482 |
| 64. | Chelan | United States | Washington (state) | 144 | 472 |
| 65. | Huechulafquen | Argentina | Neuquén Province | 142 | 466 |
| 65. | Pend Oreille | United States | Idaho | 142 | 466 |
| 67. | Anderson | Canada | British Columbia, (Lillooet) | 140 | 459 |
| 67. | Nemrut | Turkey | Bitlis Province | 140 | 459 |
| 67. | Redoubt | United States | Alaska, (Baranof Island) | 140 | 459 |
| 70. | Storsjøen | Norway | Innlandet | 139 | 456 |
| 71. | Khövsgöl | Mongolia | Nearby the eastern, Sayan Mountains | 138 | 453 |
| 72. | Mashū | Japan | Hokkaido | 137.5 | 451 |
| 73. | Lonar | India | Deccan Plateau | 137 | 449 |
| 73. | Ørsdalsvatnet | Norway | Rogaland | 137 | 449 |
| 75. | Garda | Italy | Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino | 136 | 446 |
| 75. | Thun | Switzerland | Bern | 136 | 446 |
| 77. | Ikeda | Japan | Kyushu | 135 | 443 |
| 77. | Yelcho | Chile | Palena Province | 135 | 443 |
| 79. | Lugano | Switzerland Italy | Ticino (Switzerland) and Lombardy (Italy) | 134 | 440 |
| 80. | Loch Ness | United Kingdom | Scotland, Caledonia | 132 | 433 |
| 81. | Oppstrynsvatnet | Norway | Vestland | 131 | 429 |
| 82. | Wakatipu | New Zealand | Otago, South Island | 130 | 427 |
| 83. | Breimsvatnet | Norway | Vestland | 129 | 423 |
| 84. | Mainit | Philippines | Mindanao | 128 | 420 |
| 85. | Panguipulli | Chile | Valdivia Province | 126 | 413 |
| 86. | Great Central | Canada | British Columbia, (Vancouver Island) | 124 | 407 |
| 86. | Iseo | Italy | Lombardy | 124 | 407 |
| 88. | Greve | Chile | Última Esperanza Province | 123.3 | 405 |
| 89. | Ranco | Chile | Ranco Province | 122 | 400 |
| 89. | Timiskaming | Canada | Ontario and Quebec | 122 | 400 |
| 91. | Bandak | Norway | Telemark | 121 | 397 |
| 91. | Maihue | Chile | Ranco Province | 121 | 397 |
| 93. | Fyresvatnet | Norway | Telemark | 120 | 394 |
| 93. | Kanas | China | Xinjiang, Altay Prefecture | 120 | 394 |
| 93. | Towuti | Indonesia | Southern Sulawesi | 120 | 394 |
| 93. | Villarrica | Chile | Cautín Province | 120 | 394 |
| 97. | Garibaldi | Canada | British Columbia, (Coast Mountains) | 119 | 390 |
| 98. | Caburgua | Chile | Cautín Province | 117 | 384 |
| 98. | Toya | Japan | Hokkaido | 117 | 384 |
| 100. | Hauroko | New Zealand | Southland, South Island | 116.7 | 383 |
| 101. | Calafquén | Chile | Cautín Province | 115 | 377 |
| 102. | Mabel | Canada | British Columbia, (Shuswap) | 114 | 374 |
| 103. | Poteriteri | New Zealand | Southland, South Island | 113.1 | 371 |
| 104. | Mascardi | Argentina | Río Negro Province | 111 | 364 |
| 104. | Puelo | Argentina | Chubut Province | 111 | 364 |
| 106. | Lake Taupō | New Zealand | Waikato, North Island | 110 | 360 |
| 107. | Öskjuvatn | Iceland | Highlands of Iceland | 109 | 358 |
| 108. | Chilko | Canada | British Columbia, (Chilcotin) | 108 | 354 |
| 109. | Murtle | Canada | British Columbia, (Wells Gray) | 107 | 351 |
| 109. | Titicaca | Peru Bolivia | Puno Region (Peru) and La Paz Department (Bolivia) | 107 | 351 |
| 111. | Tatlayoko | Canada | British Columbia, (Chilcotin) | 106.4 | 349 |
| 112. | Gander | Canada | Newfoundland | 105.4 | 346 |
| 113. | Guinas | Namibia | Oshikoto Region, Tsumeb | 105 | 344 |
| 113. | Kauhakō Crater | United States | Hawaii, (Molokai) | 105 | 344 |
| 113. | Maninjau | Indonesia | Central Sumatra | 105 | 344 |
| 116. | Walen | Switzerland | St. Gallen and Glarus | 104.7 | 343 |
| 117. | Lucerne | Switzerland | Central Switzerland | 104 | 341 |
| 118. | Rivadavia | Argentina | Chubut Province | 103.7 | 340 |
| 119. | Takla | Canada | British Columbia, (Mount Blanchet) | 103.1 | 338 |
| 120. | Cochrane / Pueyrredón | Chile Argentina | Capitán Prat Province (Chile) and Santa Cruz Province (Argentina) | 101.8 | 334 |
| 121. | Clearwater | Canada | British Columbia, (Wells Gray) | 101.6 | 333 |
| 122. | Futalaufquen | Argentina | Chubut Province | 101 | 331 |
| 123. | Hāwea | New Zealand | Otago, South Island | 100.5 | 330 |
| 124. | Nueltin | Canada | Nunavut and Manitoba | 100 | 328 |
| 124. | Rara | Nepal | Karnali Province | 100 | 328 |
| 124. | Taal | Philippines | Southern Luzon | 100 | 328 |
| 124. | Viedma | Argentina | Santa Cruz Province | 100 | 328 |

## Greatest maximum depth by continent

* Africa — 1: Tanganyika, 2: Malawi, 3: Kivu
* Antarctica — 1: Radok (surface lake). — 1: Vostok (subglacial lake), 2: Concordia (subglacial lake), 3: Ellsworth (subglacial lake).
* Asia — 1: Baikal, 2: Issyk Kul, 3: Matano
* Eurasia — 1: Baikal, 2: Caspian Sea, 3: Issyk Kul
* Europe — 1: Hornindalsvatnet, 2: Salvatnet, 3: Lake Tinn
* North America — 1: Great Slave, 2: Crater, 3: Quesnel
** Central America — 1: Atitlán, 2: Chicabal, 3: Ilopango
* Oceania — 1: Hauroko, 2: Manapouri, 3: Te Anau
** Australia — 1: St Clair
* South America — 1: Viedma, 2: O'Higgins/San Martín, 3: Argentino

## Greatest mean depth by continent

* Africa — 1: Tanganyika, 2: Malawi, 3: Kivu
* Antarctica — 1: Vostok (subglacial lake), 2: Concordia (subglacial lake), 3: Ellsworth (subglacial lake).
* Asia — 1: Baikal, 2: Tazawa, 3: Issyk-Kul
* Europe — 1: Crveno, 2: Hornindalsvatnet, 3: Lake Tinn
* North America — 1: Crater, 2: Tahoe, 3: Adams
* Oceania — 1: Te Anau, 2: Manapouri, 3: Wakatipu
* South America — 1: General Carrera-Buenos Aires, 2: Quilotoa, 3: Fagnano