# List of lakes by area

This is a pair of lists of terrestrial lakes with a surface area of more than approximately 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi), ranked by area, excluding reservoirs and lagoons.
The area of some lakes can vary over time, either seasonally or from year to year. This is especially true of salt lakes in arid climates. This list therefore excludes seasonal lakes such as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre (maximum area 9,500 km$^2$, 3,700 sq mi), Mar Chiquita Lake (Córdoba) (maximum area 6,000 km$^2$, 2,300 sq mi), Lake Torrens (maximum area 5,745 km$^2$, 2,218 sq mi) and Great Salt Lake (maximum area, 1988, 8,500 km$^2$, 3,300 sq mi).
The list is divided in two: all lakes as conventionally defined down to 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi), and the largest lakes under a geological definition, where the Caspian Sea is considered a small ocean rather than a lake, and Lake Michigan–Huron (or "Huron–Michigan") is recognized as a single body of water. The Caspian Sea is conventionally considered the world's largest lake, but it is centered on an oceanic basin (a fragment of the ancient Tethys Ocean) rather than lying entirely over continental crust as all other lakes do. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are conventionally counted as separate lakes, but hydrologically they are a single body of water, which is the world's largest lake by surface area.

## Conventional list

Following are conventionally identified lakes larger than 3,000 km$^2$ (1,200 sq mi) in area.
Continent colour key :
| Africa | Antarctica | Asia | Eurasia | Europe | North America | South America |
| | Name | Countries with shoreline | Type | Area | Length | Max. depth | Volume | Notes |
| 1 | Caspian Sea | Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Russia Iran | Saline 1.2% | 389,000 km$^2$ 150,000 sq mi | 1,199 km 745 mi | 1,025 m 3,363 ft | 78,200 km$^3$ 18,800 cu mi | Geologically a small ocean rather than a lake. Garabogazköl lagoon, if counted separately, would rank as the world's 15th largest, with an area of 18,000 square kilometres (6,900 sq mi). |
| 2 | Superior | Canada United States | Fresh | 82,100 km$^2$ 31,700 sq mi | 616 km 383 mi | 406 m 1,332 ft | 12,070 km$^3$ 2,900 cu mi | Largest of the Great Lakes by volume, having more water than the other four combined. |
| 3 | Victoria | Tanzania Uganda Kenya | Fresh | 59,940 km$^2$ 23,140 sq mi | 322 km 200 mi | 81 m 266 ft | 2,420 km$^3$ 580 cu mi | The largest lake by area in Africa. |
| 4 | Huron | Canada United States | Fresh | 59,590 km$^2$ 23,010 sq mi | 332 km 206 mi | 229 m 751 ft | 3,520 km$^3$ 840 cu mi | The larger lobe of Lake Michigan–Huron. Contains Manitoulin Island, the world's largest lake island. |
| 5 | Michigan | United States | Fresh | 58,030 km$^2$ 22,410 sq mi | 494 km 307 mi | 282 m 925 ft | 4,930 km$^3$ 1,180 cu mi | The smaller lobe of Lake Michigan–Huron. The largest lake (by area) that is located entirely in one country. |
| 6 | Tanganyika | Tanzania Democratic Republic of the Congo Burundi Zambia | Fresh | 32,900 km$^2$ 12,700 sq mi | 676 km 420 mi | 1,470 m 4,820 ft | 18,750 km$^3$ 4,500 cu mi | Longest freshwater lake in the world and third largest of any kind by volume. |
| 7 | Baikal | Russia | Fresh | 31,722 km$^2$ 12,248 sq mi | 636 km 395 mi | 1,642 m 5,387 ft | 23,610 km$^3$ 5,660 cu mi | Deepest lake in the world and largest freshwater lake in the world by volume. |
| 8 | Great Bear Lake | Canada | Fresh | 31,153 km$^2$ 12,028 sq mi | 373 km 232 mi | 446 m 1,463 ft | 2,234 km$^3$ 536 cu mi | Largest lake entirely within Canada, and the largest lake partially within the Arctic Circle |
| 9 | Malawi | Malawi Mozambique Tanzania | Fresh | 29,600 km$^2$ 11,400 sq mi | 579 km 360 mi | 706 m 2,316 ft | 8,640 km$^3$ 2,070 cu mi | Has more species of fish than any other lake in the world. |
| 10 | Great Slave Lake | Canada | Fresh | 27,200 km$^2$ 10,500 sq mi | 480 km 300 mi | 614 m 2,014 ft | 1,115 km$^3$ 268 cu mi | Deepest lake in North America |
| 11 | Erie | Canada United States | Fresh | 25,667 km$^2$ 9,910 sq mi | 388 km 241 mi | 64 m 210 ft | 488 km$^3$ 117 cu mi | Has the smallest volume of the Great Lakes. |
| 12 | Winnipeg | Canada | Fresh | 24,514 km$^2$ 9,465 sq mi | 425 km 264 mi | 36 m 118 ft | 294 km$^3$ 71 cu mi | Very large catchment area compared to own size. No other great lake has that ratio. |
| 13 | Ontario | Canada United States | Fresh | 18,970 km$^2$ 7,320 sq mi | 311 km 193 mi | 244 m 801 ft | 1,631 km$^3$ 391 cu mi | The lowest lying of the Great Lakes. |
| 14 | Ladoga | Russia | Fresh | 17,700 km$^2$ 6,800 sq mi | 219 km 136 mi | 260 m 850 ft | 837 km$^3$ 201 cu mi | Largest lake in Europe. |
| 15 | Balkhash | Kazakhstan | Saline 0.3% (variable) | 16,400 km$^2$ 6,300 sq mi | 605 km 376 mi | 26 m 85 ft | 100 km$^3$ 24 cu mi | Fresh shallow western part. Salty deeper eastern part. Shrinking in size. |
| 16 | Vostok | Antarctica | Fresh | 12,500 km$^2$ 4,800 sq mi | 250 km 160 mi | 900 m 3,000 ft | 5,400 ± 1,600 km$^3$ 1,300 ± 380 cu mi | Largest lake in Antarctica, but subglacial. |
| 17 | Onega | Russia | Fresh | 9,700 km$^2$ 3,700 sq mi | 245 km 152 mi | 127 m 417 ft | 291 km$^3$ 70 cu mi | Second-largest lake in Europe. |
| 18 | Titicaca | Peru Bolivia | Fresh | 8,372 km$^2$ 3,232 sq mi | 177 km 110 mi | 281 m 922 ft | 896 km$^3$ 215 cu mi | Highest navigable lake in the world. Greatest mountain lake too. Largest lake in South America. |
| 19 | Nicaragua | Nicaragua | Fresh | 8,264 km$^2$ 3,191 sq mi | 177 km 110 mi | 26 m 85 ft | 110 km$^3$ 26 cu mi | Largest lake in Central America. Contains fresh water sharks . |
| 20 | Athabasca | Canada | Fresh | 7,850 km$^2$ 3,030 sq mi | 335 km 208 mi | 124 m 407 ft | 204 km$^3$ 49 cu mi | A remnant of the vast, Glacial Lake McConnell. Huge catchment area (ratio). |
| 21 | Reindeer | Canada | Fresh | 6,650 km$^2$ 2,570 sq mi | 245 km 152 mi | 219 m 719 ft | 113 km$^3$ 27 cu mi | The deepest areas are the site of a large meteorite impact, which happened almost 100 million years ago. Much older than the lake. |
| 22 | Turkana | Kenya Ethiopia | Saline 0.25% (approx.) | 6,405 km$^2$ 2,473 sq mi | 248 km 154 mi | 109 m 358 ft | 193 km$^3$ 46 cu mi | Largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. |
| 23 | Issyk-Kul | Kyrgyzstan | Saline 0.6% | 6,236 km$^2$ 2,408 sq mi | 182 km 113 mi | 668 m 2,192 ft | 1,736 km$^3$ 416 cu mi | Second largest mountain lake in the world. Second deepest saline lake as well. |
| 24 | Vänern | Sweden | Fresh | 5,650 km$^2$ 2,180 sq mi | 140 km 87 mi | 106 m 348 ft | 153 km$^3$ 37 cu mi | Largest lake in the European Union. |
| 25 | Rukwa | Tanzania | Saline | 5,614.7 km$^2$ 2,167.8 sq mi | 183 km 114 mi | 22.49 m 73.8 ft | 58.243 km$^3$ 13.973 cu mi | Tanzania's 4th largest lake. |
| 26 | Albert | Uganda Democratic Republic of the Congo | Fresh | 5,590 km$^2$ 2,160 sq mi | 161 km 100 mi | 51 m 167 ft | 133 km$^3$ 32 cu mi | |
| 27 | Nettilling | Canada | Fresh | 5,542 km$^2$ 2,140 sq mi | 113 km 70 mi | 132 m 433 ft | 130 km$^3$ 31 cu mi | Largest lake on an island; Baffin Island. |
| 28 | Winnipegosis | Canada | Fresh | 5,370 km$^2$ 2,070 sq mi | 245 km 152 mi | 12 m 39 ft | 17.2 km$^3$ 4.1 cu mi | Second largest lake in Manitoba. |
| 29 | Mweru | Zambia Democratic Republic of the Congo | Fresh | 5,120 km$^2$ 1,980 sq mi | 131 km 81 mi | 27 m 89 ft | 38 km$^3$ 9.1 cu mi | The second largest lake in the Congo's drainage basin, Tanganyika being the largest. |
| 30 | Nipigon | Canada | Fresh | 4,848 km$^2$ 1,872 sq mi | 116 km 72 mi | 165 m 541 ft | 266 km$^3$ 64 cu mi | Largest lake entirely in Ontario. Part of the Great Lake drainage basin. Often referred to as the, "sixth" or "seventh" lake, together with St. Clair. |
| 31 | Manitoba | Canada | Saline 0.35% | 4,706 km$^2$ 1,817 sq mi | 225 km 140 mi | 7 m 23 ft | 14.1 km$^3$ 3.4 cu mi | A remnant of the prehistoric, Glacial Lake Agassiz together with: Winnipeg and Winnipegosis. |
| 32 | Taymyr | Russia | Fresh | 4,560 km$^2$ 1,760 sq mi | 250 km 160 mi | 26 m 85 ft | 12.8 km$^3$ 3.1 cu mi | Largest lake entirely within the Arctic Circle. |
| 33 | Qinghai | China | Saline 1.4% (variable) | 4,489 km$^2$ 1,733 sq mi (2007) | | 32.8 m 108 ft | 108 km$^3$ 26 cu mi | Largest lake in China. Variable in size. Endorheic basin. |
| 34 | Saimaa | Finland | Fresh | 4,380 km$^2$ 1,690 sq mi | | 82 m 269 ft | 36 km$^3$ 8.6 cu mi | Largest catchment area of the lakes within the Nordic countries. |
| 35 | Lake of the Woods | Canada United States | Fresh | 4,350 km$^2$ 1,680 sq mi | 110 km 68 mi | 64 m 210 ft | 19.4 km$^3$ 4.7 cu mi | About 15 000 islands. The shoreline measures (included these) roughly: 105 000 km. |
| 36 | Khanka | Russia China | Fresh | 4,190 km$^2$ 1,620 sq mi | 90 km 56 mi | 10.6 m 35 ft | 18.3 km$^3$ 4.4 cu mi | Has a shape like a pear. Variable size. Drains through the Amur River, that ends in the Sea of Japan. |
| 37 | Sarygamysh | Turkmenistan Uzbekistan | Saline 1.15% (approx.) | 3,955 km$^2$ 1,527 sq mi | 125 km 78 mi | 40 m 130 ft | 68.56 km$^3$ 16.45 cu mi | Located about midway between the Caspian Endorheic basin and former Aral Sea. No drainage river today. Drained centuries ago to the Caspian Sea (Uzboy River). Polluted. |
| 38 | Dubawnt | Canada | Fresh | 3,833 km$^2$ 1,480 sq mi | | | 91 km$^3$ 22 cu mi | Frozen surface 10 months each year. No permanent settlements on its shores. |
| 39 | Van | Turkey | Saline 2.3% | 3,755 km$^2$ 1,450 sq mi | 119 km 74 mi | 451 m 1,480 ft | 642 km$^3$ 154 cu mi | Largest lake in the Middle East. Third deepest saline lake. |
| 40 | Peipus | Estonia Russia | Fresh | 3,555 km$^2$ 1,373 sq mi | | 15.3 m 50 ft | 25 km$^3$ 6.0 cu mi | Largest trans-boundary lake in Europe. |
| 41 | Uvs | Mongolia  Russia | Saline 1.9% (approx.) | 3,350 km$^2$ 1,290 sq mi | 84 km 52 mi | 22 m 72 ft | 20 km$^3$ 4.8 cu mi | Greatest lake in Mongolia (by area). Very large catchment area (endorheic). |
| 42 | North Aral Sea | Kazakhstan | Variable: from 0.9 to 1.2% | 3,300 km$^2$ 1,300 sq mi | | 42 m 138 ft | 28.7 km$^3$ 6.9 cu mi | Largest remnant of the former Aral Sea. Once the world's third largest lake. |
| 43 | Poyang | China | Fresh | 3,210 km$^2$ 1,240 sq mi | 170 km 110 mi | 25.1 m 82 ft | 25.2 km$^3$ 6.0 cu mi | Largest fresh water lake in China. Variable size. Important location for the birdlife. |
| 44 | Tana | Ethiopia | Fresh | 3,200 km$^2$ 1,200 sq mi | 84 km 52 mi | 15 m 49 ft | 25.6 km$^3$ 6.1 cu mi | The source of the Blue Nile. |
| 45 | Amadjuak | Canada | Fresh | 3,115 km$^2$ 1,203 sq mi | | | 74 km$^3$ 18 cu mi | In geological terms, a "young" lake (approximately 4,500 years old). Second largest on Baffin Island, third largest in Nunavut. |
| 46 | Melville | Canada | Saline 1.95% (approx. average of surface and bottom water) | 3,069 km$^2$ 1,185 sq mi | 140 km 87 mi | 256 m 840 ft | 313 km$^3$ 75 cu mi | Estuary connected with the Atlantic Ocean. Large drainage basin in the Labrador. |
| 47 | Bangweulu | Zambia | Fresh | 3,000 km$^2$ 1,200 sq mi (permanent) | 75 km 47 mi | 10 m 33 ft | 12 km$^3$ 2.9 cu mi | One of the world's great wetland systems. The area has swamps and floodplain. Variable size on this shallow lake. Crucial importance for animals and birds, of a far larger area. |
Source for the 20 largest lakes (and their areas):

## Geological list

Following are the dozen largest lakes under geological definitions, down to 17,500 km$^2$ (6,800 sq mi) in area.
Continent colour key :
| Africa | Asia | Europe | North America |
| | Name | Countries with shoreline | Type | Area | Length | Max. depth | Volume | Notes |
| 1 | Michigan–Huron | Canada United States | Fresh | 117,620 km$^2$ 45,410 sq mi | 710 km 440 mi | 282 m 925 ft | 8,450 km$^3$ 2,030 cu mi | Contains Manitoulin Island, the world's largest lake island. |
| 2 | Superior | Canada United States | Fresh | 82,100 km$^2$ 31,700 sq mi | 616 km 383 mi | 406 m 1,332 ft | 12,070 km$^3$ 2,900 cu mi | Largest of the Great Lakes by volume, having more water than the other four combined. |
| 3 | Victoria | Tanzania Uganda Kenya | Fresh | 59,940 km$^2$ 23,140 sq mi | 322 km 200 mi | 81 m 266 ft | 2,420 km$^3$ 580 cu mi | The largest lake by area in Africa. |
| 4 | Tanganyika | Tanzania Democratic Republic of the Congo Burundi Zambia | Fresh | 32,900 km$^2$ 12,700 sq mi | 676 km 420 mi | 1,470 m 4,820 ft | 18,750 km$^3$ 4,500 cu mi | Second-largest lake by volume and second longest. |
| 5 | Baikal | Russia | Fresh | 31,722 km$^2$ 12,248 sq mi | 636 km 395 mi | 1,642 m 5,387 ft | 23,610 km$^3$ 5,660 cu mi | Deepest lake in the world and largest by volume. |
| 6 | Great Bear Lake | Canada | Fresh | 31,153 km$^2$ 12,028 sq mi | 373 km 232 mi | 446 m 1,463 ft | 2,234 km$^3$ 536 cu mi | Largest lake entirely within Canada, and the largest lake partially within the Arctic Circle |
| 7 | Malawi | Malawi Mozambique Tanzania | Fresh | 29,500 km$^2$ 11,400 sq mi | 579 km 360 mi | 706 m 2,316 ft | 8,640 km$^3$ 2,070 cu mi | Has more species of fish than any other lake in the world. |
| 8 | Great Slave Lake | Canada | Fresh | 27,200 km$^2$ 10,500 sq mi | 480 km 300 mi | 614 m 2,014 ft | 1,115 km$^3$ 268 cu mi | Deepest lake in North America |
| 9 | Erie | Canada United States | Fresh | 25,667 km$^2$ 9,910 sq mi | 388 km 241 mi | 64 m 210 ft | 488 km$^3$ 117 cu mi | Has the smallest volume of the Great Lakes. |
| 10 | Winnipeg | Canada | Fresh | 24,514 km$^2$ 9,465 sq mi | 425 km 264 mi | 36 m 118 ft | 294 km$^3$ 71 cu mi | Very large catchment area compared to own size. No other great lake has that ratio. |
| 11 | Ontario | Canada United States | Fresh | 18,970 km$^2$ 7,320 sq mi | 311 km 193 mi | 244 m 801 ft | 1,631 km$^3$ 391 cu mi | The lowest lying of the Great Lakes. |
| 12 | Ladoga | Russia | Fresh | 17,700 km$^2$ 6,800 sq mi | 219 km 136 mi | 260 m 850 ft | 837 km$^3$ 201 cu mi | Largest lake in Europe. |