Lakes are the largest sources of freshwater, which along with providing water, provides us with scenic spots to enjoy and go on adventures. Many places in the world are known for their lakesides as these freshwater bodies provide us with prime spots to go fishing, kayaking swimming and so much more.
Here’s the list of the ten deepest lakes in the world, all of which are truly beautiful. In case, you are heading anywhere near these, you know what to add to your itinerary.
Also see: Most Colorful Lakes In the World
Deepest lakes in the World
The following are the top deepest lakes in the world:
1. Lake Baikal (5,837 feet)
Lake Baikal in Russia is the deepest lake in the world, with a depth of staggering 5,387 feet. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Approximately 25 million years old, Lake Baikal is also the oldest lake in the world. The Endemism occurs on a large scale with almost 60 native fish species and a freshwater seal.
The lake contains 20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater, with a total volume of 5,662 cubic miles. This volume is larger than the total volume of the Great Lakes of North America.
The lake is frozen for approximately five months of the year, from January to May, and during this time, it is possible to walk, skate, or drive across the ice. The lake’s frozen surface is also used as a transportation route during the winter months.
2. Lake Tanganyika (4,823 feet)
The second deepest lake in the world spans four countries- Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia. This lake contains 18% of the world’s freshwater, with a volume of 4,530 cubic miles. The lake has six large islands and other smaller islands in its boundaries. The pH of the water is 8.4 and the lake contains about 250 cichlid species, out of which 98% are endemic. The lake contains its own sardine species, jellyfish and sponges.
Also see: Best River Islands in India
3. Caspian Sea (3,363 feet)
The Caspian Sea is the third deepest and the largest saline lake in the world. Its water has a salinity of 1.2% and has a volume of 18,800 cubic miles. The lake gets 80% of its water from the Volga river. Bounded by Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Azerbaijan, this alone water body is known for its Beluga Sturgeon caviar and tuna, which is also the reason why it is a popular fishing spot. The Caspian Sea also has its own salmon and seal population. Oil reserves have been found in areas around the lake, some of which have been tapped into.
4. Lake Vostok (3,300 feet)
This lake is located in Antarctica and is named after the Russian Vostok Station, which is situated nearby. The lake contains 1,300 cubic miles of freshwater, 1,600 feet under the ice surface. The water in the lake contains a high concentration of Oxygen and Nitrogen. Microbes have been found in the ice core drillings and the frozen lake water, which suggests the presence of life. The lake is protected by Environmental Groups, which claim that ice drilling machines contaminate the water underneath the ice.
5. O’Higgins-San Martin Lake (2,742 feet)
This lake is located in the Patagonia territory, which is shared by Chile and Argentina. It has been named after two independence movement liberators in Chile. The lake is called Lago O’Higgins in Argentina and Lago San-Martin in Chile. Flooded valleys exist in both the countries due to the finger-like extensions of the lake. The water flows into the lake through the Mayer River and flows to the Pacific Ocean by the Pusca River.
6. Lake Malawi (2,315 feet)
Spanning the borders of Malawi, Mozambique (where it is known as Lago Niassa) and Tanzania (where it is known as Lake Nyasa), the sixth deepest lake in the world has a volume of 2,000 cubic miles. Lake Malawi is a meromictic lake, a lake whose layers don’t mix. The lake has a thousand cichlid species, which continue to speciate, along with many non-cichlid species. The water flows into the lake through the Ruhuhu River and discharges into the Zambezi River through the Shrine River.
7. Issyk-Kul (2,192 feet)
Located in Kyrgyzstan, the Issyk-Kul is the second largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea. The lake has a 0.6% salinity, and it is named in Krygyz after the words “warm water” as this lake never freezes even after being surrounded by snow-capped peaks of Tian Shan mountains. The lake has highly endemic fish biodiversity, with four species already being labeled as ‘seriously endangered’ due to overfishing and introduction of other fish to the lake. One of the fish introduced is the Sevan Trout, which wasn’t surviving in its native habitat at Lake Sevan in Armenia, and this fish has caused problems for the native fishes of the Issyk-Kul.
8. Lake Great Slave (2,015 feet)
This lake in Canada, having a volume of about 379 cubic miles, is also the ten largest lakes in the world. The water flows into the lake through the Mackenzie River and the main tributaries of this lake are the Hay, Slave, Lockhart, and Taltson rivers. In the 1930s, gold was discovered on the Northern Arm of the lake and this led to the establishment of the locality of Yellowknife. In 1978, a satellite Kosmos 954, feel from its orbit into the lake and disintegrated. This satellite also contained a nuclear reactor. Later, the nuclear debris was recovered by a joined operation of the Canadian and American armed forces. This lake is home to many fish, the lake trout, the northern pike, the lake whitefish and the Arctic Grayling being the most abundant.
9. Lake Crater (1,949 feet)
This lake features two islands- the wizard island and the Phantom Ship. The ninth deepest lake in the world has 4.49 cubic miles of water. This lake is a popular site for hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, biking, and cross-country skiing. As this lake was formed due to the collapse of the volcano Mourn Mazama, it had no life. Fish were introduced in 1,888 so that fishing could be done, and out of the six introduced species, two have survived, of which Kokanee Salmon is more plentiful than the Rainbow Trout. The lake has a pH of about 7-8, which is due to high levels of dissolved salts.
10. Lake Marano (1,936 feet)
This lake in Indonesia is home to many species of fish, which include the Caridina Shrimps, Parthelphusid crabs, and Tylomelania snails. Not only this, it is home to various plants and a water snake species found only in this area. Many of the species are threatened due to pollution, predation, and competition from a wide range of introduced fishes, including flowerhorn cichlids. Started in 2015, Lake Marano Festival is held at the lake, which has many running, cycling and swimming competitions.
11. Lake General Carrera- Buenos Aires (1,923 feet)
This lake is another lake in the Patagonia territory, which is why it has different names in both the countries (Lago General Carrera in Chile and Lago Buenos Aires in Argentina) and both of which are internationally accepted. This lake has a glacial origin and is surrounded by the Andes mountains. The age of this lake is still not known, and it is the biggest lake in Chile and fourth largest in Argentina. It drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Baku River. Along with being known as a trout and salmon fishing destination, this lake is also frequented for kayaking and hiking.
12. Lake Hornindalalsvatnet (1,686 feet)
This lake in Norway is Europe’s deepest lake with a water volume of 2.9 cubic miles. The main outflow is the Eidselva river and with an area of fifty square kilometers, Hornindalalsvatnet is also the nineteenth largest among all the Norwegian Lakes. in July every year, a Hornindalalsvatnet Marathon is organized by the lakeside.
Read More, Largest man-made lakes in the United States based on Capacity
These are the twelve deepest lakes in the world and you can now look at which lake is the nearest for you to go to and enjoy your days. A journey or an expedition is millions of times better than the description and so what are you waiting for, there’s a lot waiting to be discovered.
Expert Answers to FAQs:
Lake Baikal, located in Russia, is the deepest lake in the world with a maximum depth of 5,315 feet (1,620 meters). It is also the largest freshwater lake by volume, containing approximately 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface freshwater.
The lake is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its unique flora and fauna, including over 3,600 species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. The lake is also home to a number of endangered species, such as the Baikal seal, which is the only freshwater seal species in the world.
Lake Baikal is approximately 25 million years old, making it one of the oldest lakes in the world. It is also the clearest lake in the world, with visibility of up to 130 feet (40 meters) in some areas. The lake is surrounded by mountains and is fed by over 300 rivers and streams, but has only one outlet, the Angara River.
The second deepest lake in the world is Lake Tanganyika, which is located in East Africa and is shared by four countries: Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia. Its maximum depth is approximately 1,470 meters (4,823 feet).
