The deepest lake is how many meters. Baikal is the deepest lake on Earth and the cleanest. Anthropogenic influence and water level in Lake Baikal

Each of us has seen a lake at least once in our lives. Most likely, it was small, warm, with silted shores and a modest selection of fish. But these natural bodies of water can be different.

Completely different. So big that the opposite shore is lost in the distance. So huge that they can belong to several states. So deep that the devil himself doesn’t know what’s going on at the bottom. We don’t know about you, but we would be interested to learn more about them, and most importantly, to understand where the most deep lake in the world.

Baikal

And first of all, we want to please all Russian patriots. After all, the deepest and cleanest lake in the world is our Baikal. We know about this, but we know it somehow abstractly. And to better understand the scale of this unique natural object, we will give some numbers:

1. The maximum depth of Lake Baikal is 1642 meters. Not every sea can boast of this.
2. The average depth is 744 meters. Likewise.
3. The mirror area is 31,700 square meters. This is approximately equal to the territory of the Netherlands or Belgium.
4. Volume – about 23.6 million cubic meters. This represents about 19% of all freshwater reserves.
5. About 2,600 species live above, in and near Lake Baikal, more than half of which are found nowhere else.
6. One liter of Baikal water contains about 96 milligrams of impurities and a lot of oxygen. It is so pure that it can be used as a distillate.

This list can be continued for several more pages, because there is no such lake on the planet, and, apparently, there will never be another. But there are others.

This African lake takes an honorable second place in our ranking, slightly inferior to Baikal in depth - 1470 meters maximum and 570 average. But it is considered the longest lake, stretching like a crescent for 676 kilometers. As a result, its shores were divided between four states: Tanzania, Burundia, Zambia and Congo. Fortunately, there is enough water, fish and other benefits for everyone. True, in exchange it is not the ungrateful residents who pour waste, sewage and sewage into it.

It's good that the drains are not visible

Therefore, if you want to swim in the waters of Tanganyika, you should do it as quickly as possible. And it's better to hurry, because freshwater lake boasts very clean and warm water, beautiful scenery and an abundance of wildlife, ranging from all kinds of fish to hippos and alligators.

East

We thought for a long time about where to put this extraordinary lake. His maximum depth– 1200 metro (presumably). But it is separated from the surface by more than 4 kilometers of ice! The fact is that it is located in Antarctica and is the largest and deepest underwater lake on Earth.

It has been studied for several years, but so far scientists have not been able to overcome the ice sheet and get to the water. It is not difficult to explain such interest, because the lake was separated from our world for millions of years, and its ecosystem (if it exists) developed in isolation from the whole world.

Most of all, scientists are interested in whether there is life in this deepest lake. Firstly, it is interesting what kind of form it could have taken over millions of years of independent evolution. And secondly, the very fact of its discovery will significantly increase our chances of finding another habitable planet. The fact is that several of Jupiter’s satellites have similar subglacial water reservoirs. And if life was able to adapt to Lake Vostok, it will be able to catch on there too.

The data obtained to date does not allow us to confidently confirm or refute the existence of living organisms in the waters of the East. Drilling will continue this year. Perhaps then scientists will be able to obtain more accurate data.

Don't be surprised what the sea does in the competition for the title of "deepest lake." It is called a sea only because of its impressive size, because it has no connection with the World Ocean. On the other hand, unlike most lakes, the Caspian has salt water, from 0.5 to 13‰.

Well, why not the sea?

The Caspian Sea honestly deserves fourth place on our list thanks to its maximum depth of 1025 meters. The average, however, is smaller - about 200. However, this lake is one of the few with a depth of more than a kilometer at its maximum points. All the rest, even the next one in the ranking, San Martin, can only boast 836 meters.

With this, we believe that we have answered the question of what is the deepest lake and we can finish our article.

Many people are interested in the question - which lake is the deepest in the world? Baikal- the deepest lake in the world. It is located in the southeastern part of Russia and occupies a vast territory of the central part of the Asian continent. Due to its greatness, the deepest lake in the world, Baikal, has several more beautiful names. A body of water is called a deep or clear eye, sacred lake, the mighty sea. Locals usually call it the Baikal Sea.
This lake stores the largest reserves of fresh water on the planet, which have a unique composition. The water is not only clean and transparent, but in terms of the content of mineral salts it can be compared to distilled water.
In area, the deepest lake in the world, Baikal, is almost equal to Holland. There are several dozen islands on it. Its length is 635 km, the largest width in the center is 80 km, and the narrowest part is located in the Selenga region and is 27 km. The lake is located at an altitude of more than 450 km relative to sea level, and the length of its coast is approximately 2000 km. More than half of this coastal area is protected by the state.
More than 300 rivers fill the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal, with their waters; at least half of this volume falls on the Selenga River, and only the Angara flows out of it. Baikal is surrounded by mountain ranges and numerous hills. On the West Coast the terrain is more rocky and steep than on the East.

Some tourists are actively interested in where the deepest lake in the world is located? These places are famous for their picturesque landscapes and unique diversity of wildlife, which makes them interesting for tourists. The region has the status of a protected area of ​​global importance. In terms of the number of rare plants growing only in these parts, it surpasses even the flora of Madagascar and the Galapagos Islands. Numerous resorts are located here. The best time To visit the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal, the period is considered to be from the end of April to the end of October. During the summer months, tourists can go on various excursions and hikes, fish, dive, hunt, relax on the beach, and winter time are popular skiing, ice fishing and ice boating.
You can get to these places by plane or train. There are direct flights to Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk. The journey there from Moscow by plane will take 6 hours, and by train you will have to travel about 4 days. Now you know where the deepest lake in the world is.

The question of the origin of Lake Baikal has long been a source of heated debate in the scientific world and creates the ground for a variety of, sometimes fantastic, guesses and hypotheses. How was this lake formed with crystal clear water, surrounded by picturesque mountains and unique nature?
The Buryat legend tells of the Great Fire, which consumed the earth and contributed to the origin of Lake Baikal. The sea emerged from the resulting void. The legend has not been scientifically confirmed, and scientists have been studying this problem for a long time.
Back in the eighteenth century, the Germans Palass and Georgi formulated a scientifically based assumption on this topic. They took part in the Siberian expedition, which was organized by the St. Petersburg Academy around 1970. Scientists argued that the cause of the emergence of Baikal was the failure of the land caused by a natural disaster. Most likely it was an earthquake. They believed that before the events described there was a big river, flowing into the Yenisei. It took into its channel all the waters that today flow into Lake Baikal. A century later, the Pole Yanchevsky proposed his hypothesis, basing it on data obtained during a trip to the Baikal region. He believed that this reservoir was formed due to a natural disaster, after which the earth's crust began to slowly shrink.
There were many scientists who proposed their theories, but they often echoed each other and their guesses about the origin of Lake Baikal differed only in details. Vladimir Obruchev came closest to the modern understanding of the process as a result of which the Baikal Basin was formed. He suggested that it all started after the formation mountain system Siberia. The depression was formed after the subsidence of a large area of ​​land on both sides of the gap.
In the second half of the 20th century, thanks to scientific advances, scientists made significant progress in the study of this problem. The global fault system or world rift theory, discovered at that time, brought some clarity. According to this discovery, Baikal arose as a result of processes on a planetary scale and that there are several similar formations on the surface of the earth. Tanganyika and the Red Sea are some of them.
At the end of the 20th century, scientists from many countries dealt with this problem. The Lake Baikal basin is considered one of the central links of the Baikal rift. It stretches for more than 2.5 thousand km and is located on the very border of the Eurasian and Indonesian-Australian lithospheric plates. At first it was believed that the rift appeared due to the collision of plates, but after a detailed study of new data, they found out that the reason for everything was the anomalous heating of the mantle.
The lava that floated up and spread in different directions formed massifs of mountain ranges that surround the lake. This is spreading over a plane heated to very high high temperatures magma and caused the appearance of large faults. As a result, this caused the formation of a depression, which later became Lake Baikal.
As new knowledge emerged and geophysical techniques developed, interesting details and a scientifically verified chronological sequence of the formation of this unique lake emerged.

In addition to numerous large and small streams, almost 300 rivers and streams flow into it. In addition to three navigable rivers, the Upper Angara, Barguzin and Selenga, several more can be named, especially notable for their size: Turka, Snezhnaya, Barguzin, Buguldeika. And only the only Angara carries its waters to the northwest, flowing out of the mighty lake.

Only it receives the full force of its waters from Lake Baikal and carries them through the center of Russia for hundreds of kilometers. Its width at the source is about 2 km. In this place there is a giant rock, called the Shaman Stone by the locals. As the legend says, father Baikal threw this block at his daughter running away from him. She decided to rush off to the handsome Yenisei, although her father wanted to marry her to a hero named Irkut.
The Angara, like other rivers of Lake Baikal, is a beautiful and clean river. Its length is about 1800 kilometers.

The Selenga, as a river of Lake Baikal, is the largest of all the rivers that flow into the lake. The source of the river is in Mongolia, then it flows through Russian soil, completing its path by dividing in the delta of the lake itself. It carries almost half of all the water entering Baikal.

The Upper Angara is a fast mountain river, with big amount thresholds. Even when it finds itself on the plain, it continues to meander and divide, in order to later unite in a single channel. Near Baikal itself, like other rivers of Lake Baikal, it pacifies its waters and becomes calmer.

Another river of Lake Baikal flows in Buryatia, descending along a mountain range, after which it carries its restless waters along rocky rapids. In the upper reaches there is a large nature reserve. It passes through taiga valleys, a gorge and a mountain range.
This place is very attractive to fans of rafting along mountain rapids. The sections intended for this purpose do not even have a minimum category of difficulty, which means they can be passed without much risk to life. Although the river also has areas with a dangerous bottom, sharp rocks and waterfalls.
The deepest lake is an amazing, mysterious and not fully explored miracle of nature. It is fed by the same unique rivers, which carry their waters through the most beautiful regions and protected areas, preserving their pristine nature. Every effort must be made to preserve this rich supply of crystal clear water and its rare ecosystem.

There are many unusual territories on earth that combine several features that distinguish them from other places. Baikal is one of these regions. This is the cleanest lake in Russia, with perfectly clear water, which contains practically no mineral impurities. And it also has enormous depth - the greatest among all the lakes in the world.
Thanks to special geographical characteristics, this corner of nature attracts the attention of people from different parts of the planet. The maximum recorded depth of the lake is 1640 meters. With this indicator, Baikal is ahead of all lakes globe. Next after the Russian leader, Tanganyika is very much inferior to him. Its greatest depth does not exceed 160 meters. In combination with the huge area of ​​Baikal, which is equal to Holland, these gigantic scales are simply impossible to imagine.
One of the reasons for such a great depth of Lake Baikal and its area is the presence of many rivers that flow into it. The approximate number of tributaries is approximately 300. With such a significant replenishment, Baikal continues in only one river - the Angara. It should be noted that the reservoir is considered the largest natural reservoir on the planet, with perfectly clean fresh water. In terms of these parameters, even the Great Lakes taken together cannot compare with it. North America. Its waters reach a volume of 23,600 m3.
The very great depth of Lake Baikal, combined with the impressive area of ​​this lake, explains the fact that locals call it the sea. This ancient body of water on the surface of the Earth appeared as a result of complex processes occurring in the earth's crust. Approximately 25 million years have passed since its formation began. It continues now. Scientists believe that Baikal could be the beginning of the emergence of a new ocean, which should not appear tomorrow, of course, but its emergence in the future is recognized by the scientific world as a proven fact.
Due to the maximum depth of Lake Baikal and the high level of the shoreline, which is 455 meters greater than the surface of the ocean, the basin of the reservoir is deservedly defined as the deepest depression on Earth.

The water of Lake Baikal is unusually clean and transparent. Using a Secchi disk, a test was carried out, according to which the transparency of the lake was 40 meters, but, for example, in the Caspian Sea, it is not even 25 meters. Alpine reservoirs, known for their purity, are inferior to Baikal in these parameters. The transparency of the reservoir may vary depending on several factors. The river mouth and shallow waters give way to areas of great depth. Also affect seasonal changes vital activity of microflora.
Lake Baikal water meets all quality criteria drinking water. Its purity and unique properties are explained by the influence of microorganisms and vegetation. Small epishura crustaceans, which live in huge numbers in the lake, act as a biofilter. An armada of such crustaceans is capable of cleaning the upper layers 3-4 times a year. There are almost no organic impurities and dissolved substances in the reservoir.
The mineral composition of the water is very poor, not even 100 mg/liter, and includes silicon, calcium and magnesium. Other bodies of water have concentrations of similar substances ranging from 400 mg/liter. There is no hydrogen sulfide in Baikal, but oxygen is present in large quantities both in the upper layers and at the very depths. Its water has excellent qualities. Its purity can only be surpassed by water from Crater Lake in the United States, which is considered a natural analogue of the distillate.
Nowadays, only Baikal in the world is an open reservoir with water suitable for consumption, which does not require additional treatment. The ideal water of Lake Baikal is now bottled on an industrial scale. It is taken at a depth of about 410 meters. The top layers protect it from any surface contamination.
The temperature in the lake is unique. It is influenced not only climatic conditions, but also the abnormal depth of the lake. The highest water temperature is 15 degrees. As depth increases, temperature decreases. At around 25 meters it is only 10 degrees, and at a depth of 250 meters and below, the temperature is 3 - 5 degrees. Shallow water sometimes manages to warm up to 24 degrees.

Lake Baikal and its surrounding areas are one of the most unique and richest regions in terms of natural treasures. There are nature reserves, nature reserves, National parks and protected natural monuments. Together there are about two hundred such territories. Almost the entire Baikal region is under state protection. Only in a few industrially developed areas: Baikalsk, Slyudyanka, Severobaikalsk, Kultuk and Babushkin, due to the developed industrial complex, there are no serious restrictions on the operation of local enterprises.
The protection of Lake Baikal is carried out not only in Russian Federation, as these areas are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Russia there is Federal Law No. 94 FZ, “On the protection of Lake Baikal”. He determined the status of protected areas, the protection regime, and the possibilities of using the natural resources of the region. Since part of the unique territory around Lake Baikal is part of China and Mongolia, there is a problem with organizing the protection of the entire complex, due to difficulties associated with the need to coordinate actions with foreign partners. The disunity of environmental services and bodies that supervise this area also has a negative impact.
The main thing that needs to be done to protect Lake Baikal is to preserve the unique natural complex in its pristine purity, which is practically no longer found in the world. We have to save amazingly beautiful places with unique climatic, geological, biosphere and other conditions in which living nature can exist. Some territories will have to remain free from many types of economic activity due to their distance from civilization. They are located in hard-to-reach areas where transport links are often lacking. Law enforcement agencies and the ranger service must provide assistance in environmental protection and prevent hunting of rare animals and birds, illegal fishing and destruction of plants.

The uniqueness of Lake Baikal lies in its record depth, unusual geographical location, ideal purity of water and, of course, its vast territory. The lake is located in Russia, in the east of Siberia and is the natural border of two regions of the Russian Federation. With a maximum depth of 1640 m, the area of ​​Lake Baikal is 31 thousand km 2. It exceeds the size of the territories of such states as Holland or Belgium. In the world rankings of the largest lakes, it is in 6th place.
The area of ​​Lake Baikal in the center of Asia is 365 kilometers long and no less than 80 kilometers wide. This entire territory is surrounded by rows of mountain ranges and is located in a wide basin. It could accommodate waters from 92 seas, such as the Azov Sea. It contains almost 20% of the world's fresh water.
Among the coastal areas there are numerous hills. On the west, the shores are rocky and steep, while on the east coast the terrain is not so steep. In some places mountain ranges located tens of kilometers from the coast.
Baikal did not suffer the fate of other ancient lakes, and it did not turn into a swamp. On the contrary, its area is only increasing every year, and scientists predict that the area of ​​Lake Baikal will expand to gigantic proportions and become a new ocean.

The nature of Lake Baikal is amazing and unusual. There is no such diversity of flora and fauna anywhere on the planet. The rarest specimens of flora and fauna are found in these parts.

Vegetable world

There are few places on earth that can evoke as much surprise and delight in a botanist as the Baikal region. Currently, science allocates about 1 thousand. various types plants that grow in the vicinity of this wonderful lake. Most of them are endemic. This means that they grow only in these areas. Varied natural conditions and the multimillion-year history of these territories have preserved the local ecosystem in its original form. They determined the emergence of this magnificent natural reserve, where many relict plants are preserved that have long disappeared in other parts of our planet.
Along the banks there are pines, spruces, firs and cedars - traditional Siberian trees, and only the southern shore of the lake is decorated with blue spruces. The origin of this species still remains a mystery. Olkhon Island is located in the middle of Baikal and has relict thickets. This is mainly a spruce forest that retains its pristine appearance since the Paleolithic. In the west of the lake there is a tundra-steppe, with relict plants preserved since the end of the Ice Age. The combination of special tundra plants with steppe species is not found anywhere else on the planet.
The nature of Lake Baikal pleases with a bright green carpet of herbs and flowers, covered with forest slopes, where you can often find an abundance of rare berries and fragrant wild rosemary.

Animal world

Scientists believe that the fauna of the deepest lake is ancient and consists of a large number of different animals, including very rare ones. More than 2.5 thousand species of animals live here, more than half of which are endemic. First of all, it is worth noting microscopic crustaceans called the endemic epishura, which are a biological filter. Their presence is one of the main factors influencing the crystal purity of lake water.
The deepest lake is home to 54 species of fish, and 15 of them are considered commercial. The most famous of them is omul. He lives for about 25 years. It should be noted an amazing, almost transparent fish called golomyanka. She gives birth to live larvae. No fish in the world reproduces this way.
The seal lives here - the only seal that lives in fresh water reservoirs. Also in the lake there are many sturgeon, pike, whitefish, and taimen.
A wide variety of animals and birds can be found in forest areas and on the hills of the Baikal region. They live in forests a large number of deer, marten, sable. In the mountainous regions there are sheep, and in the steppes there are marmots and gophers. A huge number of ducks live in these areas. Seagulls and cormorants nest here. Less common are geese, herons, swans, and loons. There are 7 species of eagles here.
The nature of Lake Baikal is diverse and unique. Every effort must be made to preserve this rare region for posterity.

Some are interested in the question of which lake is the largest in the world. And strangely enough, this, which, despite its name, is the most big lake worldwide. This body of water separates the landmass of Europe and Asia.

What's special about it?

The lake does not have any current, but at the same time it is usually called the sea. The presence of a second name for a reservoir is determined by the following factors:

• dimensions
• depth
• stock features

After the formation of the largest lake in the world, numerous studies were carried out, thanks to which it was possible to find out the basic information and understand what the reservoir is and what important differences it has.
The Caspian Sea is a lake whose shape resembles the Latin letter S. The surface area of ​​the reservoir is 371 thousand square meters, the width is four hundred fifteen thousand square meters. Such dimensions lead to the fact that many countries border the Caspian Sea.
An important advantage of the reservoir is its surprisingly rich underwater world, and many of its inhabitants have acquired resistance to constant changes in the reservoir.
The reservoir includes several bays. Moreover, the largest is Kara-Bogaz-Gol (separation took place in 1980 with the help of a deep dam, and four years after the important event the result was secured with a culvert).
In addition, the lake includes the following large bays:

• Komsomolets
• Turkmen
• Mangyshlaksky
• Kazakh
• Krasnovodsk
• Agrakhansky
• Kizlyarsky

The Caspian Sea includes 50 islands of varying sizes. Moreover, some islands have an area of ​​more than 350 square meters. Some are united into island archipelagos, known as Absheron and Baku.
The Caspian Sea appeared due to oceanic processes. This is proven by the features of the bed, which consists of an oceanic crust. Moreover, the creation process dates back to distant times, because the age of the lake is already 13,000,000 years. It was then that the Alps mountains appeared, which separated the Sarmatian and Mediterranean Seas from each other. The Akchagyl Sea existed for a long period. But after this, numerous transformations of the reservoir began:
1. The Pontic Sea dried up, as a result of which only Lake Balakhani (southern part of the Caspian Sea) remained;
2. The Akchagyl Sea turned into the Absheron Sea;
The main changes associated with the reservoir occurred approximately 17,000 - 13,100 years ago. Moreover, the changes were due to transgression.
Currently, after numerous transformations, there is a Caspian Sea, which is actually a lake.
Such changes have led to the need for a thorough study of the region. As it turns out, the southern coast includes numerous caves. At the same time, scientists note that people lived in these areas approximately 75,000 years ago.
The first mention of the reservoir and the Massagetae tribe that inhabited the region can be found in Herodotus. At the same time, it was established that other tribes lived in the region: Saki, Talysh.
Handwritten documents indicate that the Russians carried out navigational operations to the Caspian Sea from the 9th – 10th centuries. The presence of such official information indicates that the lake has been attracting increased attention from the very beginning.

is the largest lake on planet Earth. A distinctive feature of the reservoir is the instability of the hydrological regime, which is caused by specific influences:

• climatic
• geological
• hydrological

On the territory of the Caspian basin, special processes take place that gradually change the lake. Scientists note that the water balance changes quite often, and changes occur over different periods of time (tens, hundreds, thousands of years).
Changes include:

• level with maximum value
• temperature regime

At the same time, researchers describe the current state of the Caspian Sea, allowing the inhabitants of the planet to understand how the largest lake in the world differs from many other bodies of water.

Water temperature

Temperature conditions fluctuate in the following ranges:

• Winter. In the southern part - +10 - +13 degrees Celsius, in the northern part - below 0 degrees Celsius
• Summer. During this season, temperatures can rise to +25 - +28 degrees Celsius

At depth, the water temperature is about +5 degrees Celsius.
In fact, water temperature is subject to significant latitudinal changes, which primarily manifest themselves in the cold season. The difference is about +10 degrees, which is a significant indicator. In fact, these indicators do not become prohibitive: in shallow areas where the depth is less than 25 meters, the annual difference can reach even twenty-five degrees Celsius.
At the same time, we can note the average differences:
West Coast usually warmer by a couple Celsius than the east;
Open and closed parts also differ in their temperature conditions. At the same time, external influences lead to warming of up to four degrees Celsius.
Researchers note that the temperature of the reservoir may change over time.

Features of the climate of the Caspian Sea basin

The climate of the region in which the Caspian Sea is located encompasses 3 directions at once, which causes a significant difference in the temperature regime in different times of the year.
In winter, the air temperature varies from minus 8 degrees Celsius in the north to plus 10 degrees Celsius in the south. Thus, the maximum difference can reach 22 degrees.
At the same time, in summer time the temperature ranges from +24 to +27 degrees Celsius, as a result of which a difference of a couple of tens is excluded. In the entire history of observations, the maximum air temperature was +44 degrees, and this important event took place on the east coast.
There is an average of 200 millimeters of precipitation per year, but the figures for different parts regions vary significantly:
The eastern part is always characterized by dry weather. As a result, the indicator does not exceed millimeters;
The southwestern region boasts 1,700 millimeters.
It should be noted that water can evaporate quite actively from the surface of the lake. This has a positive impact on the climate of the region. Successful evaporation of water ensures proper water circulation, thereby preventing large fluctuations in humidity levels.
The average annual wind speed in the region ranges from three to seven meters per second. In this case, the northern direction is predominant. It should be noted that in the cold months of the year, wind gusts sometimes reach forty meters per second.
The windiest areas are traditionally considered to be:

• Absheron Peninsula
• Makhachkala
• Derbent

It is in this area that the highest windiness rates can be recorded. The region's climate features are largely determined by the influence of the Caspian Sea.

Currents

The Northern Caspian Sea plays the most important role in shaping the climate of the region. In this case, the main direction of the flow occurs from the northern side of the reservoir.

Salinity of water

Salinity ranges from 0.3% (the minimum value). This characteristic is recorded near the mouth of the Volga. The salinity indicator suggests that the Northern Caspian Sea is desalinated sea ​​pool. At the same time, in the southeast the salinity indicator reaches 13%. The maximum rate is recorded in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, where it already reaches 300%.

Lake relief

The Caspian Sea has a specific bottom topography, which is divided into three types:
Shelf;
Continental slope;
Deep-sea depressions.
How were all the above types of relief distributed?
The shelf starts from the coastline and extends to a depth of 100 meters. Moreover, below its border the continental slope begins, the depth of which, depending on the region of the lake, ranges from 500 to 750 meters;
The coast has low-lying terrain. At the same time, the banks have gentle slopes and rugged places;
The Middle Caspian includes a mountainous coast, which has practically no rugged shape;
The eastern part is elevated;
The Southern Caspian has mountainous areas. At the same time, the coastline is more rugged.
The Caspian Sea and its relief belong to a zone of increased seismicity. It should be noted that in the region in which the lake is located, mud volcanoes located in southern point reservoir

Characteristics of the reservoir

Historians and scientists indicate that the area and volume of water can change significantly. Both factors have a major impact on water level fluctuations.
What examples can you give? For example, when a reservoir rises, it can account for up to 78 and a half thousand cubic kilometers. Moreover, in this case, the volume indicator reaches about 44% of all lake water reserves.
The maximum depth is 1025 meters. This indicator was recorded in the South Caspian depression. It should be noted that the Caspian Sea ranks third in depth. The leader is Baikal with an indicator of 1620 meters, as well as Tanganyika with 1435 meters. It is important to note that the northern part is a shallow section of the reservoir, because the maximum depth never exceeds twenty-five meters.

Fluctuation of water in a pond

Historical studies confirm that lake water levels can fluctuate significantly. At the same time, scientists and historians record the features of changes in water levels.
Throughout the history of the reservoir, frequent changes in its characteristics have been observed. It should be noted that in the Middle Ages the highest levels of water height were recorded. Despite this, the process is continuous, the tendency for the water level in the lake to decrease and increase constantly replaces each other, which indicates circulation and the preservation of water balance. Any recorded indicator cannot be final.
Measurements have been taken on a regular basis since 1837, with researchers using special instruments for regular checks. Scientists note that the trend towards a decrease and increase in the overall water level changed many times, and these changes occurred at different intervals.
Serious fluctuations are caused by a whole chain of factors, which are divided into the following areas. Researchers note that in the future, fluctuations in the water of the Caspian Sea should continue, but at the same time the safety of the reservoir is guaranteed.

Features of water balance cycles

Surface currents determine complex cyclones that replace each other. Significant differences are noted in each part of the Caspian Sea. It should be noted that the lake is a turbulent body of water. For example, changes in atmospheric pressure and direction, wind speed always lead to fluctuations in water levels. The changes in characteristics are most pronounced in the shallow part of the reservoir, because surges during stormy weather can even reach four meters.
The instability of the lake means that the climate pattern is also subject to serious changes.
The water balance is always determined by the characteristics of the flow and atmospheric influences, the volume of evaporating liquid from the surface of the reservoir. At the same time, the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay belongs to the discharge part of the reservoir. The most important role is played by the Volga runoff, which belongs to the incoming part. The flow of the Volga can reach about 80% of the influx of river waters for the formation of the Caspian Sea.

Water composition

The Caspian Sea has a closed structure and unique composition. At the same time, serious differences in proportions are noted for waters in areas that are under the influence of continental runoff.
Constant water fluctuations and changes in water balance prevent chloride levels from rising.
This includes regular increases in the following components:

• Carbonates
• Calcium
• Sulfates

The three components listed above occupy an important place in any river waters. The composition of water also changes under the influence of complex cyclic factors.

The largest lake is usually called the Caspian Sea and many are interested in the question: where is the largest lake in the world? This body of water is located in the part of the world where Europe and Asia meet. Thus, the lake belongs to Eurasia.
The water area is divided into three large parts, which have the characteristics of the climatic region, the unique characteristics of the reservoir and its water balance:

• The Northern Caspian Sea occupies 25% of the territory
• The Middle Caspian has 36%
• The South Caspian has 39% of the total installed area

It is important to note that the reservoir is characterized by serious fluctuations in depth. For example, the northern part accounts for up to 22 meters, and the southern part – up to 1025 meters. Moreover, a depth of less than one meter is recorded in 20% of the Northern Caspian Sea. Despite such fluctuations, the Caspian Sea still ranks third in the world in depth.
The large size of the Caspian Sea means that as many as five countries belonging to Eurasia touch the lake along their borders:

• Russia
• Azerbaijan
• Kazakhstan
• Turkmenistan

This information proves that the lake actually occupies an important place on the world map.
Caspian basin
Four more states are included in the Caspian basin: Armenia, Georgia, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. Each country has direct access to the Caspian Sea.
The basin includes more than one hundred and thirty rivers, with the Volga being the largest. It is the Volga River that connects the Caspian Sea and the World Ocean. The Volga and all its river tributaries are regulated by existing reservoirs, which are formed by hydroelectric dams.
The Caspian basin also includes additional rivers that guarantee the maintenance of the water balance of the world's largest lake. At the same time, the most important remains the Volga, which flows through Europe.
It should be noted that East Coast The Caspian Sea can no longer boast of a developed hydrographic network. The Emba and Ural rivers flow into Kazakhstan. There is one watercourse in Turkmenistan that is not permanent, but still worth noting: the Atrek River. Iran is distinguished by its connection to the Caspian Sea and several rivers. Despite the fact that connections still exist in east direction, their total length turns out to be significantly less.

Cities of the Caspian Sea

The largest port city located on the Caspian Sea is the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The city is located in the south of the Absheron Peninsula. It should be noted that in 2010, 2,500,000 people lived in Baku.
The following large cities are also connected to the Caspian Sea:
Sumgayit, Lankaran (Azerbaijan);
Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan);
Aktau, Atyrau (Kazakhstan);
Kaspiysk, Makhachkala, Astrakhan (Russia).
This geographical position, and, accordingly, the relationship with rivers, countries and cities, indicates that the Caspian Sea is actually the most big lake in the world.
Features of the development of the Caspian Sea
The economic development of the Caspian Sea has been of interest to society since ancient times. This is evidenced by historical information. Currently, people have achieved good results.

Features of the story

Research into the reservoir began for the first time in 285 BC. At the same time, the corresponding events were carried out by the Greeks. After the first attempt, the work was postponed for a long time.
Nowadays, efforts began thanks to Peter the Great, who organized an expedition in 1714 almost to whole year. Hydrographic research was then carried out in the 1720s with the help of Russian and foreign researchers.
At first XIX century The opportunity for instrumental survey has already appeared, thanks to which it was possible to thoroughly analyze the features of the geography of the reservoir and the region.
In 1866, 50 years of research began. The main objective was the desire to enrich knowledge regarding hydrobiology and hydrology.
The most active research began in the late 1890s. At the same time, Soviet geologists made every effort to understand the peculiarities of fluctuations in the level of the reservoir, study the water balance and find oil.
Numerous expeditions made it possible to begin using the Caspian Sea for the benefit of the entire world society.

Development results

How can the Caspian Sea be used for the benefit of the people?
Gas and oil production. Numerous deposits with a special purpose are being developed on the territory of the Caspian Sea. To date, oil and gas condensate resources amount to about twenty billion tons, and half of this volume is oil. The extraction of valuable minerals has been carried out since the 1820s, but it was possible to reach an industrial level only in the second half of the 19th century.
The Caspian shelf, which is included in the water basin, is used for the extraction of salt, stone, sand, clay, and limestone.
The developed network allows the use of the Caspian Sea for shipping.
The lake has a rich water world. This is used for the active development of fisheries. It should be noted that more than 90% of sturgeon can be caught in this region. To date, fishing and the extraction of valuable caviar have been successfully developed. At the same time, seal fishing is also developing at a rapid pace.
Recreational resources are another advantage associated with the Caspian region. The special water composition and unique balance, beneficial climate allow the successful development of a number of resorts, but at the same time economic, political and religious peculiarities eastern states do not allow full use recreational resources Caspian region, due to the unique characteristics of the sea-lake.
The Caspian Sea is the largest and most important lake in the world, which justifies its position and increased attention to itself.

TOP 10 deepest lakes in the world

If you didn’t already know which lake is the deepest in the world and where the deepest lake in the world is located, then you should check out the TOP 10. Baikal is a legendary lake. It has been written about in various sources; the reservoir is extremely loved by travelers and researchers. Every year amazing discoveries are made on Lake Baikal, expeditions are conducted, and research is carried out. This lake holds an impressive number of different world records.
The deepest lake is considered one of the oldest on the planet, and it is also the deepest in the world. The average depth is 730 meters, and the maximum elevation is 1637 meters. Since 1996, Baikal has been on the UNESCO list as a world heritage site.
The origin of the lake is still debated today. Scientists have not reached a consensus on the age of the reservoir, which is estimated at approximately 25-35 million years. That is why Baikal is considered a unique body of water, because others glacial lakes“live” on average 10-15 thousand years, gradually becoming swampy.
A distinctive feature of the deepest lake in the world is the fact that it contains about 19% of the world's fresh water reserves. This is an impressive amount, which is not found in any other body of water in the world. The transparency of the lake also attracts attention. Inhabitants or various objects can be seen at a depth of up to 40 meters. At the same time, the water contains a minimum amount of mineral salts, on average the value reaches 100 mg per liter. All this makes it possible to use Baikal water as distilled water.
In total, there are about 2630 species of inhabitants of both plants and animals. However, most of them are endemic. In other words, you can only meet them here. The abundance of living organisms can be explained by the impressive oxygen content in the water column. Among all animals, the golomyanka is distinguished. This fish contains less than 30% fat. The epishura crustacean is also a surprising inhabitant, of which there are over 300 species. Among the mammals, it is worth highlighting the seal, which is called the Baikal seal.
It is interesting that the water reserves in Lake Baikal are so impressive that they could supply all the inhabitants of the world for 40 long years. Scientists are still doing research today Baikal ice, which is fraught with many mysteries. Its distinctive feature is its unusual shape. It can be found exclusively on Lake Baikal. If you see the lake from space, you will notice dark rings in the pictures. Their origin is this moment are not known, although scientists make many guesses. Answering the question which lake is the deepest in the world, there is no doubt that it is Baikal.

All the deepest lakes in the world are of interest, and Tanganyika is a special lake that has a personal status in Africa. Its location is known to local residents throughout the mainland. A distinctive feature of Lake Tanganyika is its amazing fauna and flora, as well as its impressive dimensions. The waters of the lake are located in the East African Rift, which is a narrow valley with an impressive length. The crescent shape and proximity to the mountains make the area surprisingly picturesque.
Lake Tanganyika feeds the great Congo River. This is done through the Lukuga River. However, Tanganyika does not belong to the Congo Basin. The lake holds one of the world records as the longest freshwater body of water. Moreover, it is located above the sea at an altitude of 773 meters. The total length reaches 673 kilometers, and the width at its largest point is 72 kilometers. The depth of the reservoir is quite impressive and is 1470 meters, which makes the lake the second deepest in the world. Throughout the entire reservoir, the average depth reaches 570 meters.
The volume of water in Lake Tanganyika is 18.9 thousand cubic meters, which also puts the lake in second place in the world ranking. The total area exceeds 32 thousand square kilometers. Coastline has an impressive length and is 1828 kilometers. The reservoir basin also includes streams and rivers. In general, Lake Tanganyika is often called the “African pearl”, because it owns great amount world records.
It is surrounded on different sides by four countries. This is Zambia Democratic Republic Congo, Burundi, Tanzania. Communication with Atlantic Ocean also available via the Congo and Lukuga rivers. Interestingly, Tanganyika has an impressive age of 10-12 million years. Over the entire impressive period of history, the lake has never dried up. As a result, an unusual underwater world was formed, the likes of which are not found in any corner of the planet.
There is no full circulation of water in the lake; the reason is the impressive depth, as well as the absence of bottom currents. As a result, a high amount of hydrogen sulfide is concentrated in the lower layers of water. Already at a depth of 200 meters, the so-called “dead zone” begins. There is no life here due to the lack of oxygen. There is an impressive variety of fish species near the surface of the water. There are especially many cichlids here. They are present in 250 species, of which about 98% live exclusively in this lake.

When answering the question which lake is the largest in the world or where is the largest lake in the world, you will be somewhat surprised. The Caspian Sea is an unusual body of water with an unusual name. In fact, this sea has no connection with the World Ocean; it is located at a considerable distance from it. In the north and east the sea borders the desert area, south coast represented by lowlands, and the western one - mountain ranges Greater Caucasus. The reservoir is surrounded on all sides by land, which is why it is called a “sea-lake.”
A distinctive feature is the different bottom topography. In the northern part there is shallow water, in the central and southern part there are depressions and an underwater threshold. Interesting feature it can also be said that the Caspian Sea is located in more than one climatic zone. Northern part The sea is represented by a continental climate, the western - temperate, the eastern - desert, the southwestern - subtropical humid.
This climatic feature leads to the fact that the sea “behaves” differently at different times of the year. In winter, it is dominated by strong winds and low temperatures, reaching a maximum of 8-10 degrees below zero in the air. In spring, northwest winds reign here. In summer, air masses circulate insignificantly; near the coast, the wind may increase. Temperatures in summer can rise to a maximum of 27-28 degrees above zero. We can conclude that winter on the Caspian Sea is cold and windy, and summer is windy and hot.
The volume of river flow varies significantly throughout the year. It reaches its maximum in spring and early summer. Spring floods may occur. To date water resources lakes are actively used by people, reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations are being built. All this has led to the fact that the water level in the Caspian Sea has dropped somewhat today.
The lake is mainly fed by river water. Among the rivers that flow into the Caspian Sea are the Ural, Volga and Terek. It is these three rivers that bring about 90% of the river flow. About 9% of the rivers flow from the western side and only 1% from the rivers of the Iranian coast. There are also tidal waves in the lake, which are noticeable especially in November and December. It is during this period of time that sea level can increase by an average of 2-3 meters. In summer, sea level remains virtually unchanged.
An impressive number of fish species live here. As a result, fishing and fish farming are actively developing here. In particular, there is a lot of sturgeon fish, and oil has recently been discovered in the Caspian Sea.

San Martin- a body of water located in the state of Santa Cruz in Argentina. San Martin, like other deepest lakes in the world, amazes with its impressive dimensions, which makes it one of the largest in the world. It is also the deepest on the continent of South America. The lake occupies the territory between Chile and Argentina, located right on the border. Interestingly, the reservoir also has another name for its Argentine part. He was given a "name" in honor of José de San Martin, who is a national hero.
The area of ​​the reservoir reaches 1010 square meters, and the maximum depth is 836 meters. The shape of the lake is uneven and “ragged”; it is additionally represented by eight branches. The main tributary is the Mayer River, which flows into Lake San Martin and the Chico and O'Higgins glaciers, and there are also small streams. Only one river, Pascua, flows out of the reservoir.
Around the lake there are scenic views pampas, and also affects snowy peaks. The area is distinguished by its rich flora and fauna, especially many species of birds and animals. Lives here huge number trout, which is why sport fishing competitions are often held. Lake San Martin is amazingly clean, the water in it can change its hue from green to deep blue.
Nearby there is the town of El Chaltén, which is called tourist center region. Everything here is arranged so that travelers can relax and explore the lake comfortably. There are information centers, travel agencies, souvenir shops, as well as camping-type hotels. Additionally, there is the opportunity to choose a walking tour along the coast of San Martin. Also offered are boat trips and extreme trips to the snowy peaks of the nearby Andes mountains.
There are also full-fledged attractions on the coast of Lake San Martin. These include the luxurious Nahuel Huapi estate. Guests of the lake can take time to explore the grounds of the estate. For this purpose, horseback riding tours are offered, which give incredible pleasure from the trip.
Lake San Martin reaches 1058 square kilometers. The reservoir is located above sea level, at an altitude of 250 meters. The coastline is quite impressive and reaches 525 kilometers in length. The lake is considered the deepest in America. Here you can always meet tourists and local residents, photographers and artists who come here to admire the picturesque and magnificent views of the territory.

One of the largest African reservoirs and the deepest lakes in the world is called Nyasa. It was located in East Africa in the Great Rift Valley. The length of the lake reaches 560 kilometers, and its width can be a maximum of 80 kilometers. The depth is quite impressive and reaches 704 meters. This allows Lake Nyasa to take fifth place in the world ranking of the deepest bodies of water. The reservoir was discovered in 1616 by Bucarro travelers from Portugal.
The name of the reservoir is quite standard. It was chosen in the Yao language, and in translation it means “lake”. Nyasa is located on the territory of several countries - Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, occupying their borders. A distinctive feature is the coastal topography, which is represented by spatial beaches and steep shores. The plains in the northwestern part of Lake Nyasa have special expanses, where the plains amaze with their picturesqueness.
At the same place the Songwe River flows into the lake. In addition, the reservoir feeds 14 rivers, among which are the Bua, Ruhuhu, Lilongwe, and Rukuru. The only river that flows from the reservoir is the river with the sonorous name Shire. The water of Lake Nyasa has different temperatures, ranging from warm to cool. The lake amazes with its rich fauna, so fishing is active here. In total, it contributes about 4% of Malawi's GDP. Nyasa is home to a huge number of different species of fish, as well as crocodiles and whooper eagles. All this emphasizes the uniqueness of the lake. Crocodiles and whooper eagles hunt fish.
Lake Nyasa is a natural attraction that amazes with its picturesqueness and originality. This is precisely why it attracts the attention of travelers from all over the world. The reservoir itself ranks third in Africa and is among the five deepest in the world. Today, shipping is developed here; the main ports include Karonga, Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkota Kota, Bandawe, Mwaya, and Metangula.
The Lake Nyasa basin is sparsely populated. The majority of people live around south coast Nyasa. Western and north coast has a very sparse population with little economic activity. There is a hydroelectric power station on the outflowing Shira River. It becomes the main source of electricity. Very often, the country's energy sector suffers due to the instability of the lake. The greatest shortage was observed in 1997, when the lake level was at its lowest.

Kyrgyzstan– an amazingly picturesque country that abounds in luxurious territories. Lake Issyk-Kul especially attracts attention. This reservoir is considered one of the largest in the world. Interestingly, in terms of water transparency, this reservoir is in second position in the world ranking, second only to Lake Baikal. Issyk-Kul is considered the pearl of both Kyrgyzstan itself and Central Asia. The lake is salty and mild winters prevent the reservoir from freezing even in winter. A distinctive feature is the amazing surrounding beauty, which attracts the attention of tourists from all over the world.
Lake Issyk-Kul is located in the Northern Tien Shan, occupying the territory between two ridges. Their maximum height is 5200 meters in height. On their slopes on the northern side there are spruce forests, and on the southern side there is steppe vegetation. The lake is fed by rivers, of which there are about 80 in total. Among the main ones are Zhuuku, Zhyr-galan, Tyup, Ak-Terek, Tong and some others. Most rivers are fed by glaciers.
Interestingly, the appearance of the river looks unexpected from space. The astronauts themselves claim this. On par with the Great Chinese wall, and the pyramids of Cheops highlight Lake Issyk-Kul. From space at such an impressive height, it resembles a human eye.
Not a single river flows out of the reservoir. This leads to the fact that the water in the river is salty, as minerals accumulate. However, in terms of salinity, the reservoir is significantly inferior to sea water, on average five and a half times. However, the type of mineralization is considered quite valuable, which belongs to the chloride-sulfate-sodium-magnesium type.
The water is permeated with oxygen, which makes it light and transparent. It is unusually reminiscent of the ocean or sea. There are many different legends associated with this lake. One of them says that at the bottom of the reservoir there are ruins ancient city, who was distinguished by his beautiful appearance. The color of the water is unusual. It can change shades from soft blue to dark blue.
Lake Issyk-Kul has an impressive history. The first mention dates back to the chronicles of the second century BC. They call the reservoir Zhe-Hai, which means “warm sea” in Chinese. Most likely, this name was given due to the fact that the lake does not freeze. Scientific study of the flora and fauna of the reservoir, as well as the composition of the water, began in the 19th century. Many scientists were so interested in the nature of this place that they bequeathed to bury themselves on its coast.

Great Slave Lake is an amazing body of water that amazes with its spaciousness and picturesqueness. The name Slave is of unknown origin and most experts are inclined to believe that it was not given to him by chance. The reservoir itself is located in Canada and in its dimensions it can easily compete with the largest lakes in the world, including the Great American Lakes.
The depth of the large Slave Lake is about 614 meters. For the North American continent, this figure is considered the maximum. The reservoir ranks seventh in the world rankings. Navigation is organized on Slave Lake in the summer, but in winter it is under ice. It is so strong that cars can easily drive on it. Road along frozen ice until recently it was the only one, until a full-fledged highway was built.
Great Slave Lake is completely covered with ice for seven to eight months of the year, starting in November and ending in June. Interestingly, the lake itself appeared during global cooling. Most year it reminds of this time. A distinctive feature is the picturesque surrounding area, which attracts the attention of tourists. The shores are decorated with dense tundra forests. The seething streams of water that can be seen between the rocks look impressive.
Gold diggers are usually attracted northern shores reservoirs. It will be of interest to adventure lovers who dream of learning about the formation of the city of Yellowknife. It arose precisely during the gold rush. Before this, the coast of the lake was inhabited exclusively by Indians, namely the Slave tribe. It is interesting that the name of the tribe translated into Russian means “slave” or “slave”.
It was from this tribe that the name of the lake came about, as most researchers believe. However, after lengthy studies of this fact, it was discovered that the Slave tribe had nothing in common with slaves. Representatives of the tribe are brave, courageous and strong people. Today the tribe consists of about ten thousand people. They all live on the coast of this reservoir.
In length, the Great Slave Lake reaches 480 kilometers, and in width the reservoir reaches from 19 to 225 kilometers. Several rivers flow into the lake, in particular the Slave, Snowdrift, Hay, Tolson, and Yellowknife. Only one river flows out of the lake - the Mackenzie. The area of ​​the reservoir reaches 28.5 thousand square kilometers with a volume of over 1,500 cubic meters.

– one of the most amazing natural sites in the world. The formation of this reservoir occurred after the eruption of the Mount Mazama volcano. This happened over seven thousand years ago. A distinctive feature of the lake is its deep blue hue and the incredible beauty of the surrounding landscape. This place is considered one of the most picturesque in the world. Not every lake evokes such a storm of emotions as Crater.
The depth of Crater Lake reaches 594 meters. This explains its rich dark blue hue. The cleanliness of the surrounding area and its environmental friendliness are also attractive. Here you can often meet tourists who come to admire the beauty. You can also see photographers and artists trying to capture the picturesqueness.
The history of the lake began about twelve thousand years ago. It was then that people began to live here for the first time and saw the volcanic eruption. The result was Crater Lake. It was unknown to Europeans for quite a long time. It was first discovered by John Fremont, who led an expedition of 1843-1846. Gradually they began to explore the lake, and they found a lake here. It changed its name several times. The modern one was consolidated only in 1869.
Many researchers wonder why the water appeared at the top of the mountain. Most experts are inclined to believe that this has been happening for centuries. This happened gradually by filling the lake with snow and rain. The lake is a bowl of a volcano.
Interestingly, the lake has many different attractions. One of them is a ghost ship. This is an island that reaches 48 meters in height. It is formed from volcanic lava and resembles a ship in its silhouette. Another attraction is Halman Peak. This is a volcanic cone, whose age exceeds 70 thousand years. It was named after the researcher who first discovered this lake.
Also worth highlighting is the Sorcerer's Island, located on the island. His name is given to him in honor of the wizard's hat, which he resembles. It is extremely beautiful and reaches 233 meters in height. There are also pinnacles of the Pinnacles, which were the result of volcanic gases and erosion. Crater Lake today is part of the park. Everything has been created here for the convenience of tourists to provide them with a comfortable exploration of the picturesque area.

Lakes are extremely important for our planet, as they contain an impressive amount of fresh water. One of the most interesting and attention-grabbing lakes is Lake Buenos Aires and Matano. Matano is a lake located in Indonesia. In its own country it is an important source of fresh water. The lake is located in the south of the island of Sulawesi. The area of ​​the reservoir is impressive and reaches 164 square kilometers, and its depth is 590 meters.
A distinctive feature of Lake Buenos Aires and Matano is the crystal clarity of the water. Those who have been here claim that you can easily see everything that happens at a depth of 20-25 meters. An interesting feature is the unique flora. This is where an impressive number of fish live, whose ancestors swam here several thousand years ago.
The picturesque area around the lake is also attractive. It is represented by mountains and tropical forests. For the convenience of vacationers, beaches with snow-white sand are organized here. Diving is also offered on the lake. A huge number of divers gather here who dream of admiring the beauty underwater world. An extraordinary feature of Matano is the presence of two levels of water column. The first has a high percentage of oxygen content, and the second lacks sulfates and contains iron in excess. Many scientists compare this composition with the oceanic one, which is quite atypical for lakes.
Lake Buenos Aires and Matano is located on the border of Chile and Argentina. It has the same depth as Matano, reaching 590 meters. The total area of ​​the reservoir is 1850 square kilometers. The origin and feeding of the lake is glacial, and it is located directly in the Patagonian Andes. In South America, Buenos Aires is considered the deepest body of water, and ranks ninth in the world rankings.
The main feature is the excellent ecology and crystal clear water. Also, Lake Buenos Aires and Matano are notable for the presence marble caves. They have amazing beautiful view, which attracts tourists from all over the world. The color of the water, which consists of shades of turquoise and emerald, also looks interesting.
There are an impressive number of cities and towns near the lake. This is due to the excellent climate and picturesque area. Excursions are often organized here so that tourists have the opportunity to admire the magnificent appearance of the marble caves. You can only see the beauty in person, as photographs cannot convey it.

– an amazing body of water that attracts attention. It has not yet been fully studied, so official parameters have not been established. Today it is believed that the depth of the lake reaches 514 meters, but this is not an accurate indicator. However, it also allows Hornindalsvatnet to be the deepest lake in both Norway and all of Europe. The lake occupies tenth position in the world ranking.
In the 90s of the 20th century, the Telenor company began studying the lake. Previously, it was the official telephone company of the country. Telenor planned to lay optical fibers directly along the bottom of Lake Hornindalsvatnet. At this moment the depth was declared to be 612 meters. If this figure is officially confirmed, the lake will take seventh position in the world ranking.
Lake Hornindalsvatnet has no other outstanding characteristics. Its water volume reaches 12 cubic meters at total area surface of 50 square meters. These are quite modest dimensions even for Norway. The lake ranks 19th in the country in terms of volume and area.
The location of the lake is of interest. It is located in the Norwegian province in western Norway. This is the Atlantic coast in the county of Sogn ok Fjordane. Hornindalsvatnet is located 53 meters above the sea, and Hornindal is located on its shore. This is the administrative center of the commune. The town is quite small and has only a few hotels.
A distinctive feature of the lake is its crystal clear water. Throughout Scandinavia, Lake Hornindalsvatnet is considered the cleanest lake. This is explained by the fact that the water supply of the reservoir is not connected with rivers. The main source of food is glaciers. Here everyone can go fishing, because the fauna of the reservoir is truly unique. You can find quite rare varieties of fish that are not found in other bodies of water in Norway. However, their fishing is not prohibited.
The landscape is also noteworthy, distinguished by its beauty and picturesqueness. Many consider this place to be the pearl of the country, so excursions are often organized here. Also, a Marathon is held on the lake every year in mid-summer, in which an impressive number of people take part. This is a race over an impressive distance, reaching 42 kilometers and 195 meters. If you wish, you can simply relax here, swim and sunbathe on the beach. You can also try your hand at rowing, which is developed on Hornindalsvatnet.

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Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal (Jason Rogers / flickr.com) Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa Lake Vostok, Antarctica Caspian Sea, Baku Lake San Martin (O'Higgins) Lake Malawi - the deepest in Africa (706 meters) Lake Matano with a depth of 590 meters

As you know, 70% of the earth's surface is water. Therefore, it would probably be more logical to call our planet the Planet of Water.

The Earth's hydro resources are represented by the following categories: oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, small rivers, ponds, springs and springs - this is the sequence of dimensional gradation that we have all become accustomed to since childhood. Meanwhile, in each category there may be an example that will surpass the category in front in its characteristics.

Some lake storms are in no way inferior to sea disturbances, while the depth of others is several times greater than the greatness of the sea depths. It is these water giants that are worth getting to know in more detail. So, let me present the ranking of the 10 deepest lakes in the world.

Let's start with the most famous and deepest lake in the world - Baikal.

Baikal is a unique body of water. This is the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. Baikal is also considered the oldest lake on our planet; according to scientists, its age is about 15,000 years.

The reservoir amazes with the uniqueness of its flora and fauna, the species diversity of which is 1,700 specimens, many of them endemic.

The lake is a national heritage site of the Russian Federation and is included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

Baikal is rightly called the sea by the people. Its depth in some areas reaches 1,642 meters

Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal (Jason Rogers / flickr.com) Olkhon Island, Baikal (Jason Rogers / flickr.com) Olkhon Island (Jason Rogers / flickr.com) Jason Rogers / flickr.com Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Martin Lopatka / flickr .com Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com Water surface Baikal (Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com) Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Khoboy Cape, Olkhon (Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com) Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com White sturgeon (Heaven Ice Day / flickr.com) Heaven Ice Day / flickr. com LA638 / flickr.com miquitos / flickr.com Cape Burkhan (Shaman Rock), Olkhon. (Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com) Baikal seal (Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com) Shamanka Rock. View from Olkhon Island. Baikal (Tanya Legkobyt / flickr.com) Olkhon Island, Baikal (alexey_nitsa / flickr.com) Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Klas Š. / flickr.com Klas Š. / flickr.com Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Baikal seal (Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com) Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com Klas Š. / flickr.com Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com Olkhon, Baikal (Konstantin Malanchev / flickr.com) Oleg Gant / flickr.com Sunset in Siberia, Northern Baikal, Russia (Yuri Samoilov / flickr.com) Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Yuri Samoilov / flickr.com Vera & Jean-Christophe / flickr.com Délirante bestiole / flickr.com Vladislav Bezrukov / flickr.com fennU2 / flickr.com -5m / flickr.com Vladislav Bezrukov / flickr.com Voyages Lambert / flickr.com Vera & Jean-Christophe / flickr.com Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Kyle Taylor / flickr.com Nerpa on Lake Baikal (Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com) Thomas Depenbusch / flickr.com Sergey Gabdurakhmanov / flickr.com Kyle Taylor / flickr.com Sergey Gabdurakhmanov/ flickr.com seseg_h / flickr.com Richard Thomas / flickr.com Daniel Beilinson / flickr.com NASA's Earth Observatory / flickr.com Clay Gilliland / flickr.com Aleksandr Zykov / flickr.com Aleksandr Zykov / flickr.com Aleksandr Zykov / flickr.com

TOP 2: Lake Tanganyika (1470 meters)

Another lake giant is located on the distant African continent - Lake Tanganyika. Its waters are 1,470 m deep. It is called the second deepest lake in the world.

Tanganyika is also unique in that it the only lake in a world whose shores are shared by four countries - Tanzania, Congo, Burgundy and Zambia. It is from the waters of Tanganyika that the longest and deepest river in the world, the Nile, begins its source.

Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa

TOP 3: Lake Vostok in the ice of Antarctica (1200 meters)

Are you used to the fact that a lake is always an open body of fresh water? It turns out that it happens differently.

“Vostok”, the same lake that is located in the ice of Antarctica. The existence of the reservoir became known relatively recently, in 1996, and it is still full of mysteries.

Currently, active work is underway to study the “deep-sea northerner”; perhaps it will help reveal a picture of the past of our planet.

Lake Vostok, Antarctica

The reservoir received its name from the Russian polar station “Vostok”, near which it was discovered.

TOP 4: Caspian Sea (1025 meters)

4th place and the most controversial lake in our ranking is the Caspian Sea. We are all accustomed to the name Caspian Sea, however, this is not so. It refers to the seas very conditionally: the Caspian Sea is located on the basis of the earth's crust of oceanic origin, hence its second name - the Caspian Sea.

The reservoir is located between two continents, European and Asian, and its water resources belong to five states - Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Caspian Sea, Baku

The most deep point lakes-sea - 1025 meters. The waters of the lake will be filled by 130 freshwater rivers, however chemical composition The lakes are saturated with salts. The Caspian has no drains.

TOP 5: San Martin - the deepest lake on the South American continent

The reservoir is a natural dividing line between two South American countries - Argentina and Chile.

The lake has another name - O'Higgins, as the Chileans called it, giving the name of their national hero who fought for the independence of South America. By the way, the Argentine name of the lake - San Martin - is also given by the name of the hero-liberator.

Lake San Martin (O'Higgins)

San Martin is famous for its unusual milky blue hue. This color is given by particles of stone sediments flowing into the lake along with the meltwater of glaciers.

TOP 6: Malawi - the deepest lake in Africa (706 meters)

Although the Black Continent is considered the driest, it is here that another lake “giant” is located, the second deepest lake in Africa – Malawi.

Lake resources belong to three countries - Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. Malawi is a champion in fish species diversity. At the present time, the reservoir is rapidly becoming smaller; the main reasons for the loss of water resources are the natural process of evaporation and the Shire River, which takes its source from here.

Lake Malawi is the deepest in Africa (706 meters) Children play on the shore of Lake Malawi Fisherman on the water surface of Malawi

The depth of Malawi is 706 meters and the lake ranks 6th in the ranking.

TOP 7: Issyk-Kul - the deepest lake in Central Asia (702 meters)

In seventh place is the deepest lake in Central Asia - Issyk-Kul, whose depth is 702 m. It is located in the north of the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

Issyk-Kul gained world fame thanks to its beautiful legends. According to legend, it is here, in the depths of the water, that an ancient Armenian church rests, and Tamerlane’s warriors once laid their mounds along the shores of the lake.

Since 2006 to mountain lake Scientific interest also intensified in connection with the remains of an ancient civilization found at its bottom.

The reservoir received its name, and in the Kyrgyz language it literally means “hot lake”, due to the fact that its salty waters do not freeze even in the most severe frosts.

TOP 8: Great Slave Lake in Canada (614 meters)

The eighth deepest lake in the world and the body of water with the most durable ice is Great Slave Lake. It is geographically located in Canada.

The depth of Great Slave Lake is 614 meters and it ranks 8th in the ranking.

For almost eight months of the year, the lake's waters are like a giant skating rink - its ice is so strong that it can support the weight of several multi-ton trucks.

This is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Its depth is 1637 meters.

Located deepest lake in the world almost in the center of the huge continent of Eurasia. Baikal stretches 636 kilometers in length and 80 kilometers in width.

The water of Lake Baikal accounts for 20% of all fresh water reserves in the world, and 90% in Russia. Baikal is also the cleanest lake in the world. Thanks to the activity of living microorganisms living in it, the water is slightly mineralized (almost distilled), which explains its crystal transparency. In spring, water transparency reaches 40 meters.

Feeds deepest lake in the world three hundred thirty-six permanent rivers and streams. The largest river flowing into Baikal is the Selenga River. Only one river flows out of the lake - the Angara. Thus, Baikal is the deepest lake and the largest reservoir of fresh water in the world.

Very diverse animal life and vegetable world deepest lake in the world. Here you can find whitefish, lenok, taimen - representatives of the salmon family. Sturgeon, grayling, pike, carp, catfish, cod, perch and many other fish families. There are also seals here, which are the only representatives of mammals in the lake. In autumn, you can see many of these Baikal seals on the rocky shores.

The seal is not the only inhabitant of the coasts; many gulls, mergansers, goldeneyes, scoters, scorches, white-tailed eagles, ospreys and other birds nest along the coasts and on the islands.

Lake Baikal attracts numerous tourists from all over the world with its beauty and amazingness. Infrastructure, recreation centers, and hotels are widely developing on the shores of Baikal.

Lake Baikal is a natural heritage not only of Russia, but of the whole world, so we must protect it and preserve its pristine state. Baikal reveals to us many beautiful landscapes, looking at which will take your breath away...

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 shelter in the Caspian salt water.

The fourth deepest is the subglacial lake East, located in Antarctica under an ice thickness 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 it does not freeze. The maximum depth mark of Issyk-Kul is 702 meters.

The eighth lake is named after its deepest depression Great Slave, which is located in Canada and is the deepest lake in North America. Its maximum depth reaches 614 meters. Practically 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 observing 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.