Korina Marion Montenid
Did you know that there are millions of lakes in the world? They come in different sizes, forms, and depths. Some lakes are as big as some countries, and some go as deep as two Burj Khalifas stacked on top of each other!
Here are some interesting facts about the deepest lakes in the world.
1. Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal in Russia is the deepest lake in the world, with a depth of 1,642 meters. It holds 20% of the world’s freshwater reserve.
It is believed to be 25 million years old, making it the oldest lake. In 1996, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is the second deepest and longest lake in the world, spanning the four countries of Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It is 1,470 meters deep and holds approximately 18% of the world’s freshwater.
3. Caspian Sea
At 1,025 meters deep, the Caspian Sea is the third deepest lake in the world. It is bounded by the countries Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
It gets most of its water from the Volga River and is not connected to the ocean, making it a full-fledged inland sea.
4. Lake Vostok
Lake Vostok is the fourth deepest lake. It is found near the Russian Vostok Station in Antarctica, hence the name.
Scientists discovered it in 2012. It is a subglacial lake that is 1,000 meters deep and sits about 4,000 meters below the ice surface.
5. O’Higgins/San Martin Lake
The fifth deepest lake in the world is bounded by two countries: Chile and Argentina. In Chile, it is called O’Higgins Lake, and in Argentina, it is known as San Martin Lake.
It has a depth of 836 meters, the deepest in the Americas.
6. Lake Malawi
With a depth of 706 meters, Lake Malawi is the sixth deepest lake in the world and the second deepest in Africa. It is shared by the countries Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its other names are Lago Niassa and Lake Nyasa, officially called Lake Malawi.
It has different layers of water that do not intermix, making it a meromictic lake.
7. Issyk Kul
Recognized as the seventh deepest lake is Issyk Kul, at 668 meters deep. It is found in the Tian Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan at an altitude of 1,607 meters.
Its name translates to warm lake. It was named such because the lake never freezes despite being surrounded by snow-covered mountains.
8. Great Slave Lake
The eighth deepest lake is found in Canada. This is the Great Slave Lake, which is 614 meters deep and the tenth-largest lake in the world.
It was named after the Slavey, or the Awokanek people, who used to live along the lake’s shore.
9. Crater Lake
At 594 meters deep, Crater Lake in Oregon, USA, is the ninth deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the United States. It sits in Mount Mazama’s caldera.
Despite no river inflow, the lake is filled with water through rainfall or snowfall.
10. Lake Matano
Indonesia’s Lake Matano is the tenth deepest lake in the world, at 594 meters.
Its pristine waters make it a popular tourist destination where visitors can swim, fish, or boating.
11. General Carrera Lake
Another lake Argentina and Chile share is General Carrera Lake or Lake Buenos Aires. It is eleventh on the list and has a depth of 586 meters.
This glacial lake outflows into the Pacific Ocean through the largest river in Chile, the Baker River.
12. Hornindalsvatnet
Another deepest lake in the world, and also the deepest in Europe, is Lake Hornindalsvatnet in Norway. Although it is fairly small at 54 sqm., it runs 514 meters deep.
There are villages along the shore, and one legend these people believe is that a sea serpent lives in the deepest parts of the lake.
13. Lake Toba
At 450 meters, Indonesia’s Lake Toba is the thirteenth deepest lake in the world and the largest in Indonesia. It sits 900 meters above sea level at the caldera of a supervolcano.
It is also recognized as the largest volcanic lake in the world.
14. Karakul Lake
Lake Karakul in Tajikistan is also on the list. It is one of the most elevated lakes in the world and sits within Mount Pamir’s crater at an altitude of 3,900 meters.
The lake is situated within Tajik National Park and is home to various bird species.
It truly is fascinating how many marvelous things we have yet to discover. The more we know about the wonders of nature, the more we will want to preserve and protect them. The Earth’s lakes have existed for millions of years, and we hope they continue to thrive for millions more.
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Korina is a licensed English and Journalism teacher. After leaving the academe, she decided to pursue what she loved most – writing. Travel, health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, and science and technology are some of the niches she is passionate about. When not working on freelance tasks, she spends her time deciphering the magical journey of being an introvert mom to an extrovert child.