World Lakes
We are currently studying the 169 large lakes and water bodies listed below. They are listed in order of size, starting with the largest. Most of the reported surface area and elevation data were obtained from the Global Lakes and Wetlands Database (Lehner and Döll, 2004).
| Name | Latitude [DD] | Longitude [DD] | Area [km2] | Elevation [m] | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caspian Sea | 42.195 | 50.491 | 378119.3 | -22 | Iran/Azerbaijan/Russia/Kazakhstan/Turkmenistan |
| Lake Superior | 48.053 | -87.097 | 81935.7 | 184 | USA |
| Lake Victoria | -0.956 | 33.035 | 67075.2 | 1140 | Tanzania/Kenya/Congo |
| Aral Sea | 44.8 | 58.44 | 65966.8 | 42 | Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan |
| Lake Huron | 44.757 | -82.334 | 59756.5 | 176 | USA |
| Lake Michigan | 42.845 | -86.947 | 57399.4 | 176 | USA |
| Tanganyika | -6.792 | 30.072 | 32820.5 | 837 | Burundi/Congo/Tanzania/Zambia |
| Baikal | 54.206 | 108.979 | 31924.6 | 450 | Russia |
| Great Bear | 66.004 | -120.322 | 30530.1 | 157 | Canada |
| Malawi | -11.735 | 34.623 | 29251.5 | 485 | Malawi |
| Great Slave | 61.358 | -114.794 | 27816.3 | 158 | Canada |
| Lake Erie | 42.248 | -81.148 | 25691 | 174 | USA |
| Winnipeg | 53.398 | -98.397 | 23809.3 | 217 | Canada |
| Chad | 13.129 | 14.452 | 19346.6 | 279 | Chad |
| Lake Ontario | 43.628 | -77.617 | 19328.9 | 75 | USA |
| Ladoga | 60.776 | 31.646 | 17539.1 | 11 | Russia |
| Balkhash | 46.307 | 74.505 | 17458.8 | 329 | Kazakhstan |
| Onegh | 61.652 | 35.535 | 9608.1 | 56 | Russia |
| Itaparica | -9.715 | -41.731 | 8779.1 | 417 | Brazil |
| Titicaca | -15.781 | -69.403 | 8270.6 | 3827 | Peru/Bolivia |
| Nicaragua | 11.371 | -85.209 | 7851.5 | 31 | Nicaragua |
| Turkana | 3.783 | 36.048 | 7785.4 | 438 | Kenya |
| Athabasca | 59.47 | -109.39 | 7781.6 | 212 | Canada |
| Volta | 6.544 | 0.02 | 7490.7 | 89 | Ghana |
| Issyk-kul | 42.422 | 77.315 | 6258.9 | 1619 | Kyrgystan |
| Great Salt Lake | 41.023 | -112.429 | 5965.8 | 1275 | USA |
| Smallwood | 54.153 | -64.006 | 5610.4 | 472 | Canada |
| Reindeer | 57.573 | -102.149 | 5596.6 | 337 | Canada |
| Vanern | 59.066 | 13.604 | 5550.5 | 45 | Sweeden |
| Albert | 1.807 | 31.109 | 5401.9 | 629 | Uganda/Congo |
| Winnipegosis | 52.666 | -99.865 | 5167.1 | 252 | Canada |
| Nettiling | 66.76 | -70.72 | 5064.7 | 30 | Canada |
| Kuybyshevskoye | 55.291 | 49.61 | 5003.3 | 56 | Russia |
| Urmia | 37.922 | 45.249 | 4963.4 | 1271 | Iran |
| Kariba | -16.685 | 28.445 | 4958.5 | 468 | Zambia/Zimbabwe |
| Mweru | -9.01 | 28.74 | 4944.8 | 949 | Congo/Zambia |
| Manitoba | 50.418 | -98.294 | 4790.9 | 247 | Canada |
| Nipigon | 49.728 | -88.637 | 4476.9 | 283 | Canada |
| Bratskoye | 55.626 | 101.996 | 4476.5 | 399 | Ukraine |
| Zaysan | 47.883 | 84.257 | 4470.5 | 379 | Kazakhstan |
| Qinghai | 36.96 | 100.276 | 4449.7 | 3176 | China |
| Cabora Bassa | -15.599 | 31.712 | 4362.6 | 420 | Mozambique |
| Taymyr | 74.402 | 101.697 | 4200.1 | 24 | Russia |
| Lake of the Woods | 49.055 | -94.889 | 4167.7 | 326 | USA |
| Khanka | 45.094 | 132.426 | 4088.1 | 64 | Russia/China |
| Rybinkskoye | 58.41 | 38.513 | 3926.6 | 108 | Russia |
| Nasser | 23.19 | 32.785 | 3817.9 | 192 | Egypt |
| Dubawnt | 63.173 | -101.47 | 3628.5 | 235 | Canada |
| Peipus | 58.798 | 27.438 | 3552.8 | 29 | Estonia/Russia |
| Van | 38.633 | 42.698 | 3537.9 | 1638 | Turkey |
| Uvs | 50.3 | 92.7 | 3421.5 | 752 | Mongolia |
| T'ana | 12.07 | 37.386 | 3034.7 | 1786 | Ethiopia |
| Amadjuak | 64.95 | -71.11 | 3033.7 | 112 | Canada |
| Alakol | 46 | 81.787 | 2802.1 | 336 | Kazakhstan |
| Hovs Gol | 51.215 | 100.53 | 2741.4 | 1640 | Mongolia |
| Iliamna Lake | 59.47 | -155.6 | 2623.2 | 35 | USA |
| Boeng Tonle Chhma | 13.04 | 103.923 | 2569.9 | 4 | Cambodia |
| Tai | 31.2362 | 120.1226 | 2398.5 | 2 | China |
| Kivu | -1.7989 | 29.141 | 2370.7 | 1500 | Rwanda/Congo |
| Edward | -0.3086 | 29.6248 | 2252.5 | 781 | Congo |
| Tsimlyanskoye | 47.7108 | 42.3793 | 2242.4 | 28 | Russia |
| Hulun | 48.8303 | 117.2571 | 2166.5 | 539 | China |
| Buhayrat ath Tharthar | 33.8874 | 43.3058 | 2119.4 | 48 | Iraq |
| Bangweulu | -10.9963 | 29.8995 | 2049.1 | 1170 | Zambia |
| Chiquita | -30.65 | -62.493 | 2011.9 | 66 | Argentina |
| Rukwa | -7.806 | 31.994 | 1965.8 | 757 | Tanzania |
| Kremenshugskoye | 49.2343 | 32.7878 | 1964.9 | 78 | Ukraine |
| Zeyskoye | 54.4385 | 127.706 | 1964 | 271 | Russia |
| Mai-Ndombe | -1.6989 | 18.2856 | 1954.9 | 335 | Congo |
| Na-Mu | 30.7 | 90.453 | 1933.6 | 4704 | China |
| Buenos Aires | -46.496 | -71.4524 | 1848.2 | 451 | Argentina |
| Vattern | 58.6 | 14.72 | 1847.2 | 91 | Sweeden |
| Argyle | -16.293 | 128.8271 | 1749 | 79 | Australia |
| Martre | 63.452 | -118.1945 | 1684 | 265 | Canada |
| Se-lin | 31.7943 | 89.0882 | 1640.9 | 4557 | China |
| Blommesteinmeer | 4.8647 | -55.0553 | 1631.4 | 46 | Suriname |
| Hongze | 33.2959 | 118.7322 | 1524.9 | 3 | China |
| Lake Okeechobee | 26.9272 | -80.8006 | 1436.8 | 4 | USA |
| Kainji | 10.4054 | 4.5658 | 1414 | 96 | Nigeria |
| Argentina | -50.2386 | -72.3634 | 1401.9 | 225 | Argentina |
| Chishi | -8.6614 | 29.7312 | 1389.9 | 945 | Zambia |
| Hyargas | 49.2 | 93.2542 | 1362.7 | 1027 | Mongolia |
| Kasba | 60.326 | -102.1141 | 1334.8 | 335 | Canada |
| Claire | 58.5957 | -112.0806 | 1325.6 | 212 | Canada |
| KapchagayskoyeVodo. | 43.8437 | 77.4178 | 1273 | 462 | Kazakhstan |
| Poopo | -19.0102 | -66.9621 | 1262.9 | 3679 | Bolivia |
| Sevan | 40.2997 | 45.4043 | 1249.9 | 1876 | Armenia |
| Limfjorden | 56.9505 | 9.0636 | 1207.7 | 3 | Denmark |
| Har us | 47.9543 | 92.1574 | 1193.5 | 1191 | Mongolia |
| Becharof Lake | 57.9843 | -156.6469 | 1184.5 | 22 | USA |
| Lake Saint Clair | 42.433 | -82.7127 | 1155.8 | 174 | USA |
| Danau Toba | 2.7963 | 98.6326 | 1133.8 | 898 | Indonesia |
| Red Lake (Upper and Lower) | 47.9629 | -95.1087 | 1133.3 | 358 | USA |
| Chapala | 20.237 | -102.9039 | 1127.3 | 1573 | Mexico |
| Eyasi | -3.5895 | 35.1313 | 1113 | 1023 | Tanzania |
| St. Jean | 48.5627 | -71.9693 | 1106.2 | 97 | Canada |
| Beloye | 60.1844 | 37.6497 | 1095.4 | 122 | Russia |
| Abaya | 6.4831 | 37.9039 | 1083.7 | 1249 | Ethiopia |
| Selawik Lake | 66.4748 | -160.522 | 1066.2 | 1 | USA |
| Viedma | -49.5528 | -72.8131 | 1047.4 | 297 | Argentina |
| Bahr al Milh | 32.7424 | 43.5378 | 1037 | 36 | Iraq |
| Songkhla Lake (Thale Luang) | 7.6713 | 100.2381 | 1024.5 | 67 | Thailand |
| Managua | 12.3752 | -86.3607 | 1023.8 | 56 | Nicaragua |
| Cha-jih nan-mu-ts'o | 30.9381 | 85.4972 | 1004.4 | 4743 | China |
| Bosten | 41.993 | 86.9842 | 999.5 | 1062 | China |
| Bras d'Or | 45.8403 | -60.7992 | 953.8 | 35 | Canada |
| Il'Men' | 58.25 | 31.2128 | 951.2 | 15 | Russia |
| Gorkovskoye | 57.2113 | 43.1 | 936.8 | 87 | Russia |
| Salton Sea | 33.245 | -115.725 | 929 | -74 | USA |
| Chilka | 19.7696 | 85.4012 | 884.6 | 16 | India |
| Bay | 14.4178 | 121.1371 | 883.7 | 12 | Pilippines |
| Lianquihui | -41.1264 | -72.7894 | 865.9 | 56 | Chile |
| Alexandrina | -35.4235 | 139.2195 | 862.5 | 20 | Australia |
| Teshekpuk Lake | 70.6022 | -153.6121 | 834.9 | 0 | USA |
| Tang-je yung-ts'o | 31.1786 | 86.7115 | 828.2 | 4649 | China |
| Colhue Huapi | -45.5448 | -68.7326 | 813.9 | 251 | Argentina |
| Chocon | -39.5216 | -69.0724 | 811.9 | 393 | Argentina |
| Peter Pond | 56.0259 | -108.9216 | 807.4 | 423 | Canada |
| Segozero | 63.2726 | 33.7082 | 784.1 | 129 | Russia |
| Barun-Torey | 50.0012 | 115.523 | 783.4 | 595 | Russia |
| Chao | 31.5102 | 117.5715 | 767.5 | 1 | China |
| Simcoe | 44.4446 | -79.3515 | 759.7 | 233 | Canada |
| Ulungar | 47.24 | 87.2149 | 757.5 | 452 | China |
| Pyasino | 69.6105 | 87.9293 | 754.8 | 17 | Russia |
| Sarykamyshskoye | 41.8653 | 57.5057 | 752.4 | -12 | Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan |
| Dead Sea | 31.4564 | 35.4807 | 739.4 | -404 | Israel/Jordan |
| Izabal | 15.4928 | -89.1494 | 737.6 | 47 | Guatemala |
| Sasykkol | 46.5719 | 80.8885 | 731.9 | 342 | Kazakhstan |
| Tumba | -0.6847 | 18.0157 | 697 | 338 | Congo |
| Chilwa | -15.3639 | 35.7261 | 695.7 | 629 | Malawi |
| Rukwa | -7.5923 | 31.7945 | 682 | 793 | Tanzania |
| Kulundinskoye | 53.016 | 79.5342 | 677.9 | 92 | Russia |
| Beysehir | 37.7 | 31.5655 | 659.6 | 1148 | Turkey |
| Biwa-ko | 35.334 | 136.1713 | 658.5 | 69 | Japan |
| Tulemalu | 62.9564 | -99.3497 | 656.8 | 279 | Canada |
| Dore | 54.7695 | -107.2855 | 634.4 | 459 | Canada |
| Gaoyou | 32.8389 | 119.3494 | 622.5 | 1 | China |
| Buyr | 47.8216 | 117.7148 | 608.5 | 597 | Mongolia |
| Har | 48.0512 | 93.1559 | 601.3 | 1160 | Mongolia |
| Taupo | -38.7905 | 175.9215 | 600.5 | 395 | New Zealand |
| Chardarinskoye | 41.1405 | 68.1958 | 600.4 | 236 | Kazakhstan |
| Ai-pi | 44.8603 | 83.022 | 600.2 | 166 | China |
| Ngoring | 34.8959 | 97.7125 | 597.8 | 4240 | China |
| Har | 38.3029 | 97.5628 | 594.9 | 4239 | Mongolia |
| Balaton | 46.9824 | 18.0684 | 578.2 | 126 | Hungary |
| Ayakkum | 37.5509 | 89.4572 | 575.1 | 4161 | China |
| Upemba | -8.6228 | 26.4043 | 573 | 586 | Congo |
| Geneva | 46.4616 | 6.588 | 558.2 | 466 | Swizterland |
| Labaz | 72.2926 | 99.692 | 549.6 | 48 | Russia |
| Gyaring | 34.9228 | 97.2922 | 533.9 | 4256 | China |
| Nerpich'ye | 56.4137 | 162.7456 | 527.7 | 1 | Russia |
| Lake Winnebago | 44.0256 | -88.4136 | 526.1 | 229 | Canada |
| Dauphin | 51.1882 | -99.7115 | 516.4 | 259 | Canada |
| Bodensee | 47.5587 | 9.4873 | 516 | 431 | Germany |
| Razelm | 44.918 | 28.9489 | 508.6 | 1 | Romania |
| Lake Tahoe | 39.13 | -120.05 | 484.7 | 1996 | USA |
| Pyramid Lake | 40.101 | -119.59 | 448.2 | 1161 | USA |
| Garda | 45.5352 | 10.6445 | 360.3 | 85 | Italy |
| Mono Lake | 38.013 | -118.965 | 212 | 1955 | USA |
| Walker Lake | 38.715 | -118.713 | 165.5 | 1206 | USA |
| Clear Lake | 39.07 | -122.844 | 157.5 | 474 | USA |
| Atitlan | 14.706 | -91.19 | 123.6 | 1615 | Guatamala |
| Lake Almanor | 40.229 | -121.105 | 104.6 | 1403 | USA |
| Chiemsee | 47.8868 | 12.4706 | 78.1 | 526 | Germany |
| Starnberger See | 47.8998 | 11.3098 | 56 | 606 | Germany |
| Crater Lake | 42.942 | -122.0983 | 51.6 | 1959 | USA |
| Ammersee | 47.9873 | 11.1259 | 44.9 | 520 | Germany |
| Trout Lake | 46.0325 | -89.668 | 14.2 | 491 | USA |