THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPOSING LAKES IN THE WORLD

LAKE BALKHASH

6,300 MI²

Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash is generally frozen during four

months of winter. Located in one of the driest watersheds in

the world, the lake does not flow into any ocean. 

 Lake Balkhash has seen many of its native fish species

decline due to non-native fish species.

ARAL SEA

6,626 MI²

One of the most decimated lakes on the planet, the Aral Sea

is a prime example of the effects of environmental degradation

on an ecosystem. The lake has lost over 70% of its surface area

and over 90% of the water flowing into it. The resulting increase

in salinity coupled with the introduction of non-native fish and

open-air biological weapons testing on its largest island have

turned the Aral Sea into a near-environmental wasteland. (

The picture shows the Aral Sea in 1989 (left) and 2004 (right).

LAKE LADOGA

6,800 MI²

Just to the east of St. Petersburg, Lake Ladoga is by-far the

largest lake in Europe, almost twice the size of its closest rival.

A lake of glacial and tectonic origin, Lake Ladoga has served

as an important trade route for thousands of years and has

been hotly contested by Russians, Swedes, and more. Thrill

seekers will love the Lake Ladoga Challenge, “the world’s

biggest 4×4 adventure”. Teams in 4x4s race and trudge

around the lake’s 745 miles (1,200 km) terrain of bog,

river crossings, and rocks as big as the cars.

LAKE ONTARIO

7,340 MI²

The furthest east of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario is also the

smallest of the group. However, its depth means its water

volume is almost four times greater than Lake Erie, its primary

water source (80%) via the Niagara River. Over a mile of ice

pushed down on the area a few thousand years ago, compressing

the land. When the ice receded, Lake Ontario was originally a

bay, but its rebounding of around 12 inches (30 cm) per century

mean that its level has since been rising and it has since

been flowing out into the Atlantic Ocean.

LAKE WINNIPEG

9,465 MI²

Lake Winnipeg used to be a part of the ancient glacial Lake Agaziz

before glaciers receded in northern North America from 12,000 to

8,000 years ago. The 12th largest lake in the world by area,

Lake Winnipeg has a massive catchment area, bringing in water

from an area over 20 times its size. A large UNESCO biosphere

reserve and World Heritage Site has been proposed for a section

the size of Denmark on the lake’s eastern shore. The area

would be a new site for First Nations peoples

(Canada’s Native American population).

LAKE ERIE

9,910 MI²

Though it’s the smallest of the Great Lakes by volume Lake Erie

has the most densely populated shores and watersheds of all

the lakes. Understandably, erosion and toxic dumping from

surrounding industries threaten the water quality of the lake.

The lake is drained by the Niagara River which leads to the

popular tourist attraction, Niagara Falls, on its eastern edge.

GREAT SLAVE LAKE

10,502 MI²

North America’s deepest lake, Canada’s Great Slave Lake drains

through the MacKenzie River north into the Arctic Ocean. The

lake is named after the Slavey First Nations people living on the

lake’s southern edges. During winter, the frozen lake is an

important ice road.

LAKE MALAWI

11,400 MI²

Sometimes referred to as Lake Nyasa or Lake Niassa, south eastern

Africa’s Lake Malawi is likely the most diverse lake on Earth for

its fish species. An important resource for the people in

bordering Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania, the lake is

constantly threatened by agricultural runoff and fires built

around its shores to burn off vegetation.