What are the names of the lakes? TOP Russian lakes with unusual names. Moraine lakes of Russia. Seliger

Russia is a country with rich and unique natural resources, it has something to surprise and amaze: forests, rivers, fields, and of course its lakes too, which are also called “the blue eyes of our planet,” which is undoubtedly very beautiful and poetic. On its territory of the Russian Federation there are about two million lakes, their total area is 350 thousand km 2, the volume of water in all lakes is more than 26 thousand m 3. Most of the lakes are of glacial origin.

Large lakes of Russia

The largest lakes located in the European part of Russia are Onega, Ladoga, Chudsko-Pskov, Ilmen, and a huge number of lakes in the “lake region” of the Republic of Karelia.

The lakes of the Asian part of Russia are the Caspian Sea-lake, Lake Baikal, Russia's northernmost lake Taimyr, the Far Eastern Lake Khanka and the salt lake Chany in southwestern Siberia.

The Caspian Lake is the largest closed, closed reservoir on Earth, its area is 371 thousand km 2, and its level is 28 meters below sea level (in Russia this is the Baltic Sea). Due to the large size and specific structure of the bed (it contains the oceanic crust), it is also called the sea. The conventional border between Europe and Asia runs along its surface; it washes the shores of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. The Russian Caspian region is the territory of the Republic of Dagestan, Kalmykia, Astrakhan region (northern and northwestern part of the Caspian Sea)...

Lake Baikal is one of the most picturesque places in our country, it is the deepest lake on the planet; huge reserves of fresh water are stored here - 85% of all Russian reserves and 22% of the world's. Its area is 31.7 thousand km 2, length - 636 km, width 48 km, maximum depth - 1637 m. Baikal is the oldest lake, it is about 30 million years old, its basin is located in a rift basin, its water is particularly clean and transparency, the area around the lake (mountains, hills, dense deciduous forests) is uniquely picturesque...

The northern and eastern coasts of Lake Ladoga are located in the Republic of Karelia, the southern and western coasts are in the Leningrad region. Its area together with the islands is 18.3 thousand km 2, it is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. It has access to the Atlantic Ocean, more than 40 rivers and lakes flow into it, and the Neva River flows out (it flows into the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, which is part of the Atlantic). In the southern part there are three large bays, large cities on its coast - Priozersk, Shlisselburg, Novaya Ladoga (Leningrad region), Sortavala, Lakhdenpokhya (Karelia)...

Lake Onega is located in the north-west of Russia, 80% of it is located on the territory of the Republic of Karelia, 20% - in the Leningrad and Vologda regions. Its area together with the islands is 9.7 thousand km 2, it is the second largest freshwater lake in Europe. The lake basin is located at the junction of the Baltic Shield and the Russian Platform. About 50 rivers carry their waters into the lake, only one flows out - the Svir. Kondopoga, Petrozavodsk, Medvezhyegorsk (Republic of Karelia) were built on its banks...

Lake Taimyr with an area of ​​4.5 thousand km2 is called the “northern brother” of Baikal, because it is the second largest freshwater lake in the Asian part of Russia. It is located on the Taimyr Peninsula in the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Russian Federation. The lake is located beyond the Arctic Circle, its surface is covered with ice from September to July. The Upper Taimyr flows into it, and the Lower Taimyr (Kara Sea basin) flows out...

This list of 50 stunningly beautiful lakes will undoubtedly add to your knowledge and broaden your horizons! This is a list of the world's most famous lakes, but some may be unfamiliar to you.

Lake Victoria
69,485 km2 (26,828 sq mi). The largest lake in Africa. It is a border lake, and.

Lake Tanganyika
32,893 km2 (12,700 sq mi). The lake is not only the 6th largest lake in the world, but it is also the second deepest lake in the world at 1,470 m (4,820 ft) and the longest lake in the world at 676 km (420 mi). Lake Tanganyika is divided between four countries - Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Zambia.

Moraine Lake, Canada - Moraine Lake

Lake Pinatubo, Philippines - Lake Pinatubo
Formed only recently (1991) after a monsoon, this crater lake sits atop Mount Pinatubo, an active volcano in the Philippines.

Lake Annette, Canada - Lake Annette

Laguna Colorada, Bolivia - Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
Situated 4,200 meters above sea level in southwestern Bolivia, Laguna Colorada gets its bright red color from pigment deposits and algae beneath its surface. This is an extremely shallow lake with an average depth of 50 cm.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia /
Located in Croatia, the Plitvice Lakes are actually 16 separate bodies of water, divided into upper and lower basins by natural dams made of moss and algae.

Spotted Lake or Kliluk (Spotted Lake), Canada
In Osoyoos, British Columbia, a 38-acre natural lake that has one of the highest concentrations of minerals in the world.

Dead Sea, Jordan /
The name can be deceiving - in fact, it is the world's deepest hypermineralized lake. It has a salt concentration 8 times greater than the ocean, making it extremely difficult to drown in.

Sheosar Lake, Pakistan
Lake of the Deosai National Park, in the alpine steppe of the Tibetan Plateau.

Riffelsee, Switzerland
Riffelsee is an incredible sight of mirror surface with the Matterhorn mountain in the background.

Peyto Lake, Canada
Peyto Lake is a glacial lake in Banff National Park of the Canadian Rockies. Billa Peyto belongs to the category of colored lakes. The lake has a bright turquoise color, due to a large amount of icy mountain flour creeping into the lake.

Lake Solbjornvannet, Norway

Mirror Lake, California - Mirror Lake - a small, seasonal lake near Tenaya Creek Canyon in the US National Park, Yosemite.

New Zealand also has Mirror Lake, which has amazing reflection properties, like a mirror. It is one of the great lakes of Asia: Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), Wuhua Hai (China), Inle (Myanmar), Biwa (Japan), Tonle Sap (Cambodia) and Lake Toba in Sumatra (Indonesia).

Horseshoe Lake, Canada - Horseshoe Lake

Emerald Lake, Canada - Emerald Lake

Lake Plastiras, Greece - Lake Plastiras - Lake Plastiras, Greece
The artificial lake in Greece holds up to 400 million cubic liters of fresh water and is one of the highest in Europe.

Mystic Lake, Montana - Mystic Lake
The largest lake in Montana's Beartooth Mountains, it offers several world-famous hiking trails and incredible views.

Yamdrok Tso lake, Tibet - Yamdrok Tso Lake
This lake in Tibet has over 72 km of peaks and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

Lake Malawi, Tanzania - Lake Malawi / Malawi and Mozambique (Malawi and Mozambique) 30,044 km2 (11,600 sq mi). The lake is divided between Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi. Africa's second deepest lake, this tropical reservoir has more fish species than any other lake on Earth.

Lake Louise, Canada - Lake Louise, Canada

Lake Isabella, Colorado - Lake Isabelle, Colorado
A popular tourist destination, Lake Isabelle offers incredible views of Navajo and Apache peaks.

Crater Lake, Oregon - Crater Lake, Oregon

Barclay Lake, Washington State - Barclay Lake, Washington

Mono Lake, California - Mono Lake
This shallow lake in the Mono County California desert was formed over 760,000 years ago, and has a very similar ecosystem to the Colorada Lagoon.

Ancient underground lake Reed flute, China - Reed Flute Cave. This is a limestone cave in Guangxi, China. More than 180 million years old. Since the 1940s, it has become famous throughout the world due to the colorful caves around the lake.

Lough Ree(Loch RI or Loch Ríbh) is the geographical center of Ireland, the midlands. Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the River Shannon after Lough Derg. The other two large lakes are Lough Allen to the north, and Lough Derg to the south. Province of Leinster in County Roscommon the lake is popular for Irish legends about the monster.

Loch Ness(Loch Ness, Scotland) Scotland. Loch Ness (Gaelic: Loch Niche) is the second largest Scottish lake by surface area after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is Scotland's largest lake by volume of water. The deep, freshwater Loch in Scotland lies approximately 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Inverness. The lake is famous for its Loch Ness monster. Also of interest to tourists is Urquhart Castle east of Drumnadrochit, the lighthouses at Lochend (Bona Lighthouse) and Fort Augusta.

Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. The lake is 135 km long and 4 - 5 km wide. Its interesting features are the legend of the Demon of Lake Ogopogo or Naitaka, and the famous terraces, which were formed by the periodic depression of its predecessor, glacial Lake Penticton. The maximum depth of the lake is 232 m in the area of ​​Grant Island (called "Whiskey Island" or "Seagull Island" by locals)

Lake Labynkyr(Labynkyr Lake), Yakutia
This mystical lake is located near the Pole of Cold in the territory of Oymyakon uluss. Legends say that a monster lives deep in the water. It attacks dogs, deer and even people. History tells how one day a monster destroyed an Even caravan.

Kanas Lake(pinyin: Kanasi Hu) is a crescent-shaped lake in Altai Prefecture, Xinjiang Province, China. The lake is located in a valley in the Altai Mountains, on the border with Mongolia and. The lake was formed 200,000 years ago, during the Quaternary period, as a result of glacier movement. The Kanas River, flowing from the lake, merges with the Hemu River, forming the Burkin River, which itself is a tributary of the Irtysh River. Ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs live in the Kanas Valley.

Lake Kok-Kol(Kok-Kol lake) Mysterious lake in Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan. From time to time, the mysterious lake makes some strange sounds, and sometimes you can see signs of ripples, as if a huge creature is drifting inside the lake. Local residents believe that the lake is bottomless. Indeed, when hydrographers measured its depth, they could not find the bottom. But, they found many channels. This explains the constant water level, despite the fact that nothing flows from or flows into the lake.

Aral Sea(Kazakh: Aral Tenizi; Mongolian: Aral tengis; Tajik: Bakhri Aral; Persian: دریای خوارزم Daryâ- you Khârazm) was a closed lake between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in the south. The name roughly translates to “sea of ​​islands” (more than 1,100 islands were scattered across its waters). The catchment covers parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Formerly one of the four largest lakes in the world, with an area of ​​68,000 km 2 (26,300 sq mi), the Aral Sea has been steadily shrinking since 1960 after the rivers that fed the lake were redirected through Soviet irrigation projects. The drying up of the Aral Sea has been called "one of the worst environmental disasters on the planet"

Lake Storshen(Swedish pronunciation: Storsjön, lit. "Great Lake") is the fifth largest lake in Sweden, located in the province of Jämtland (Jämtland). From Storsjön flows the river Indalsälven and the lake contains the main island of Frösön. The city of Östersund is located on its eastern bank, opposite Frösön. Storsjön is considered the birthplace of sea creatures Storsjöodjuret.

Lake Champlain— Lake Champlain lies directly on Burlington, the border between the United States and Canada. At the northern tip is the historically interesting Fort Ticonderoga. Lake Champlain offers cruises and ferries to Vermont and New York.

Lake Natron is a salt and soda lake in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania. The lake is located near the Kenyan border in the Eastern Rift Branch of the East African Wetland of International Importance. Lake Natron is a basin of the Ramsar Valley, fed mainly by central Kenya's rivers and hot springs. The unusual color of the water is created by cyanobacteria. Due to high evaporation, salt-loving microorganisms begin to flourish.

Lake Tahoe, North America's largest alpine lake known for its cobalt blue waters and surrounding snow-capped peaks. Lake Tahoe is the state border between California and Nevada, and a popular resort in the Sierra Nevada.

Lake Lucerne— among the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland, it stands out for its amazing panorama of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, such as the Eiger and Jungfrau. The lake is lined with vintage steamboats that have been sailing here since the 1800s. In spring, the Lake Lucerne basin is fed by Mineralbad streams from the top of Mount Rigi.

Pigeon Lake(Dove Lake) in Tasmania, Australia. Serene Dove Lake is a national park attraction near Cradle Mountain. This lake is the home of the legendary Tasmanian Devil.

Lake Como, Italy - just 45 minutes from vibrant Milan. Lake Como is one of the favorite vacation spots of the rich and famous.

Lake Bled- one of the most charming attractions of the Old Continent. Lake Bled of the Julian Alps (Slovenian: Bled, German: Veldes) is located in Slovenia, near the borders with Italy and Austria.

Lake Synevyr- the largest and most famous lake in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The lake is located in the Gorgany mountain range, in the upper reaches of the Terebli River. The lake has its own beautiful legend about lovers.

The list of the most famous lakes in the world can rightfully include the unnamed:

• Lake Ohrid of the Balkan Mountains (located between the Republic of Macedonia and Albania)
• Lake Saimaa (Finland)
• Ladoga/Onega/Chudskoye (Russia)
• Balaton (Hungary)
• Annecy (France)
• Garda / Iseo (Italy)
• Wastwater (England)
• Sogne (Norway)
• Killarney (Ireland)
• Hallstattersee (Austria)
• Königsee / Obersi (Germany)
• Jökulsádlón (Iceland)
• Laguna Verde (Bolivia)
• Lençóis Maranhenses (Brazil)
• Nakuru (Kenya)
• Tekapo (New Zealand)
• Lagunas Altiplánicas (Chile)
• Laguna Bacalar (Mexico) and many others.

How many lakes are there in Russia? It is still impossible to give an exact answer to this question today. Many, many – more than 2 million. Among them there are famous, great lakes - “the blue eyes of the planet.”

The deepest, and perhaps the most famous lake on the planet is Baikal. It could contain a hundred Azov Seas, but Baikal’s water is fresh, and this is the special value of this huge natural reservoir. The maximum depth of the lake is 1637 meters, and under the water column there are huge bottom sediments, or so-called mountain ranges, the height of which is about 7000 meters. On fine days the water is so clear that you can see the bottom at a depth of 40 meters. The water of Baikal is living water, since, thanks to phytoplankton, the maximum amount of oxygen is dissolved in it. Another of its properties is low temperature, which even in summer is not higher than +10 degrees. There is a legend that at the bottom of Baikal there is a huge channel that connects the lake with the Arctic Ocean. Baikal is about 30 million years old, and there are no signs of aging. On the contrary, over the course of a year, the lake’s waters “conquer” about 2 centimeters from the land.

Caspian Sea

The largest closed lake on the planet is the Caspian Sea, although it did not get its name because of its impressive size (371,000 km?). The reason is that the bottom of the lake is oceanic type crust, and the salinity of its waters is high. The Volga, which flows into the Caspian Sea, dilutes its waters - 0.05% salt, but along the southeastern shores the salt content is 13%. The waters of the Caspian Sea wash the shores of five states at once: Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran. In the latter, these expanses of water are called differently - the Khazar or Mazandaran Sea. One of the mysteries of the Caspian Sea is the periodic fluctuation of water levels. Over the past three thousand years, the water level has changed by 15 meters, and these processes continue today. For example, from 1978 to 1995 the water level rose, from 1996 to 2001 it decreased, and then began to rise again. One of the reasons for the lake “disturbance” is possibly human activity. The Caspian Sea is known for its oil reserves, however, while gaining some wealth, we risk losing others. It is in these waters that most of the sturgeon stocks in the world are located. More than 90% of the sturgeon on the planet are caught in the Caspian Sea, and today the protection of the Caspian Lake is one of the main environmental tasks for Russia.

Ladoga lake

The largest freshwater body of water in Europe is Lake Ladoga, which is located in Karelia and the Leningrad region. 35 rivers flow into the lake, whose area is slightly more than 18,000 km2, and only the Neva, on which St. Petersburg stands, flows out. It was on Ladoga, thanks to the efforts of Peter I, that the Russian fleet was born. In addition, during the Second World War, the “Road of Life” passed along the ice of Lake Ladoga. Thanks to it, food was supplied to besieged Leningrad, and about a million people were evacuated through it. In the northern part of the lake there are 500 of the 660 islands belonging to Ladoga. The Valaam archipelago, on which the ancient Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is located, is especially famous. The harsh Lake Ladoga is often compared to the sea: winds often blow here, and if you swim to the middle of Ladoga, you will not be able to see the opposite shore.

Lake Ilmen is one of the symbols of Russian history, since the Slavs appeared in this region back in the 8th-9th centuries, at the time of the birth of the state of Rus'. Ilmen has been glorified in many tales, epics, poems and legends.

How Sadko went to Lake Ilmen,
Sat on a white-flammable stone
And he began to play spring goosebumps.

One of the largest lakes in the European part of Russia is located on the territory of the Pskov, Tver and Novgorod regions. Lake Ilmen was recognized as a natural monument of Russia. Unfortunately, the life cycle of the lake is ending, and Ilmen is classified as a “dying lake.” Its waters are gradually becoming swampy, the amount of silt is increasing, and the lake itself is slowly but still becoming shallow.

Pskovsko-Chudskoye Lake

“The Battle of the Ice took place on the ice of Lake Peipus in 1242” - we know about these events from the school curriculum, and it was thanks to them that Pskov-Peipus Lake, as it is called today, became famous. But not everyone knows that in fact the battle took place on the shore, and not on the ice, and Nevsky’s army was driving the retreating knights across the frozen lake. This fact was established in 1959 by an expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The same group also determined the exact location of the events - Lake Teploe, which, like Pskov, as well as Lake Peipsi, is part of Lake Peipsi. About 30 rivers flow into this lake complex, and only the Narva River flows out. The best time to go to the lake is the first or second Sunday in April, when reenactors gather at Chudskoye to recreate the events of the Battle of the Ice.

Water has always had an effect on people not only bewitching, but also calming. People came to her and told about their sorrows; in her calm waters they found special peace and harmony. That's why Russia's numerous lakes are so remarkable!

The beauty and charm of the water surface

The calm, mirror-like surface is still water, surrounded on all sides by shores. It is also a place of worship and aesthetic pleasure. What types of lakes are there? They can be deep (sometimes deeper than the seas) and shallow, fresh and salty, large in area and small, of volcanic, tectonic, moraine origin. Their ages also differ from each other. There are no ugly or boring ones, the map shows that there are an infinite number of them, and each of them is beautiful and perfect in its own way.

Surely any traveler who has visited this country at least once or a resident will have his own favorite or even sacred lake. In any case, visiting them is highly recommended. Once you see Baikal or Lake Teletskoye, you will fall in love with it once and for all! This is the place of power that fills you with energy after years of work, stuffy city air and prolonged social contact. It is important not only to contemplate beauty with reverence, but also to protect it.

Deep abyss of Baikal

What is Russia like? Of course, this is the mysterious and unique Baikal! Even every schoolchild has heard about him. This is simply a magical and unique place with pure, pure water that always has a deep blue tint. If there is not a cloud in the sky, then the surface of the water becomes simply emerald! The deep lake is of high ecological value and is included in the UNESCO list. The water here is fresh, and the depth reaches 1642 meters, which allows it to be compared with the depths of the Arctic Ocean (depth 1220 meters). If suddenly there is no more, then the deepest lake in Russia will be able to quench the thirst of the population of the whole world for 50 years, since it makes up a fifth of all reserves.

It is considered the oldest lake. Think for yourself - its age is 25 million years! Its depth is due to a large crack in the earth's crust. The continental depression is gradually increasing. The largest island here is Olkhon Island, stretching over 71 kilometers. It divides Baikal into the Small Sea (eastern part) and the Big Sea (western part).

The waters here are crystal clear, so you can see down to 40 meters, allowing you to spot the local deep-sea inhabitants. The water temperature is usually around +8 degrees Celsius. Baikal is also famous for its hot springs. Two large cities located near its waters are Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. Near the calm surface of the lake it is not entirely serene. Earthquakes, small and large, happen here all the time.

The Pearl of Karelia - Lake Onega

Baikal is the most beautiful place, but there are also other lakes in Russia that captivate travelers with their mystery. Onega is one of them. They even began to call it the sea, since it is the second largest in Europe after Ladoga. The length of the lake is 245 kilometers, the greatest depth is 130 meters. Since the distant ice age, many local inhabitants have remained here - fish and amphibians. This place is a treasure trove of loot for those who like to fish. The northern region is ideal for habitat of valuable fish species: trout, salmon, sterlet.

Lake Peipsi - the grandeur of the dunes

Where is another one of the largest and most beautiful lakes located? In the northern regions, like most others. Lake Peipsi is located near Latvia and Estonia. It separates these two countries from the Pskov region. The longest length is 90 kilometers and the width is 47 kilometers. The lake is constantly replenished with water from many small rivers and large streams. What is remarkable about the shores of Lake Peipsi on the northern side? They are a continuous chain of dunes that stretch into the distance. Their height is quite impressive - about eight, and in some places even 10 meters. Closer to the west the dunes become flatter. The southern side is filled with boulders of Finnish granite.

There is also an island, lost in the brilliant water surface. It is located in the south of the lake and has the name “Zhelachek” (“Mezha”). It also contains two small villages.

The western part of Lake Peipsi is no less interesting for travelers. The shores in this area have their own unique outlines. Calm bays are combined with steep headlands and gently sloping shores. These capes are so high that they reach up to 24 meters. The depth of the lake is 7.5 meters. What is the bottom? It consists mainly of sand, clayey and sandy silt. This is not a crystal clear body of water like Baikal or the lakes of the Alps, from an aesthetic point of view. Silty sediments make the water cloudy. This place also did not go unnoticed by fishermen. The vast waters are rich in a variety of fish. There are burbot, pike perch, salmon and others.

Velikaya Ladoga

How beautiful are the names of Russian lakes! For example, it captivates us with the beauty of the nature of the North and became a savior during the Second World War. The northern shores are dotted with labyrinths of straits. There are even islands and trees growing on them. The bottom relief systematically increases from the south (51 meters) to the north (depth 230 meters).

There are many islands here, frozen in the form of sheer bizarre cliffs, their height reaches 70 meters. The eastern coast is not as rugged as the western coast, where forests and shrubs can be found. Lake Ladoga is fed by the waters of thirty-two rivers. The Neva River flows out of it in full flow, the length of which reaches 74 kilometers.

By the way, there are a large number of rainy days here, although the greatest amount of precipitation occurs in the warm season. The winds are quite strong, which leads to excitement on the lake. The height of the waves can reach four meters. The water temperature in the warm season stays at +8 degrees Celsius.

Caspian sea-lake

It is not only the largest lake in the world, but also quite deep. Although scientifically it is considered to be a sea. The deep ones are mysterious and interesting for the traveler in their own way. In the northern part the depth is small - only 5 meters. In the middle it is already getting deeper - 20 meters. The southern part of the Caspian Sea is the deepest - it reaches 1025.

This sea or lake is unevenly salty. In places where river mouths are located, the water is fresher. The water level in the lake is 25 meters below the ocean. On the shore there are such large cities as Baku and Makhachkala. The climate is sharply continental, so temperatures are low in winter and quite high in summer. The large Urals and Volga flow into the Caspian Sea.

Salt Lake Chany

There are also salt lakes in Russia, for example Chany. It is located in the Novosibirsk region and is classified as drainless. The word "chany" translated from Turkic means "large vessel". Already in October the lake is covered with ice and thaws only in May. Although its waters warm up to 28 degrees Celsius in summer. The area of ​​the lake always fluctuates and reaches 2000 square meters. It is not very deep - only 2 meters is the average. Along the banks, which are very rugged, there are thickets of reeds, reeds, various shrubs and sedges.

What else is remarkable about Lake Chany? There are up to 70 islands on the water surface, some of them are not only large, but also represent amazing landscapes, have a great variety of plants and rare animal species. The salt lakes of Russia have varying degrees of salinity. Chany is lightly salted, since the main food is melted snow. The weather on the lake is a reflection of the continental climate. In winter, snow cover can reach up to 30 cm in height.

For tourists, there are many recreation centers here, and there are corners where you can fish. Those who prefer boating should be careful - there are often storms here. Chany is also considered a mysterious, and according to some stories, an anomalous place. There is a legend that there is a strange animal of enormous size that harms people and livestock.

- volcanic beauty

This beautiful creation of nature is located in the very south of the Kamchatka Peninsula and is considered freshwater. The maximum depth reaches 306 meters, so it can safely be classified as deep-sea. Some islands that can be found on the surface are peculiar volcanic domes that rose from the bottom as a result of squeezing out magma.

Such lakes in Russia are of particular value, which is why Kurilskoe is included in the UNESCO heritage list. There are even some called “Kuril Springs”. Their temperature reaches 45 degrees Celsius.

The cold inaccessibility of Lake Taimyr

This unique lake can only be compared in area to Lake Baikal. It is considered the northernmost on the planet. What unusual can a traveler find here? It is characterized not only by cold beauty and grandeur, but also by the fact that the water here constantly changes its level. The lake is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory beyond the Arctic Circle on the peninsula of the same name in the tundra.

We can say that local waters are covered with ice all year round. The greatest depth is 26 meters. The water temperature in the summer does not rise above 8 degrees Celsius, and in winter it drops to zero. The thickness of the ice can reach three meters. Oddly enough, in the waters of Taimyr there are fish - whitefish, muksun, whitefish, vendace.

Moraine lakes of Russia. Seliger

Forests, swamps, cozy coves - all this is the surrounding area of ​​Lake Seliger. It is located in the Tver and Novgorod regions. The landscapes in this area are predominantly hilly, and in some places plains predominate. Natural beaches contrast with steep shores covered with coniferous trees. There are about 160 medium and small islands on the lake. The surface is covered with ice in the cold season and is opened only in May. All lakes in Russia are accompanied by unique vegetation. Not only coniferous trees grow near Seliger, but also oaks, bird cherry, and rowan.

What exactly are moraine lakes? These are very picturesque corners of nature, their amazing beauty and unusual origin are simply amazing. The lakes of Russia are of the moraine type - the so-called “depressions” or “closed basins”, which appeared many years ago as a result of the melting of blocks of ice, which is why they are also commonly called “glacial”. They can be found only in the north and northwest of Russia. They are rarely large in size and depth. Usually their average depth does not exceed 10 meters, the banks are usually very indented. The largest of those reservoirs that can be classified as moraine are Chudsko-Pskovskoe, Seliger, Ilmen, which was once called the Slovenian Sea by the Slavs.

Conclusion

As we can see, Russia is a lake region that is sure to please even the most experienced traveler.

When we all hear the word “lake,” we imagine some quiet body of water surrounded by a visible shoreline. There will be no such lakes in this article. Have you ever heard of lakes that are subject to storm surges and are larger than some seas? I present to your attention a selection of “the largest lakes in the world,” which includes the 10 largest lakes. The article is divided into three pages to accommodate more interesting information and photographs. Read, rate, leave comments and feedback in discussions.

10th place

So, at the end of the list of the largest lakes in the world we have a lake called Nyasa. It is located simultaneously in Africa, in Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.

Located in a fault depression at an altitude of 472 m. Area 30.8 thousand sq. km. Depth up to 706 m (in the northern part of the reservoir, where its bottom lies significantly below sea level). The shores are steep and rocky, high, especially in the north and northeast.

The southern part of the basin lies in a wide depression; the shores are framed by a narrow strip of coastal plain. The average annual flow of water into the lake (river runoff plus precipitation) is about 72 km2, evaporation is about 66 km3.

The lake is rich in fish (about 230 species), in particular tilapi species, there are crocodiles, hippos, and a lot of waterfowl. With the light hand of some scientists, it is called the birthplace of aquarium fish. Lake Nyasa is also characterized by strong storms and surf on steep shores, making navigation difficult (passengers are transported only during the day).

Small, isn’t it?) There are 9 more such “crumbs” ahead, and they will be by no means smaller...

9th place

In 9th place - Great Bear Lake

Great Bear Lake- the largest lake in Canada, the fourth largest in North America. The lake is located in the Arctic Circle, between 65 and 67 degrees north latitude and 118 and 123 degrees west longitude, at a level of 186 m above sea level.

The lake has an outflow through the Great Bear River into the Mackenzie River. The only settlements on the lake are Deline on the southwest end and Echo Cove on the northeast side.

You can see such beauty on this lake)

8th place

In eighth place on the list of the largest lakes in the world - Baikal- also the deepest lake on the planet.

Baikal is a lake of tectonic origin in the southern part of Eastern Siberia, the deepest lake on planet Earth, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique diversity of flora and fauna, most of the species are endemic. Local residents and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.

The lake is covered with ice for more than half of the year, the freeze-up period is January 15 - May 1, navigation is carried out from June to September. Since 1956, the lake has been an integral part of the Irkutsk (Baikal) reservoir of long-term regulation, formed by the dam of the Irkutsk hydroelectric power station.

Baikal is located in the center of Asia, in Russia, on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. The lake stretches from north to southwest for 636 km in the form of a giant crescent. The width of Lake Baikal ranges from 25 to 80 km.

Olkhon Island

The water surface area is 31,722 sq. km, which is approximately equal to the area of ​​countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands or Denmark. The length of the coastline is 2,100 km.

The lake is located in a kind of hollow, surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges and hills. At the same time, the western coast is rocky and steep, the relief of the eastern coast is flatter (in some places the mountains recede tens of kilometers from the coast).

7th place

Lake Tanganyika- a large lake in Central Africa. This is one of the largest lakes in the world and equally ancient in origin. In terms of volume and depth, Tanganyika ranks second after Lake Baikal. The shores of the lake belong to four countries - the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi.

The length of the lake is about 650 km, width - 40-80 km. Area 34 thousand sq. km. It lies at an altitude of 773 meters above sea level in the tectonic basin of the East African Rift Zone. Coastal landscapes, as a rule, consist of huge rocks and only on the eastern side the shores are gentle. On the west coast, the steep sidewalls of the East African Rift Zone that form the coastline reach 2000 m in height. The coastline is dotted with bays and bays. The largest of them is Burton Bay. The lake is fed by several tributaries. The only river that flows out is the Lukuga, which begins in the middle part of the west coast and flows west, connecting with the Zaire River, which flows into the Atlantic.

The lake is home to hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and many waterfowl. Fishing and shipping are well developed.

The antiquity of the lake and the long period of isolation resulted in the development of a large number of endemic organisms, including those from the family Cichlidae (cichlids). Of the more than 200 species of fish found in the lake, about 170 are endemic.

Tanganyika is inhabited to approximately a depth of 200 m; below this level there is a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide and there is no life until the very bottom. This layer of the lake is a huge “burial ground” consisting of organic silt and sedimentary mineral compounds.

The water temperature of Tanganyika varies strictly among layers. Thus, in the upper layer the temperature ranges from 24 to 30 degrees, with a decrease at greater depths. Due to different densities of water and the absence of bottom current, the layers do not mix, and the temperature on the lower horizons reaches only 6-8 degrees.

The depth of the temperature jump layer is about 100 m. The water of Tanganika is very transparent (up to 30 m). Many salts are dissolved in it in small concentrations, so its composition resembles highly diluted sea salt. Water hardness (mainly caused by magnesium salts) ranges from 8 to 15 degrees. Water has an alkaline reaction, pH 8.0 - 9.5.

The lake was discovered in 1858 by English travelers R. Burton and J. Speke.

6th place

The sixth largest lake in the world is Aral Sea

Collector-drainage waters flowing from the fields into the bed of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya have caused deposits of pesticides and various other agricultural pesticides, appearing in places on 54 thousand square kilometers of the former seabed covered with salt. Dust storms carry salt, dust and toxic chemicals up to 500 km. Sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate are airborne and kill or retard the development of natural vegetation and crops. The local population suffers from a high prevalence of respiratory diseases, anemia, cancer of the larynx and esophagus, and digestive disorders. Liver and kidney diseases and eye diseases have become more frequent.

In 2001, as a result of a drop in water level, Vozrozhdenie Island connected with the mainland. On this island, the Soviet Union tested bacteriological weapons: the causative agents of anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, plague, typhoid, smallpox, as well as botulinum toxin were tested here on horses, monkeys, sheep, donkeys and other laboratory animals. This is the reason for fears that deadly microorganisms have remained viable, and infected rodents may spread them to other regions.

According to scientists' calculations, it is no longer possible to save the Aral Sea. Even if we completely abandon the intake of water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, the previous water level in it will be restored no earlier than in 200 years.

The Aral Sea once occupied 68 thousand square kilometers and was the fourth largest in area in the world. Now its area is about 10% of that recorded in the 60s of the last century. Photos from 1989 and 2003:

And this is a photo from 2008

From the 1950s to the present, projects have been repeatedly proposed to build a canal to transfer water from the Ob basin to the Aral Sea basin, which would significantly develop the economy of the Aral region (in particular, agriculture) and partially revive the Aral Sea. Such construction will require very large material costs (on the part of several states - Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan), so there is no talk yet about the practical implementation of these projects.

Some scientists predict the Aral Sea will completely disappear by 2020...

5th place

In the middle of the list of the largest lakes in the world is lake michigan- one of the North American Great Lakes.

The only Great Lakes located entirely within the United States. Located south of Lake Superior, connected to Lake Huron by the Strait of Mackinac, with the Mississippi River system - the Chicago - Lockport Canal.

From a hydrographic point of view, Michigan and Huron form a single system, but geographically they are considered to be separate lakes.

Square Michigan- about 57,750 km2 (the third largest among the Great Lakes), length about 500 km, width about 190 km. The surface height above sea level is 177 m (same as Huron), the depth is up to 281 m. It is covered with ice for about four months a year. Islands - Beaver, North Manitou, South Manitou.

The states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin have access to the lake. Major cities on Lake Michigan include Chicago, Evanston and Highland Park (IL), Milwaukee and Green Bay (WI), and Gary and Hammond (IN).

The name of the lake comes from the word mishigami, meaning “big water” in the Ojibwa Indian language. The first European to discover the lake was the Frenchman Jean Nicolet in 1634.

4th place

Lake Huron is the fourth largest lake in the world. This lake is in the USA and Canada, one of the North American Great Lakes. Located east of Lake Michigan, connected to it by the Strait of Mackinac. From a hydrographic point of view, Michigan and Huron form a single system (they are connected by the Strait of Mackinac), but geographically they are considered to be separate lakes.

The area of ​​Huron is about 59.6 thousand square kilometers (the second largest among the Great Lakes). The surface height above sea level is about 176 m (same as Michigan), the depth is up to 229 m.

The states of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario have access to the lake. The main ports on Huron are Saginaw, Bay City, Alpina (USA) and Sarnia (Canada).

The name of the lake, introduced by the French, comes from the name of the Huron Indian tribe.

Huron is home to Manitoulin, the largest island in the world, located in a fresh lake.

3rd place

Closes the top three largest lakes Victoria- a lake in East Africa, in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Located in the tectonic trough of the East African Platform, at an altitude of 1134 m. It is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Superior and the largest lake in Africa

The lake was discovered and named in honor of Queen Victoria by British traveler John Henning Speke in 1858.

Square Lake Victoria 68 thousand square kilometers, length 320 km, maximum width 275 km. It is part of the Victoria Reservoir. Many islands. The high-water Kagera River flows in and the Victoria Nile River flows out. The lake is navigable, local residents engage in fishing on it.

The northern coast of the lake crosses the equator. The lake, with a maximum depth of 80 m, is a fairly deep lake.

Unlike its deep-sea neighbors Tanganyika and Nyasa, which lie within the African gorge system, Lake Victoria fills the shallow depression between the eastern and western sides of the Great Gorge valley. The lake receives a huge amount of water from rain, more than from all its tributaries.

30 million people live in the vicinity of the lake. On the southern and western shores of the lake live the Haya people, who knew how to grow coffee long before the arrival of Europeans. Main ports: Entebbe (Uganda), Mwanza, Bukoba (Tanzania), Kisumu (Kenya), near the northern coast of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

2nd place

Confidently secured second place lake superior- the largest, deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes and, concurrently, the largest freshwater lake in the world.

In the north, Lake Superior is limited by the territory of the Canadian province of Ontario, in the west - by the American state of Minnesota, in the south - by the states of Wisconsin and Michigan.

The basins of Lake Superior and the northern part of Lake Huron were developed in the crystalline rocks of the southern part of the Canadian Shield, the basins of the remaining lakes were developed in the limestone, dolomite and sandstone of the Paleozoic North American Platform. The basin of Lake Superior was formed as a result of tectonic movements, pre-glacial river and glacial erosion.

The origin of the water mass of Lake Superior is associated with the melting of the ice sheet, during the retreat of which a number of large lakes were formed in this area, which repeatedly changed their outlines.

In the northern part of the Great Lakes, the coastline is dissected, the islands and shores (up to 400 m high) are rocky, steep, very picturesque, especially the shores of Lake Superior and the northern part of Lake Huron.

Fluctuations in the level of Lake Superior are artificially regulated for the purposes of navigation, energy, etc. The amplitude of seasonal fluctuations is 30-60 cm, the highest level is observed in summer, the lowest in winter. Short-term level fluctuations caused by strong surge winds and seiches reach 3-4 m, tidal height is 3-4 cm

1 place

The Caspian Sea tops the ranking " The largest lakes in the world"- despite the fact that it is called a sea, in fact it is the largest endorheic lake on the planet. It is located at the junction of Europe and Asia, and is called a sea only because of its size. The Caspian Sea is an endorheic lake, and the water in It is salty, from 0.05 ‰ near the mouth of the Volga to 11-13 ‰ in the southeast.

The Caspian Sea is shaped like the Latin letter S, its length from north to south is approximately 1200 kilometers, from west to east - from 195 to 435 kilometers, on average 310-320 kilometers.

The Caspian Sea is conventionally divided according to physical and geographical conditions into 3 parts - the Northern Caspian, the Middle Caspian and the Southern Caspian. The conditional border between the Northern and Middle Caspian Seas runs along the line Chechen (island) - Tyub-Karagansky Cape, between the Middle and Southern Caspian Seas - along the line Zhiloy (island) - Gan-Gulu (cape). The area of ​​the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian Sea is respectively 25, 36, 39 percent of the total area of ​​the Caspian Sea.

The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is estimated at approximately 6500 - 6700 kilometers, with islands - up to 7000 kilometers. The shores of the Caspian Sea in most of its territory are low-lying and smooth. In the northern part, the coastline is indented by water channels and islands of the Volga and Ural deltas, the banks are low and swampy, and the water surface in many places is covered with thickets.

The east coast is dominated by limestone shores adjacent to semi-deserts and deserts. The most winding shores are on the western coast in the area of ​​the Absheron Peninsula and on the eastern coast in the area of ​​the Kazakh Gulf and Kara-Bogaz-Gol.

The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian region.

Area and volume of water Caspian Sea varies significantly depending on fluctuations in water level. At a water level of 26.75 m, the area is approximately 371,000 km square kilometers, the volume of water is 78,648 cubic kilometers, which is approximately 44 percent of the world's lake water reserves. The maximum depth of the Caspian Sea is in the South Caspian depression, 1025 meters from its surface level. In terms of maximum depth, the Caspian Sea is second only to Baikal (1620 m) and Tanganyika (1435 m). The average depth of the Caspian Sea is 208 meters. At the same time, the northern part of the Caspian Sea is shallow, its maximum depth does not exceed 25 meters, and the average depth is 4 meters.

In continuation, read also about the most beautiful lakes in Scotland, to which a separate photo strip is dedicated.