Important Lakes of the World for UPSC Exam
LAKES
Definition
A lake is a large, inland body of water that occupies a basin surrounded by land. Lakes are distinct from oceans and lagoons and are typically larger and deeper than ponds.
Location & Formation
- Commonly found in mountainous regions, rift zones, and areas with glaciation.
- Most lakes have inflows and outflows (rivers/streams).
- Some lakes, in endorheic basins, have no outflow and lose water through evaporation or seepage.
- Northern Hemisphere holds the majority of freshwater lakes — especially in Canada, Finland, and Siberia.
Classification of Lakes
1. Based on Duration
a. Temporary Lakes
- Form after rainfall in depressions.
- Evaporation > Precipitation
- Example: Desert lakes.
b. Permanent Lakes
- Deep and long-lasting.
- Evaporation < Precipitation
- Examples: Great Lakes (North America), East African Rift Lakes
2. Based on Water Type
a. Freshwater Lakes
- Fed by rivers; have outflow.
- Example: Great Lakes of North America
b. Saline (Salt) Lakes
- No outflow; high evaporation.
- High salt content due to intense evaporation.
- Examples:
- Dead Sea (250‰ salinity)
- Great Salt Lake, Utah (220‰ salinity)
- Aral Sea
- Common in deserts (e.g., playas)
Lakes by Formation Process
1. Tectonic Activity
a. Tectonic Lakes
- Formed by warping, subsidence, bending, or fracturing of Earth’s crust.
- Example: Lake Titicaca, Caspian Sea
b. Rift Valley Lakes
- Form in deep, narrow rift valleys created by faulting.
- Example: East African Rift Lakes – Tanganyika, Malawi, Edward, Albert, Dead Sea
2. Glacial Activity
a. Cirque Lakes (Tarns)
- Formed in mountain hollows carved by glaciers.
b. Rock-Hollow Lakes
- Glaciers scrape the land, forming depressions.
- Common in: Finland, Scandinavia, Patagonia, Canada
c. Morainic-Dammed Lakes
- Formed when glacial debris (moraine) blocks valleys.
3. Volcanic Activity
a. Crater & Caldera Lakes
- Form in volcanic craters and calderas.
- Examples: Lonar Lake (India), Krakatoa (Indonesia)
b. Lava-blocked Lakes and Lakes from Subsidence
- Caused by volcanic land deformation.
4. Erosion
a. Karst Lakes
- Form in limestone areas due to solution hollows and cave roof collapse.
b. Wind-Deflated Lakes
- Created in deserts by wind erosion.
- Example: Great Basin (Utah, USA)
5. Deposition
a. Fluvial (River) Deposits
- Ox-bow Lakes from meander cut-offs.
- Examples: Lower Mississippi, Lower Ganges
b. Marine Deposits (Lagoons)
- Coastal lakes.
- Example: Lake Chilka (India)
c. Barrier Lakes
- Created by landslides, avalanches, etc., blocking rivers.
- Example: Shiwalik Duns
6. Man-made Lakes
- Formed by dams and reservoirs for irrigation, electricity, etc.
- Examples:
- Lake Mead (Hoover Dam, USA)
- Gobind Sagar Lake (Bhakra-Nangal Dam, India)
- Hirakud Lake (Mahanadi, Odisha)
- Tin mining lakes in Malaysia
Uses of Lakes for Humans
Use | Description | Examples |
Transportation | Inland waterways for goods | Great Lakes–St. Lawrence system |
Water Storage | Irrigation, domestic use | Kolleru Lake (AP, India) |
Hydroelectric Power | Reservoir-based electricity | Hirakud Dam |
Agriculture | Irrigation from dams | Bhakra Nangal |
Flood Control | River regulation | Hoover Dam, Hirakud |
Climate Moderation | Lake breeze effects | – |
Food Source | Freshwater fishing | Caspian Sea (Sturgeon), Great Lakes (Salmon) |
Minerals | Salt & borax from saline lakes | Dead Sea, Mojave Desert |
Tourism & Health | Recreation & therapy | Chilka, Leh, Dead Sea |
Lakes Are Temporary
Lakes are not permanent features of Earth. Over geological time, lakes either:
- Drain naturally
- Or get filled with sediments (silt)
This transformation might take thousands of years but is relatively fast on a geological scale.
Difference between Lake and Sea
Point | Lake | Sea |
Definition | A water body enclosed by land | A large saline water body connected to an ocean |
Water Type | Mostly fresh water; some are saline | Mostly saline (average salinity ~35‰) |
Size | Relatively smaller | Much larger than lakes |
Location | Completely inland | Borders landmasses; part of the oceanic system |
Water Source | Rainfall, rivers, groundwater | Connected to and fed by the ocean |
Water Exchange | May or may not have an outlet | Constant exchange with the ocean |
Waves | Very few or no waves | Strong and large waves |
Aquatic Life | Limited species, mostly freshwater | Rich and diverse marine life |
Salinity | Low (freshwater); high in salt lakes | High |
Examples | Wular Lake, Chilika Lake, Great Lakes | Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Caribbean Sea |
Difference between Lake and Lagoon
Point | Lake | Lagoon |
Definition | Inland water body | Shallow coastal water body separated from sea by sandbars or reefs |
Location | Completely surrounded by land | Near the sea, partially connected to it |
Water Type | Fresh or saline | Usually saline or brackish (mixed) |
Water Source | Rainfall, rivers, groundwater | Sea water, sometimes river water |
Water Exchange | May or may not have outlet | Often has limited sea water exchange |
Depth | Can be deep | Usually shallow |
Examples | Wular Lake, Dal Lake, Lonar Lake | Chilika Lake (Odisha), Vembanad Lake (Kerala – actually a lagoon) |
Formation | Tectonic, glacial, volcanic, fluvial etc. | Formed by coastal deposition (sandbars or coral reefs) |
Natural/Artificial | Can be natural or artificial | Usually natural |
Difference between Lake and Wetland
Point | Lake | Wetland |
Definition | Permanent water body enclosed by land | Land either permanently or seasonally submerged in water |
Water Condition | Permanent, deep, and clear | Shallow, may be marshy or muddy |
Depth | Usually deep | Very shallow |
Water Movement | Still or gentle flow | Slow movement through saturated soil |
Water Type | Fresh or saline | Fresh, saline, or brackish |
Flora & Fauna | Limited (mainly fish, plankton) | High biodiversity (birds, amphibians, insects, plants) |
Function/Use | Water storage, fisheries, tourism, transport | Ecological balance, water purification, flood control |
Natural/Artificial | Both | Both |
Examples | Wular Lake, Lonar Lake, Dal Lake | Sundarbans, Kaziranga Wetlands, marshes, swamps |
Difference between Lake and Pond
Point | Lake | Pond |
Definition | Large and deep water body enclosed by land | Small, shallow water body usually man-made |
Size | Larger | Smaller |
Depth | Deeper | Shallow |
Natural/Artificial | Can be both | Mostly artificial |
Water Movement | Still or with minor flow | Mostly still |
Water Source | Rain, rivers, glaciers, groundwater | Rain, small local sources |
Ecology | Light may not reach bottom due to depth | Entire water body gets sunlight |
Examples | Dal Lake, Chilika Lake, Wular Lake | Village ponds, Nehru Park pond |
Important Lakes of the World
Record-Holding Lakes
Category | Lake | Details |
Deepest Lake | Lake Baikal (Russia) | Depth: 1,637 m; also the largest by volume |
Longest Lake | Lake Tanganyika (Africa) | Length: 660 km; 2nd deepest & 2nd largest by volume |
Highest Lake (overall) | Crater Lake of Ojos del Salado (Andes) | Elevation: 6,390 m (very small) |
Highest Large Lake | Pumoyong Tso (Tibet, China) | Elevation: 5,018 m |
Highest Navigable Lake | Lake Titicaca (Peru/Bolivia) | Elevation: 3,812 m; largest lake in South America |
Lowest Lake | Dead Sea | Elevation: 418 m below sea level; extremely salty |
Largest Lakes by Continent (by Surface Area)
Continent | Lake | Note |
Asia | Lake Baikal (or Caspian Sea if counted) | Baikal is freshwater; Caspian is saline |
Africa | Lake Victoria | 3rd largest freshwater lake in the world |
North America | Lake Superior | Largest freshwater lake by surface area |
South America | Lake Titicaca | Highest navigable lake |
Australia | Lake Eyre | A salt lake, often dry |
Europe | Lake Ladoga | Largest in Europe, located in Russia |
Antarctica | Lake Vostok | Subglacial, beneath thick ice |
Great Lakes of North America
- Series of interconnected freshwater lakes:
Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario
(from west to east) - By size (largest to smallest):
Superior > Huron > Michigan > Erie > Ontario - Special Notes:
- Lake Superior – Largest continental lake by surface area.
- Lake Michigan – Largest lake entirely within one country (USA).
- Connected to Atlantic Ocean via Saint Lawrence Seaway.
- Great Lakes Waterway is vital for shipping and trade.
Dead Sea
- Location: Border of Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.
- Salinity: Very high (~10 times saltier than oceans).
- Lowest land elevation on Earth.
Aral Sea
- Formerly a large lake between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
- Dramatically shrinking since the 1960s due to Soviet irrigation projects.
- Now a symbol of ecological disaster.
African Great Lakes
- Part of the East African Rift System.
- Major Lakes:
- Lake Victoria – 2nd largest freshwater lake globally.
- Lake Tanganyika – 2nd largest by volume, 2nd deepest globally.
Lakes by Size
Largest Lakes by Surface Area (Excluding Caspian Sea)
- Lake Superior – North America
- Lake Victoria – Africa
- Lake Huron – North America
- Lake Michigan – North America
Largest Lakes by Volume
- Lake Baikal – Asia
- Lake Tanganyika – Africa
- Lake Superior – North America
Deepest Lakes in the World
- Lake Baikal – Asia (1,637 m)
- Lake Tanganyika – Africa
Important Lakes and Their Border Countries
Lake Name | Continent | Bordering Countries | Water Type | Special Facts |
Lake Superior | North America | USA, Canada | Freshwater | Largest freshwater lake by surface area |
Lake Victoria | Africa | Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya | Freshwater | Largest lake in Africa; 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world |
Lake Baikal | Asia (Russia) | Russia (Siberia) | Freshwater | Deepest lake in the world (1,637 m); largest by volume |
Lake Tanganyika | Africa | Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi, Zambia | Freshwater | Longest freshwater lake; 2nd deepest in the world |
Lake Michigan | North America | USA (entirely within the USA) | Freshwater | Largest lake entirely within a single country |
Lake Huron | North America | USA, Canada | Freshwater | Part of Great Lakes; has the most islands among lakes |
Lake Erie | North America | USA, Canada | Freshwater | Shallowest and most polluted of the Great Lakes |
Lake Ontario | North America | USA, Canada | Freshwater | Smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area |
Dead Sea | Asia | Israel, Jordan, Palestine | Highly Saline | Lowest point on Earth’s land surface (−423 m); ~10x saltier than ocean |
Aral Sea | Asia | Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan | Used to be saline | Shrinking since the 1960s; symbol of environmental disaster |
Lake Titicaca | South America | Peru, Bolivia | Freshwater | Highest navigable lake (3,812 m); largest in South America |
Lake Eyre | Australia | Australia (South Australia) | Salt Lake (seasonal) | Largest lake in Australia; mostly dry or seasonal |
Lake Vostok | Antarctica | Under Antarctic ice sheet | Freshwater (subglacial) | Subglacial lake; subject of ongoing scientific research |
Lake Ladoga | Europe | Russia | Freshwater | Largest lake in Europe |
Lake Onega | Europe | Russia | Freshwater | Second largest in Europe after Lake Ladoga |
Lake Maracaibo | South America | Venezuela | Brackish (mix) | Technically a bay; connected to the sea |
Lake Chad | Africa | Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon | Freshwater (shrinking) | Vital water source; rapidly shrinking |
Chilika Lake | Asia (India) | India (Odisha) | Brackish | India’s largest brackish water lagoon; rich in biodiversity |
Wular Lake | Asia (India) | India (Jammu & Kashmir) | Freshwater | Largest freshwater lake in India |
Important Lakes in India
Lake Name | Type | State / UT | Special Features |
Wular Lake | Freshwater | Jammu & Kashmir | Largest freshwater lake in India |
Dal Lake | Freshwater | Jammu & Kashmir | Famous for houseboats and tourism |
Pangong Tso | Saline (Endorheic) | Ladakh | Partially in China; high-altitude lake |
Tso Moriri | Freshwater | Ladakh | High-altitude lake; Ramsar Site |
Chilika Lake | Brackish water (Lagoon) | Odisha | Largest coastal lagoon in India; famous for migratory birds |
Pulicat Lake | Brackish water (Lagoon) | Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu | Second largest brackish water lake |
Sambhar Lake | Saltwater | Rajasthan | Largest inland saltwater lake |
Lonar Lake | Crater Lake | Maharashtra | Formed by meteor impact; alkaline and saline |
Loktak Lake | Freshwater | Manipur | Known for phumdis (floating biomass); Keibul Lamjao National Park is located here |
Kolleru Lake | Freshwater | Andhra Pradesh | Seasonal lake between Godavari and Krishna rivers |
Upper Lake (Bhojtal) | Freshwater | Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal) | One of the oldest man-made lakes in India |
Vembanad Lake | Brackish water | Kerala | Longest lake in India; famous for houseboat tourism |
Ashtamudi Lake | Brackish water | Kerala | Second largest lake in Kerala; palm-shaped |
Hussain Sagar | Artificial (Freshwater) | Telangana (Hyderabad) | Built in 16th century; famous Buddha statue in middle |
Nakki Lake | Artificial | Rajasthan (Mt. Abu) | Only hill station lake in Rajasthan |
Pichola Lake | Artificial | Rajasthan (Udaipur) | Famous for Lake Palace hotel |
Pushkar Lake | Religious/Freshwater | Rajasthan | Sacred lake; Pushkar fair held annually |
Renuka Lake | Freshwater | Himachal Pradesh | Shaped like a woman; mythologically significant |
Salim Ali Lake | Freshwater | Maharashtra (Aurangabad) | Named after the famous ornithologist |
Kanwar Lake | Freshwater | Bihar | Asia’s largest oxbow lake (but now shrinking) |
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