important lakes of the world

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 LakesTanganyika, 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)

    1. Lake Superior – North America
    2. Lake Victoria – Africa
    3. Lake Huron – North America
    4. Lake Michigan – North America

    Largest Lakes by Volume

    1. Lake Baikal – Asia
    2. Lake Tanganyika – Africa
    3. Lake Superior – North America

    Deepest Lakes in the World

    1. Lake Baikal – Asia (1,637 m)
    2. 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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