List of lakes explained

This list of lakes includes those which are among the largest by area, depth, volume, or have cultural or environmental significance.

Africa

Great Lakes of Africa

See also: Great Lakes of Africa and Rift Valley lakes.

• Lake Albert (Mobuto-Sese-Seko)
• Lake Chad
• Lake Edward
• Lake Fianga
• Lake Kariba
• Lake Kivu
• Lake Tana
• Lake Mweru
• Lake Nasser (Lake Nubia in Sudan)
• Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
• Lake Tanganyika
• Lake Turkana (Lake Rudolf or Rudolph)
• Lake Victoria shared between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Lists by country

Algeria

• Chott Ech Chergui
• Chott el Hodna
• Lake of Fetzara
• Lake Akfadou
• Lake Menghough
• Réghaïa lake
• Sebkha el Melah

Angola

• Dilolo Lake

Benin

See main article: List of lakes of Benin.

Botswana

• Makadikadi Basin
• Lake Ngami

Burkina Faso

See main article: List of lakes of Burkina Faso.

Cameroon

• Lake Awing
• Lake Bambili
• Lake Bamendjing
• Lake Bankim
• Lake Barombi
• Lake Edip
• Lake Kendall
• Lake Lagdo
• Lake Mbakaou
• Lake Monoun
• Muanenguba Lakes (Twin Lakes)
• Lake Nyos
• Lake Oku
• Lake Wum

Chad

See main article: List of lakes of Chad.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

See main article: List of lakes of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Djibouti

• Lake Assal

Egypt

See main article: List of lakes of Egypt.

Ethiopia

See main article: List of lakes of Ethiopia.

Ghana

• Lake Volta
• Lake Bosomtwe

Guinea-Bissau

See main article: List of lakes of Guinea-Bissau.

Kenya

See main article: List of lakes of Kenya.

Madagascar

See main article: List of lakes of Madagascar.

• Lake Alaotra
• Lake Bedo
• Lake Itasy
• Lake Ihotry
• Lake Kinkony
• Lake Tritriva
• Lake Tsimanampetsotsa
• Lakes Manambolomaty

Malawi

• Lake Chilwa
• Lake Malawi

Mali

See main article: List of lakes of Mali.

Mauritania

• Lac de Mâl

Mozambique

• Cabora Bassa Lake

Nigeria

• Kainji Lake
• Oguta Lake
• Asejire Lake

Rwanda

See main article: List of lakes of Rwanda.

South Africa

See main article: List of lakes of South Africa.

Sudan

• Roseires Reservoir
• Lake No
• Lake Nubia (southern reaches of Lake Nasser)

Tanzania

See main article: List of lakes of Tanzania.

Uganda

See main article: List of lakes of Uganda.

Zambia

See main article: List of lakes of Zambia.

Zimbabwe

Antarctica

There are hundreds of lakes deep below the ice of Antarctica.^[1]

See main article: Antarctic lakes.

• Basalt Lake
• Lake Brownworth
• Don Juan Pond
• Parochlus Lake
• Penny Lake
• Lake Pewe
• Lake Vanda
• Lake Vida
• Lake Vostok
• Lake Whillans

Asia

International lakes of Asia

• Pangong Tso
• Lake Baikal – Lake Baikal is located in Siberia in southeastern Russia, just north of Mongolia. Considered the oldest surviving freshwater lake on the planet, it is also the deepest body of water in Asia at 5315feet, and the largest freshwater lake by volume, containing 20% of the planet's fresh water. An elongated lake, it has a maximum width of 60miles with an approximate length of 389miles, and is fed by more than 300 rivers and streams.^[2]
• Caspian Sea – Situated between Asia and Europe and fed by the Volga and Ural Rivers in the north, the Caspian Sea is nevertheless somewhat salty in its central and south portions. The surface area measures 371000km2, with a maximum depth of 1025m (3,363feet).
• Aral Sea – Also in far-western Asia, just east of the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea straddles the boundary between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Aral Sea is shrinking due to evaporation and diversion for irrigation (among other factors) and what remains (only 10% of its former size)^[3] is now almost totally polluted by fertilizer runoff, Soviet weapon testing residue and industrial projects, leading to it being called "one of the planet's worst environmental disasters".^[4]
  • North Aral Sea
  • South Aral Sea
• Dead Sea – Located on the border of Israel and Jordan.
• Lake Khanka

Lists by country

Afghanistan

• Gowd-e-Zereh

Armenia

See main article: List of lakes of Armenia.

Azerbaijan

See main article: List of lakes of Azerbaijan.

Bangladesh

• Kaptai Lake

Bhutan

See main article: List of lakes of Bhutan.

Brunei

• Cypt

Cambodia

See main article: List of lakes of Cambodia.

• Tonlé Sap

China

See main article: List of lakes of China.

• Dongting Lake
• Poyang Lake
• Qinghai Lake
• Lake Tai

Georgia (country)|Georgia

See main article: List of lakes of Georgia (country).

India

See main article: List of lakes of India.

• Avalanche Lake
• Dal Lake
• Emerald Lake
• Chandra Taal
• Nainital Lake
• Sheshnag Lake
• Suraj Tal
• Tso Moriri
• Tsongmo Lake
• Chaluk lake
• Chilka Lake
• Shanti Sagara

Indonesia

See main article: List of lakes of Indonesia.

• Lake Toba

Iran

• Caspian Sea
• Lake Urmia
• Gavkhouni
• Hamun Lake
• Namak Lake
• Bakhtegan Lake
• Maharloo Lake
• Zarivar Lake

Iraq

• Lake Habbaniyah (Hawr al Habbaniyah)
• Lake Milh (Bahr al Milh)
• Lake Tharthar (Buhayrat ath Tharthar)
• Sawa lake

Israel

See main article: List of lakes of Israel.

• Dead Sea
• Sea of Galilee

Japan

See main article: List of lakes of Japan.

• Lake Mashū

Jordan

• Dead Sea

Kazakhstan

See main article: List of lakes of Kazakhstan.

• Lake Alakol
• Lake Balkhash
• Chagan Lake
• Kaindy Lake
• Lake Sasykkol
• Lake Tengiz
• Lake Zaysan

North Korea

See main article: List of lakes of North Korea.

South Korea

See main article: List of lakes of South Korea.

Kyrgyzstan

• Ala Köl
• Besh-Tash Lake
• Chatyr-Kul
• Issyk-Kul
• Jashyl Köl
• Juukuchak Lake
• Kapka Tash Lake
• Kara-Suu Lake
• Köl-Suu
• Költör Lake
• Kölükök
• Kulun Lake
• Kylaköl
• Ökürgön Lake
• Lake Sary-Chelek
• Merzbacher Lake
• Saryköl
• Song Köl Lake

Malaysia

See main article: List of lakes of Malaysia.

Mongolia

See main article: List of lakes of Mongolia.

Nepal

See main article: List of lakes of Nepal.

• Fewa Lake
• Rara Lake
• Rupa Lake
• Begnas Lake
• Shey phoksundo lake
• Tilicho Lake
• Gosaikunda Lake

Pakistan

See main article: List of lakes of Pakistan.

• Attabad Lake
• Ansoo Lake
• Banjosa Lake
• Dudipatsar Lake
• Hanna Lake
• Karambar Lake
• Kundol Lake
• Lulusar Lake
• Mahodand Lake
• Payee Lake
• Pyala Lake
• Shangrila Lake

Philippines

See main article: List of lakes of the Philippines.

• Laguna de Bay
• Lake Lanao

Russia

See main article: List of lakes of Russia.

• Lake Baikal

Saudi Arabia

• Al-Asfar Lake
• Sabkhat Matti

Singapore

See main article: List of lakes of Singapore.

Syria

• Lake Assad
• Lake Qattinah
• Lake Al-Rastan
• Lake Muzairib
• Zarzar Lake
• Lake Ballouran

Turkey

See main article: List of lakes of Turkey.

• Lake Van

Turkmenistan

See main article: List of lakes of Turkmenistan.

Uzbekistan

See main article: List of lakes of Uzbekistan.

Vietnam

See main article: List of lakes of Vietnam.

State of Palestine|Palestine

See main article: List of lakes of the State of Palestine.

• Dead Sea
• Sea of Galilee

Taiwan

See main article: List of lakes of Taiwan.

• Bitan Lake
• Changpi Lake
• Chengcing Lake
• Chiaming Lake
• Cueifong Lake
• Gugang Lake
• Jinshi Lake
• Lantan Lake
• Liyu Lake
• Longtan Lake
• Meihua Lake
• Milk Lake
• Sun Moon Lake
• Zhongzheng Lake

Europe

See also: List of largest lakes of Europe.

International lakes of Europe

• Lake Constance (Austria, Germany, Switzerland; Bodensee)
• Dojran Lake (North Macedonia and Greece)
• Lake Geneva (France, Switzerland; Lac Léman)
• Lake Lugano (Switzerland, Italy)
• Lake Maggiore (Switzerland, Italy; Lago Maggiore)
• Lake Neusiedl (Neusiedler See)/Fertő (Austria, Hungary)
• Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia, Albania; Liqeni i Ohrit)
• Lake Peipsi-Pihkva (Estonia, Russia)
• Lake Great Prespa (Albania, North Macedonia, Greece)
• Lake Small Prespa (Albania, Greece)
• Lake Skadar (Montenegro, Albania; Liqeni i Shkodrës)
• Lake Vištytis (Lithuania, Russia)
• Lago di Lei (an artificial lake created by a dam; the waters are mostly in Italy but the dam is in Switzerland).

Lists by country

Albania

See main article: List of lakes of Albania.

• Lake Ohrid

Armenia

See main article: List of lakes of Armenia.

• Lake Sevan
• Lake Lessing

Austria

See main article: List of lakes of Austria.

• Ahornsee

Azerbaijan

See main article: List of lakes of Azerbaijan.

• Lake Sarysu
• Lake Ağgöl

Belgium

See main article: List of lakes of Belgium.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

See main article: List of lakes of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bulgaria

See main article: List of lakes of Bulgaria.

• Lake Atanasovsko
• Banderishki Lakes
• Batak Reservoir
• Lake Burgas
• Dospat Reservoir
• Lake Durankulak
• Iskar Reservoir
• Lake Mandrensko
• Lake Pomorie
• Lake Varna
• Seven Rila Lakes
• Lake Srebarna

Croatia

See main article: List of lakes of Croatia.

Cyprus

• Larnaca Salt Lake
• Limassol Salt Lake

Czech Republic

See main article: List of lakes of the Czech Republic.

Denmark

See main article: List of lakes of Denmark.

Estonia

See main article: List of lakes of Estonia.

Finland

See main article: List of lakes of Finland.

France

See main article: List of lakes of France.

Georgia

See main article: List of lakes of Georgia (country).

Germany

See main article: List of lakes of Germany.

Greece

See main article: List of lakes of Greece.

Hungary

See main article: List of lakes of Hungary.

• Lake Balaton
• Lake Tisza
• Lake Velencei
• Lake Hévíz
• Lake Vadkert

Iceland

See main article: List of lakes of Iceland.

Ireland

See main article: List of lakes of the Republic of Ireland.

Italy

See main article: List of lakes of Italy.

• Lake Garda

Kazakhstan

See main article: List of lakes of Kazakhstan.

Latvia

See main article: List of lakes of Latvia.

• Lake Lubāns
• Lake Rāzna
• Lake Engure

Lithuania

See main article: List of lakes of Lithuania.

Montenegro

See main article: List of lakes of Montenegro.

Netherlands

See main article: List of lakes of the Netherlands.

Norway

See main article: List of lakes of Norway.

Poland

See main article: List of lakes of Poland.

• Lake Śniardwy
• Lake Mamry
• Lake Łebsko
• Lake Dąbie
• Lake Miedwie
• Lake Jeziorak
• Lake Niegocin
• Lake Hańcza

Portugal

See main article: List of lakes of Portugal.

Romania

See main article: List of lakes of Romania.

Russia

See main article: List of lakes of Russia.

Serbia

See main article: List of lakes of Serbia.

• Lake Palić
• Perućac Lake
• Vlasina Lake

Slovakia

• Blatné
• Devínske
• Jazero
• Morské oko
• Štrbské pleso
• Zemplínska šírava
• Zlaté Piesky

Slovenia

See main article: List of lakes of Slovenia.

• Lake Cerknica

Spain

• Lake of Banyoles
• El Atazar Dam
• Estanys de Baiau
• Lakes of Covadonga
• Embalse de Navacerrada
• Sanabria Lake Natural Park

Sweden

See main article: List of lakes of Sweden.

• Vänern
• Vättern
• Mälaren
• Hjälmaren
• Storsjön

Switzerland

See main article: List of lakes of Switzerland.

Turkey

See main article: List of lakes of Turkey.

Ukraine

See main article: List of largest lakes of Ukraine.

United Kingdom

See main article: List of lakes of the United Kingdom.

North and Central America

International lakes of North America

Listed in order of occurrence from easternmost border terminus to the westernmost

• Woodland Flowage
• Grand Falls Flowage
• Spednic Lake (part of the Chiputneticook Lakes)
• East Grand Lake (part of the Chiputneticook Lakes)
• North Lake, partly in North Lake Parish, New Brunswick
• Glazier Lake
• Beau Lake
• Lac de l'Est
• Little St. John Lake (Petit lac Saint-Jean)
• Lac Wallace
• Line Pond (Etang Duck)
• Lake Memphremagog a 40adj=midNaNadj=mid glacial lake that extends from Vermont into Canada
• Lake Champlain in Quebec in Canada and New York and Vermont in the United States (US)
• Lake Ontario in Ontario, Canada; and New York in the US
• Lake Erie in Ontario in Canada and Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in the US
• Lake St Clair in Ontario, Canada; and Michigan in the US
• Lake Huron in Ontario in Canada and Michigan in the US
• Munuscong Lake
• Lake George
• Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada; and Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the US
• South Fowl Lake
• North Fowl Lake
• Moose Lake, entry point into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
• Mountain Lake (Cook County, Minnesota)
• Rose Lake (Pigeon River)
• South Lake
• North Lake
• Gunflint Lake
• Magnetic Lake
• Clove Lake
• Granite Lake in Minnesota, US, and Ontario, Canada
• Granite Bay
• Gneiss Lake
• Maraboeuf Lake
• Saganaga Lake
• Swamp Lake
• Ottertrack Lake
• Knife Lake
• Carp Lake in Minnesota, US, and Ontario, Canada
• Birch Lake in Minnesota, US, and Ontario, Canada
• Sucker Lake
• Basswood Lake
• Wednesday Bay
• Thursday Bay
• Crooked Lake in Minnesota, US, and Ontario, Canada
• Sunday Bay
• Bottle Lake
• Lac la Croix
• Loon Lake
• Little Vermillion Lake
• Sand Point Lake
• Rainy Lake
• Lake of the Woods in Minnesota, US; Manitoba and Ontario in Canada
• Wilfred's Lake
• Susie Lake
• Osthus Lake
• South Messier Lake
• Hartley Lake
• Boundary Lake in North Dakota, US; Manitoba, Canada
• Cavalier Lake
• Ross Lake in North Dakota, US, and Manitoba, Canada
• Lake Metigoshe
• Bone Lake
• Line Lake
• Brush Lake in North Dakota, US, and Saskatchewan, Canada
• Salt Lake in northeastern Montana, US; known as Alkali Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada
• Upper Waterton Lake in Alberta, Canada; and Montana, US
• Cameron Lake in Alberta, Canada; and Montana, US
• Frozen Lake
• Lake Koocanusa
• Alden Lake
• Osoyoos Lake
• Ross Lake in Washington, US, and British Columbia, Canada

See also: Great Lakes.

Lists by country

Canada

See main article: List of lakes of Canada.

• Turtle Lake (Vancouver Island)
• Lake Huron
• Lake Superior
• Great Bear Lake
• Great Slave Lake
• Lake Erie
• Lake Winnipeg
• Lake Ontario
• Lake Athabasca
• Reindeer Lake
• Smallwood Reservoir
• Nettilling Lake
• Lake Winnipegosis
• Lake Nipigon
• Lake Manitoba
• Lake of the Woods
• Caniapiscau Reservoir
• Dubawnt Lake

Costa Rica

See main article: List of lakes of Costa Rica.

El Salvador

• • • • Lago de Coatepeque (Coatepeque Lake) Lago De Ilopango (Ilopango Lake) Laguna De Güija (Güija Lake) Laguna Verde
• Laguna de Alegria
• Olomega Lake
• Suchitlán Lake

Guatemala

See main article: List of lakes of Guatemala.

• Lake Atitlan

Honduras

• Lake Yojoa

Mexico

See main article: List of lakes of Mexico.

• Lake Chapala
• Lake Texcoco
• Lake Catemaco
• Lake Patzcuaro
• Lake Cuitzeo
• Lake Zirahuen

Nicaragua

See main article: List of lakes of Nicaragua.

• Lake Apanás
• Lake Nicaragua (Lake Cocibolca)
• Lake Managua
• Laguna de Apoyo

Panama

See main article: List of lakes of Panama.

• • Lago Bayano Gatun Lake

United States

See main article: List of lakes of the United States.

• Crater Lake
• Great Salt Lake
• The Great Lakes

Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario

• Lake Champlain
• Lake Okeechobee
• Lake Pontchartrain
• Lake Tahoe
• Lake Winnebago

Oceania

Lists by country

Australia

See main article: List of lakes of Australia.

Nauru

See main article: List of lakes of Nauru.

• Buada Lagoon

New Zealand

See main article: List of lakes of New Zealand.

Papua New Guinea

See main article: List of lakes of Papua New Guinea.

Wallis and Futuna

See main article: List of lakes of Wallis and Futuna.

South America

International lakes of South America

• Lake Titicaca (in Peru and Bolivia)
• General Carrera Lake (in Chile and Argentina)
• O'Higgins/San Martín Lake (in Chile and Argentina)
• Cochrane/Pueyrredón Lake (in Chile and Argentina)
• Cami/Fagnano Lake (in Chile and Argentina)
• Palena/General Vintter Lake (in Chile and Argentina)
• Lake Viedma (undefined border near the Southern Patagonian Ice Field between Chile and Argentina)

Lists by country

Argentina

See main article: List of lakes of Argentina.

Bolivia

See main article: List of lakes of Bolivia.

Brazil

See main article: List of lakes of Brazil.

Chile

See main article: List of lakes of Chile.

Peru

See main article: List of lakes of Peru.

• Lake Titicaca
• Quñuqqucha

Suriname

• Brokopondo Reservoir

Uruguay

See main article: List of lakes of Uruguay.

Venezuela

• Guri (man-made)
• Lake Maracaibo (sometimes considered a sea)
• Lake Valencia

Former lakes

See also: List of prehistoric lakes.

• Lake Agassiz
• Lake Ballivián
• Lake Hula
• Lake Makgadikgadi
• Lop Nur
• Owens Lake
• Tulare Lake

Extraterrestrial lakes

Titan

See main article: Lakes of Titan.

See also

• List of lakes by area
• List of lakes by depth
• List of lakes by volume
• List of dams and reservoirs
• List of international lakes

Notes and References

1. See map in https://web.archive.org/web/20140823135256/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329834.200-first-samples-of-antarctic-lake-reveal-thriving-life.html#.U_ic7aPylrU . August 23, 2014 . Aldhous . Peter . First samples of Antarctic lake reveal thriving life . . August 23, 2014 . 12 . 10.1016/S0262-4079(14)61609-2 .
2. Web site: Lakes of Asia, Landforms of Asia – Worldatlas.com . WorldAtlas . Reunion Technology Inc. . August 15, 2020.
3. News: Micklin . Philip . Aladin . Nikolay V. . Reclaiming the Aral Sea . Scientific American . April 2008. May 17, 2008.
4. News: Aral Sea 'one of the planet's worst environmental disasters'. April 5, 2010 . May 1, 2010 . London . . https://web.archive.org/web/20100408214552/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7554679/Aral-Sea-one-of-the-planets-worst-environmental-disasters.html . April 8, 2010 . dead.