Rivers from Great Rivers of the World fill lakes and pour over waterfalls. A few lakes and falls hold world records.
Key idea
The Caspian Sea is the largest lake by area (about 371,000 km²). Lake Baikal in Russia is the deepest (1,642 m) and holds the most fresh water. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by area (about 82,100 km²). Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest waterfall (979 m).
| Lake or falls | Where | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Caspian Sea | Between Europe and Asia | Largest lake by area; salty |
| Lake Superior | United States and Canada | Largest freshwater lake by area |
| Lake Baikal | Russia (Siberia) | Deepest lake; about 20% of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water |
| Lake Victoria | Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania | Largest lake in Africa |
| Lake Titicaca | Peru and Bolivia | Large lake high in the Andes |
| Angel Falls | Venezuela | Tallest waterfall, 979 m |
| Victoria Falls | Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi | One of the largest sheets of falling water |
| Iguazu Falls | Argentina and Brazil | Hundreds of separate falls |
| Niagara Falls | United States and Canada | Between Lakes Erie and Ontario |
Why it works
Baikal sits in a deep crack in Earth's crust that has been widening for about 25 million years, which makes it both the deepest and the oldest lake. Superior is wide but shallower, so Baikal holds more water even though its surface is much smaller. Angel Falls pours off the edge of a flat-topped mountain called Auyán-tepui.
Worked example: Area or depth?
Lake Superior covers about 82,100 km²; Lake Baikal about 31,700 km². Which holds more water?
- Area is only the surface.
- Baikal is far deeper: 1,642 m at its deepest.
- Volume depends on area and depth together.
Answer: Lake Baikal (about 23,600 km³, nearly twice as much as Superior).
Common mistake
Thinking the Caspian Sea is part of the ocean because of its name. Land surrounds it on every side, and its water never flows to the ocean, so geographers call it a lake, a salty one. The Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake are salty lakes too.