List of largest lakes in the world

This topic refers to the largest lakes on Earth, typically ranked by surface area.

This topic refers to the largest lakes on Earth, typically ranked by surface area. In most modern references, the Caspian Sea is listed first because it is the largest inland body of water and is commonly treated as the world’s largest lake. Some lists also separately note the largest freshwater lakes by area or by volume.

Ranking by surface area

Most lists rank the largest lakes by surface area. In those rankings, the Caspian Sea is first, followed by Lake Superior, Lake Victoria, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.

Freshwater lakes

If the comparison is limited to freshwater lakes, Lake Superior is the largest by surface area, while Lake Baikal is the largest by volume. Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi also rank highly by volume.

Classification of the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is widely treated as a lake in size rankings because it is an enclosed inland body of water, though its name and brackish character can cause it to be discussed separately from ordinary lakes.

Canadian lakes in the global rankings

Canada is home to several of the world’s largest lakes, including Lake Superior, Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake, Lake Winnipeg, and Lake Ontario. These lakes are important in both national geography and global lake rankings.