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100 Largest Natural Lakes in the World Discover the world's largest natural lakes, from the Caspian Sea and Lake Superior to Lake Victoria and Lake Baikal. Explore their surface areas, countries and continents using our interactive map and rankings.
Interactive World Map of Lakes Explore the locations of the world's largest natural lakes. Click a marker to discover its name, countries and surface area.
Map markers use HydroLAKES pour-point coordinates and may not represent the geographic center of each lake.
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# Lake Countries Continent Area (km²) 1 Caspian Sea Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan Europe / Asia 377,001.91 2 Superior United States, Canada North America 81,843.92 3 Victoria Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania Africa 67,166.22 4 Huron United States, Canada North America 59,399.3 5 Michigan United States North America 57,726.84 6 Tanganyika DR Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia Africa 32,826.65 7 Baikal Russia Asia 31,967.85 8 Great Bear Canada North America 30,450.64 9 Malawi Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania Africa 29,544 10 Great Slave Canada North America 26,734.29 11 Erie United States, Canada North America 25,767.79 12 Winnipeg Canada North America 23,923.04 13 Ontario United States, Canada North America 19,347.36 14 Ladoga Russia Europe 17,444.01 15 Balkhash Kazakhstan Asia 16,717.89 16 Onega Russia Europe 9,961.85 17 Titicaca Bolivia, Peru South America 8,002.51 18 Nicaragua Nicaragua North America 7,833.32 19 Athabasca Canada North America 7,528.73 20 Turkana Kenya, Ethiopia Africa 7,473.43 21 Issyk Kul Kyrgyzstan Asia 6,195.93 22 Rukwa United Republic of Tanzania Africa 5,894.78 23 Albert Uganda, DR Congo Africa 5,526.92 24 Vanern Sweden Europe 5,486.23 25 Mweru DR Congo, Zambia Africa 5,042.56 26 Winnipegosis Canada North America 5,035.51 27 Taymyr Russia Asia 4,908.66 28 Netilling Canada North America 4,872.7 29 Manitoba Canada North America 4,751.05 30 Nipigon Canada North America 4,505.95 31 Qinghai China Asia 4,266.55 32 Zaysan Kazakhstan Asia 4,193.6 33 Khanka Russia, China Asia 4,118.84 34 Mirim Brazil, Uruguay South America 3,899.7 35 Uvs Mongolia, Russia Asia 3,600.81 36 Dubawnt Canada North America 3,583.21 37 Van Turkey Asia 3,568.73 38 Torrens Australia Oceania 3,539.2 39 Peipsi Russia, Estonia Europe 3,489 40 Woods Canada, United States North America 3,472.81 41 Gairdner Australia Oceania 3,373.98 42 Tana Ethiopia Africa 3,059.34 43 Amadjuak Canada North America 2,994.94 44 Alakol Kazakhstan Asia 2,919.34 45 Kyoga Uganda Africa 2,788.19 46 Khovsgol Mongolia Asia 2,767.8 47 Iliamna United States North America 2,634.62 48 Frome Australia Oceania 2,508.03 49 Kivu Rwanda, DR Congo Africa 2,400.88 50 Tai China Asia 2,329.14 51 Mai-Ndombe DR Congo Africa 2,316.21 52 Wollaston Canada North America 2,269.59 53 Edward DR Congo, Uganda Africa 2,241.98 54 Mistassini Canada North America 2,182.5 55 Hulun China Asia 2,121.43 56 Chany Russia Asia 1,966.57 57 Nam China Asia 1,963.82 58 Nueltin Canada North America 1,917.62 59 Vattern Sweden Europe 1,888.04 60 Buenos Aires Chile, Argentina South America 1,763.81 61 Bangweulu Zambia Africa 1,763.53 62 Siling China Asia 1,749.53 63 Martre Canada North America 1,679.89 64 Baker Canada North America 1,664.7 65 Mweru wa Ntipa Zambia Africa 1,449.04 66 Tengiz Kazakhstan Asia 1,422.85 67 Okeechobee United States North America 1,418.77 68 Khyargas Mongolia Asia 1,383.23 69 Yathkyed Canada North America 1,336.49 70 Claire Canada North America 1,332.93 71 Kasba Canada North America 1,330.11 72 Argentino Argentina South America 1,319.94 73 Moose Canada North America 1,311.82 74 La Ronge Canada North America 1,296.47 75 Paijanne Finland Europe 1,270.47 76 Sevan Armenia Asia 1,242.22 77 Lac a L'Eau Claire Canada North America 1,238.65 78 Eyasi United Republic of Tanzania Africa 1,200.3 79 Viedma Argentina South America 1,193.37 80 Lesser Slave Canada North America 1,186.51 81 Beloye Russia Europe 1,182.4 82 Vygozero Russia Europe 1,167.6 83 Becharof United States North America 1,166.38 84 Saint Clair Canada, United States North America 1,161.17 85 Cree Canada North America 1,155.15 86 Champlain Canada, United States North America 1,141.3 87 Toba Indonesia Asia 1,129.03 88 Khar Us Mongolia Asia 1,120.49 89 Saint-Jean Canada North America 1,112.79 90 Aberdeen Canada North America 1,102.61 91 Inari Finland Europe 1,098.17 92 Chilwa Malawi Africa 1,088.14 93 Abaya Ethiopia Africa 1,084.75 94 Malaren Sweden Europe 1,083.13 95 Imandra Russia Europe 1,063.61 96 Managua Nicaragua North America 1,060.87 97 Contwoyto Canada North America 1,053.82 98 Chapala Mexico North America 1,051.7 99 Napaktulik Lake Canada North America 1,031.69 100 Gods Lake Canada North America 1,024.08
Source: HydroLAKES. Provisional ranking based on source surface-area values. These are not real-time measurements.
About the Largest Lakes Ranking This provisional ranking focuses on natural lakes around the world. Surface area values are based on the HydroLAKES geographic dataset and may differ from other published measurements.
Lake surface areas can change over time because of seasonal water levels, precipitation, evaporation and other environmental factors. Individual lake records are still being verified.
