Lakes are water bodies that arose naturally. They have no direct connection to the sea or ocean. This is a closed depression that appeared on the earth's surface, filled with water.
Most of the planet’s lakes are fresh, but there are so-called mineral or salt lakes. Lakes play a huge role in people's lives, first of all, these are valuable sources of drinking water. There are hundreds and thousands of them on our planet, they are almost everywhere, but the largest lakes in the world are especially valued. Why, you will learn from our article.
10.
Located in Canada. It's called Great Slave Lake, in honor of one Native American nation that once lived near it. But the name Slave confused with the English word slave denoting "Slave" and they began to call him "Slave" although it has nothing to do with slaves.
In 2010, there was a lot of talk about the need to rename the lake, to return the traditional Native American names - Tu Nedhe or Cloud what can be translated as "Big water"But didn’t do anything.
It is quite deep, up to 614 m. In Great Slave Lake There are more than 21 species of fish. Unfortunately, next to it is a mine that has polluted it with its waste. In 1978, one of the Soviet satellites fell into it, because of which there was a radioactive infection of the area.
9. Lake Nyasa, 30,044 km2
In Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique you can admire nyasa lake. Its name comes from the Yao language, and in translation means only "lake". 14 rivers flow into it, 1 follows.
From 500 to 1 thousand species of fish live in it, and also there are many crocodiles. On its shore you can meet whooper eagles, which were attracted by fish. Larvae of flies live in shallow water. Once a year, their mass departure takes place.
The local population feeds itself with fishing, up to 300 thousand people are associated with it. For the population of Malawi, it is fish that is the main source of animal protein.
8. Big Bear Lake, 31,080 km2
This huge lake is also located in Canada. The name appeared thanks to the traveler Alexander Mackenzie, who thus translated the local words “Grizzly Lake. "
Big Bear Lake impressive in its size, but can not boast of a variety of fauna and flora. It has only 16 species of fish. On the shores of the lake there are coniferous forests that interspersed with swamps, somewhere an endless tundra stretches. Near it you can meet 14 species of mammals and as many as 42 species of birds.
In the 1930s, radium and uranium were mined on its shores, the radioactive dumps of which were dumped directly into the water. Heavy metals, mercury accumulated in the body of fish and were dangerous for humans, which is why fishing in some places of the lake is prohibited.
7. Lake Baikal, 31,500 km2
In Russia you can visit lake Baikal. It is located in Eastern Siberia. 336 rivers and streams flow into it (according to other sources, 544 and 1123).
The water in Lake Baikal is incredibly clean thanks to the microscopic crustacean epishura, which feeds on organic matter. It is so transparent that in spring, when the water is blue, you can see stones at a depth of up to forty meters (in summer and autumn, the number of plants and animal organisms in warm water increases, it turns green). There are 27 islands on the lake, 12 of which are especially large.
6. Lake Tanganyika, 32,893 km2
Located in Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo, Zambia. It stands out not only for its size, but also for its depth, it is 1470 m. The natives, the Bemba tribe, called it “Yatanga Yanya", Which can be translated as"water full of fish».
It was opened in 1858. The record length of the lake is 676 km, the width is not so significant - 50 km. The shores are huge cliffs, many bays and bays.
There are more than 2 thousand species of animals, about 200 species of fish. IN Tanganyika Lake You can see crocodiles, hippos, small jellyfish, many waterfowl. Many inhabitants of the lake are similar to marine animals, as it was formed a very long time ago, never dried up, the fauna also developed, new species appeared.
It is a source of drinking water, food, many tourists come here, who are attracted by clean beaches and beautiful rocky areas.
5. Lake Michigan, 58,000 km2
In the United States, you can admire lake michigan, which belongs to the North American Great Lakes. It is under ice for 4 months.
The name of the lake was taken from the language of the Indians and it is translated as "big water " or "big lake". Once upon a time, various Indian tribes lived on its shore, Europeans reached it in 1634 (or in 1638). Next to it is the city of Michigan, it was founded in 1715.
4. Lake Huron, 59,600 km2
In the USA and Canada is located Lake Huron. It is located near Lake Michigan, connected to it by a strait. Once upon a time there was caught a magnificent lake trout, but by 1950 it was almost completely exterminated, because it was caught in large quantities, and instead of this fish, sea lamprey began to multiply intensively. In the 1960s, several species of herring disappeared.
They tried to revive the population of lake trout by introducing artificially grown fry into the water, but this did not produce significant results. The lake received its name in honor of the Indian Huron.
3. Lake Victoria, 69,485 km2
Located in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania. This is where the source of the famous Nile lies. It is not very deep: a depth of about 40 m, maximum - 80 m.
It was discovered in 1858 by one of the British travelers and was named after the Queen Victoria. The local population called him Nyaza what could be translated as "lake". Until the 1920s, a double name was used - Victoria Nyanza. Now it belongs to 3 states, and in each of them it is called in its own way.
The shores of the lake are flat and low, swampy, in some places high and steep, around it there is a savannah. It contains more than two hundred species of fish, many crocodiles. A unique protoper fish is found, it breathes both gills and lungs.
2. Lake Superior, 82 414 km2
In Canada and the United States is the largest of the lakes - Top. The French called him high because it was over Huron. Gradually, the local population began to call him "Lake Superior ».
It is much cleaner than the rest of the lake. Marshes spread around it; 59 species of animals live in them, including wolves, a black bear, a cougar, and many species of birds.
1. Caspian Sea, 371,000 km2
The largest enclosed body of water - Caspian Sea, it can be called not only the sea, but also the lake. This name was given to him because of the considerable size. The following states are located on its shores: Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan. The water in it is brackish. The shores of the Caspian Sea are smooth, low.
The fauna of this sea is diverse, here you can find 1809 species, one hundred and one species of fish are found in it, especially many sturgeons. Here you can find seven hundred twenty-eight species of plants, a lot of algae.
It produces gas and oil in industrial volumes, as well as salt and other minerals. Resorts have been built on the shores, where tourists come for the sake of healing mud and mineral water.