The largest lake on Earth … What is it? Agree that the word "lake" seems to be a certain quiet and calm body of water overgrown with reeds. In it, covering our eyes, we see white water lilies, and to the opposite shore just a stone's throw.
However, few people think about the fact that there are also such lakes that will definitely give odds to some of the seas, both in terms of size and depth, and in the strength of storms that arise periodically.
Today I propose to talk specifically about them.
The largest lake on earth. Its characteristic features
Oddly enough, but we are all accustomed to call the largest lake on Earth the sea, or simply the Caspian. In fact, taking into account its features, it is simply impossible to call it a sea. Why? Because, by definition, some rivers should flow into the latter, but the Caspian, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, is closed.
If you look closely at the pictures taken from space, you can immediately notice another indisputably important feature. - The Caspian Sea has a rather complex shape resembling the letter S from the Latin alphabet.
Its dimensions are really impressive: the length from north to south is about 1200 km, but the distance from the east to the west coast differs in different parts, and therefore the figure ranges from 195 to 345 km, the average figure is 315 km.
From a purely geographical point of view, as well as taking into account its physical conditions, the Caspian is accustomed to divide into three parts: Northern, Middle and Southern.
The shores are usually smooth and low. And only in the northern part the coastline is noticeably indented by islands and channels of such powerful rivers as the Volga and the Urals. In this swampy and extremely low area, the water surface in many places is covered with thickets.
The largest lake on earth. North America
The second on the list of champions is Lake Superior, located in North America and one of the cascades of the Great Lakes.
However, one cannot fail to note the fact that, among other things, it is also considered the largest of the freshwater lakes on the planet.
You can see it with your own eyes on the border of two states at once - the USA and Canada. The northern and eastern parts belong to the Canadian province of Ontario, while the western and southern parts are represented by three American states: Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
If we talk about geological features, the Upper Lake was formed as a result of tectonic movements in the ice and preglacial periods. Retreating, the water of the glaciers melted, thereby filling the water with a huge body of water in size.
The largest lake in America is now considered, and deservedly, a favorite vacation spot not only for local residents, but also for a huge number of tourists who have been trying here almost all year to admire beautiful islands and take pictures of rocky and steep coasts.
The largest lake on earth. Europe
According to statistics, the largest freshwater reservoir in Europe can be considered Lake Ladoga, located in the northwestern part of our country. Its size, compared with the two lakes listed above, is quite modest: the length from north to south is 219 km, and the average width is only 138 km.
However, notably the largest lake in Europe is not at all that. It plays an important role in the life of the Russian Federation. And above all, it supplies drinking water to our northern capital. The water in Ladoga is clear, cold and practically does not contain any impurities of mineral salts. Secondly, it also has an important commercial value, since From time immemorial, numerous species of the salmon family live in its waters. In addition, this pond significantly affects the weather - it is here that the marine climate changes to continental.
