Deepest lake in the word

This is a list of the world’s deepest lakes (you can also take a look at the world’s largest lakes by area):

1. Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia

Deepest lake in the world with a depth of 1,637 meters (5369 ft). Lake Baikal is also the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world, containing roughly 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface fresh water.

2. Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa

1,470 meters deep (4,823 ft). It is estimated to be also the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume. The lake is divided among four countries – Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia.

3. The Caspian Sea

1,025 meters (3,363 ft). It is the largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world’s largest lake or a full-fledged sea.it has no outflows and is bounded by Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

4. Lake Vostok, Antartica

900 meters (3000 ft). Lake is the largest of Antarctica’s almost 400 known subglacial lakes. The lake is located beneath Russia’s Vostok Station under the surface of the central East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

5. Lake O’Higgins-San Martín, Chile & Argentina

836 meters (2,742 ft) deep. Located in Patagonia, It has a surface area of 1,013 km and a shoreline length of 525 km. Viewed from above, the lake consists of a series of finger-shaped flooded valleys, of which 554 km are in Chile and 459 km in Argentina.

6. Lake Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi

706 meters (2,316 ft). The third largest and second deepest lake in Africa.

7. Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan

668 meters (2,192 ft). Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Issyk Kul never freezes, hence its name, which means “hot lake” in the Kyrgyz language.

8. Great Slave Lake, Canada

614 meters (2,015 ft) – the deepest lake in North America.

9. Crater Lake, Oregon, United States

594 meters (1,949 ft). The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot (655 m) deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. It is known as one of the most beautiful crater lakes in the world.

10. Matano, Indonesia

590 meters (1,936 ft). Also known as Matana, It is one of the two major lakes in the Malili Lake system.

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Key Points:

• The world’s largest lake, located in Siberia, has a depth of 5,387 feet or 1,642 meters. This lake houses 20% of the world’s total unfrozen freshwater.
• Crater Lake, one of the deepest in the world, was formed only 7,700 years ago when a massive volcano called Mount Mazama collapsed after the eruption.
• Lake Malawi is estimated to be 1-2 million years old. It’s so clear that on a bright day one can see up to 20 meters into its depths.

Lakes vary in size and depth. Some are enclosed and can only lose water through evaporation, while others are open lakes where the water eventually ends up in the sea. Most lakes are freshwater, while a few lakes are salty.

A lake is an entirely different habitat that hosts a variety of marine biodiversity, ranging from freshwater fish like catfish, salmon, eel, and sturgeon to aquatic birds like swans, ducks, and kingfishers.

Lakes form through an inland depression caused by several reasons, such as tectonic plate movements, volcanic activities, or abandoned parts of rivers.

These reasons make every lake’s depth and surface area in the world vary. But which are the deepest lakes in the world? And how deep can they measure below sea level?

This article will list down and explore the 10 deepest lakes in the world.

The 10 Deepest Lakes in the World

10. Lake Matano, Indonesia

Lake Matano, also called Matana, is a natural lake located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Measuring up to 1,940 feet or 590 meters deep, Lake Matano is considered the 10th deepest lake in the world. The surface height above the mean sea level is only 382 meters (1,253 feet), indicating that the lake’s deepest part is below sea level.

Vale Canada Limited, one of the world’s largest nickel mines, owns Lake Matano. Still, the water is crystal clear and provides excellent visibility. Tourists travel to the lake every year for the Lake Matano Festival and popular activities like boating, swimming, fishing, and even diving.

9. Crater Lake, USA

Ranking as the world’s 9th largest lake, Crater Lake in the south-central Oregon of western United States goes down to 1,943 feet or 594 meters deep, making it the deepest lake in the U.S. The water in the lake, which is known for its magnificent blue color, comes directly from snow or rain. There are no entrances from other waterways or water sources. This lake is thought to be the 9th deepest lake in the world.

This ensures that no debris or mineral deposits are carried into the lake, preserving its rich hue and making it one of the cleanest and clearest bodies of water on the planet. It is one of the main attractions in Crater Lake National Park, and visitors are welcome to swim in approved spots.  

Crater Lake is relatively young and was formed about 7,700 years ago when a massive volcano called Mount Mazama collapsed after the eruption. At the time, the Klamath Indians spoke of a mythologized yet authentic account of the collapse and eruption.

As mentioned, lakes form in various ways, and one of those is a volcanic activity that creates a crater at the mouth of the volcano.

8. Great Slave Lake, Canada

If Crater Lake surpasses the depth of all lakes in the U.S, Great Slave Lake owns the crown for being the deepest lake in all of North America. As the world’s 8th deepest lake, Great Slave Lake also makes it to the top 10 largest lakes in the world. The Great Slave Lake measures 2‎,014  feet or 614 meters deep. It is the 8th deepest lake in the world.

It is located in Canada’s Northwest Territories and is named after an indigenous group called the Slave or Slavey, who inhabited the lake’s shoreline about 8,000 years ago.

Great Slave Lake has a surface area that extends to 10,502 sq mi, making it the second-largest lake in Canada. Because of the cold northern environment, the site is densely populated. 

7. Issyk-Kul or Lake Ysyk, Kyrgyzstan

With a depth of 2,192 feet or 668 meters, Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan makes it the 7th deepest lake in the world. Issyk-Kul is a saline lake, which means it’s an enclosed lake with high salt content. It’s the world’s second-biggest salt lake after the Caspian Sea and the second-largest mountain lake. Issyk-Kul lies at an elevation of  5,270 feet or 1,606 meters in the Tien Shan mountains.

In the country, the lake is locally called Ysyk-Köl, which translates to “Hot Lake.” This is because the lake, despite its high location, never freezes. The temperature in the area typically reaches negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit. 

6. Lake Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania

Also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Malawi is a narrow lake stretching across two countries between Mozambique and Tanzania in Africa. Despite its thin and long surface area, you should never underestimate its depth. Measuring a depth of 2,316 feet or 706 meters, it is the world’s 6th deepest lake in the world.

Lake Malawi is an old lake estimated to be 1-2 million years old. Visibility might reach 20 meters on a good day in this glass-clear lake.

Lake Malawi is also known for its extraordinarily abundant biodiversity. It hosts about a thousand fish species, making it home to 15% of the Earth’s freshwater fish. 

5. O’Higgins/San Martín Lake, Chile and Argentina

The 5th deepest lake on Earth has two names because it stretches over two South American countries: Chile and Argentina. In Chile, the 836-meter-deep lake is called the O’Higgins Lake as it sits near the O’Higgins Glacier. In Argentina, the lake is called San Martín and is famous not only for its 2,743-feet depth but for its milky-white turquoise color caused by the sweeping mountains surrounding it, providing a high concentration of rock flour suspended into the water from the glaciers. 

4. Lake Vostok, Antarctica

Not all lakes can be seen by the naked eye. Lake Vostok differs from the other lakes in this list as it is difficult to spot from a plain surface. Located in the iciest continent in the world, Lake Vostok in Antarctica buries about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the surface.

Apart from being the largest known subglacial lake, it is also the deepest. Reaching a maximum depth of 900 meters or 3,000 feet, it is the world’s 4th deepest lake.

Lake Vostok holds nearly 5,400 cubic kilometers of fresh water. Because scientists cannot easily penetrate through the ice, they cannot collect many samples to study life under its waters. However, in 2012, scientists successfully drilled to the lake’s surface. Many new types of bacterial life have been discovered by scientists investigating the samples.

An ice cap covers it, leading to a high gas concentration. Although the lake is believed to be up to 25 million years old, it was only discovered in 2012.

Lake Vostok is known as the world’s largest subglacial lake.

3. Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia

As the largest lake on the planet, there is no doubt that the Caspian Sea stretches not only to two or three countries but to five regions: Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. The Caspian Sea holds a plethora of record-breaking titles.

Apart from being the world’s largest lake, it is also Earth’s biggest saline lake, the largest enclosed basin, and the third deepest lake in the world. The Caspian Sea measures 3,363 feet or 1,025 meters deep.

Despite its name, the Caspian Sea isn’t a sea. Its enormous surface area, nerve-racking depth, and high salinity qualify as a sea, but since it is a fully enclosed basin, it falls under a lake.

The economies of the surrounding countries rely heavily on commercial fishing and tourism to the Caspian shore. 

2. Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia

Lake Tanganyika is considered the African Great Lake as it stretches across four countries in Africa: Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Apart from being the world’s longest freshwater lake, it also sports a depth of 4,820 ft or 1,470 meters, making second of the world’s deepest lakes. Lake Tanganyika seems to be competing with the Caspian Sea in titles as it also is the second oldest lake on the planet, next to Lake Baikal. Like Lake Malawi, it also holds a high level of marine biodiversity and is exceptionally long and narrow.

The lake is known to be home to 18% of the world’s freshwater fish, where species of sardines, sponges, and jellyfish are endemic, feeding the 10 million people living around its basin.

1. Lake Baikal, Russia

Having a maximum depth of 5,387 feet or 1,642 meters, Lake Baikal holds the crown as the deepest lake in the world. Located in Siberia and formed in an ancient rift valley, Lake Baikal is also the world’s largest freshwater lake, containing over 20% of all the Earth’s unfrozen fresh water, even more than all the water of North American Great Lakes combined.

It also happens that this enormous and incredibly deep lake has the clearest waters of all the lakes in the world.

If that is not enough, Lake Baikal is also studied to have been around for 25 million years now, making it the oldest known lake. This UNESCO World Heritage Site hosts an abundant ecosystem as well.

The lake is home to 60 species of fish native to the region, 236 various bird species, 2,500 diverse animals, 1,000 plant varieties, and its freshwater seal population called the Baikal seal. The Baikal seal is the only pinniped that exclusively lives in freshwater habitats. 

The 10 Deepest Lakes vs. 10 Largest Lakes

While our list includes the lakes with the greatest depths, there are lakes in the world which cover larger areas, and therefore fall in the category “largest lakes in the world.” Below is a chart comparing the top 10 in each category:

Rank	Deepest Lakes	Largest Lakes
1	Lake Baikal, Russia	Caspian Sea, S.E. Europe and W. Asia
2	Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa	Lake Superior, United States
3	Caspian Sea, S.E. Europe and W. Asia	Lake Victoria, East Africa
4	Lake Vostok, Antarctica	Lake Huron, United States
5	O’Higgins/San Martín Lake, Chile and Argentina	Lake Michigan, United States
6	Lake Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania	Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa
7	Lake Ysyk, Kyrgyzstan	Lake Baikal, Russia
8	Great Slave Lake, Canada	Great Bear Lake, Canada
9	Crater Lake, United States	Lake Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania
10	Lake Matano, Indonesia	Great Slave Lake, Canada

Up Next…

• Discover the Largest Mountain in the World Which mountain takes the prize as the biggest on our planet? Find out in this interesting article.
• How Deep is the Pacific Ocean? If you’ve ever wondered just how deep the Pacific Ocean goes, we’ll give you the details.
• 15 Insanely Clear Lakes and Why They’re So Clear To learn about lakes so clear you can see the bottom (or yourself reflected clear as a mirror), check out 15 of the clearest lakes in the world.

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Lake can be found everywhere; in mountainous regions, basins, melted glacial areas and rift zones. They have been formed by glacier movements, landslides, ice-damming, sinkholes and volcanic eruptions. Depending on where exactly they are located, lakes vary in volume, area and depth.

If you ever wondered which lakes were the deepest, these are the 15 deepest lakes in the world.

1. Lake Baikal; Russia

Source: Hollyrik Photography / shutterstock

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the deepest lake in the world, at 1,642 metres. Lake Baikal also happens to be around 25 million years old, making it the world’s oldest lake.

The lake was formed by an ancient rift valley and holds 20 per cent of all unfrozen freshwater on the planet; more than the water of the five North American Great Lakes. It also happens to be considered one of the clearest lakes in the world.

Lake Baikal is home to 60 native fish species, a freshwater seal population, 236 bird species and a plethora of other animals. In fact, in addition to being home to around 2,500 animal species, the lake also hosts over 1,000 plant species.

2. Lake Tanganyika; Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi & Zambia

Source: Robin Nieuwenkamp / shutterstock

This African Great Lake is not only the world’s longest freshwater lake, but, at 1,470 metres, it’s also the world’s second deepest. If that’s not enough, Lake Tanganyika is the second oldest lake in the world after Lake Baikal.

The lake holds 18 per cent of the world’s freshwater and is home to its very own sardine species, sponges and jellyfish. As well, there are around 250 species of cichlid in the lake, 98 per cent of which are endemic.

Lake Tanganyika can be found in the Albertine Rift in Central Africa surrounded by mountains and valleys. The lake’s fish feed the 10 million or so people that live in its basin, with fish coming from around 800 fisheries around the lake’s 1,828 kilometres shoreline.

3. Caspian Sea; Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan

Source: Elena Odareeva / shutterstock

At 1,025 metres, the Caspian Sea is the third deepest lake in the world, holding around 78,200 cubic kilometres of water. The lake is a remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea and became landlocked around 5.5 million years ago.

Although called a sea, Caspian Lake is in fact a lake that gets 80 per cent of its water from the Volga River. It is located in the Caspian Depression around 92 metres below sea level, bounded by five different countries.

The famous Beluga sturgeon resides here, as does five other species of the ancient fish and numerous other fish species. The lake is also home to the endemic Caspian seal, the Caspian turtle and baleen whales.

4. Lake Vostok; Antarctica

Source: NASA/User:Muriel Gottrop/User:Ningyou / Wikimedia

This subglacial lake is the largest in all of Antarctica as well as being the fourth deepest lake in the world. It’s located beneath Russia’s Vostok Station at the southern Pole of Cold at -500 metres below sea level.

Lake Vostok actually sits under the central East Antarctic Ice Sheet around 4,000 metres under the surface of the ice. Its average depth is 432 metres and it holds around 5,400 cubic kilometres of freshwater.

The lake is thought to be up to 25 million years old, though it wasn’t actually discovered until 2012. It is covered by an ice cap, resulting in a high gas concentration.

5. O’Higgins/San Martín Lake; Chile & Argentina

Source: Christian Peters / shutterstock

The lake with two names is located in South America’s Patagonia region at an elevation of 250 metres. It’s known as O’Higgins Lake in Chile and San Martín Lake in Argentina, and at 836 metres is the deepest lake in the Americas.

The lake is located near the O’Higgins Glacier and surrounded by sweeping mountains, creating quite a scene. As a result, it has a milky light-blue colour due to the rock flour within the water.

The lake can be visited from El Chaltén in Argentina or Villa O’Higgins in Chile. There is also a boat that travels around the lake on the Chilean side.

6. Lake Malawi; Malawi, Mozambique & Tanzania

Source: Scott Biales / shutterstock

The second deepest lake in Africa, Lake Malawi is the sixth deepest in the world, at 706 metres. The African Great Lake is spread across three countries, and although it’s officially called Lake Malawi, it’s also known as Lake Nyasa and Lago Niassa.

The part of the lake that sits within Mozambique has been declared a reserve by the Government of Mozambique, while the very southern end of it is part of the Lake Malawi National Park. The meromictic lake can be found in the East African Rift system.

Lake Malawi is an ancient lake that is estimated to be between 1-2 million years old. It’s an extremely clear lake, with visibility being up to 20 metres on a good day.

7. Issyk-Kul; Kyrgyzstan

Source: Pikoso.kz / shutterstock

You can find Issyk-Kul in the Tian Shan Mountains at an elevation of 1,607 metres in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It’s the world’s second largest saline lake, second largest mountain lake, and at 668 metres, is the world’s seventh deepest.

Issyk-Kul is surrounded by mountains, though the lake itself never freezes. It’s the country’s first nature reserve as well as being a Ramsar site because of its important biodiversity.

The lake is home to many endemic fish, with four species being seriously endangered. There is also some unique nature landscapes and waterfowl, making it a lake that should be high on the list of places to visit in your life.

8. Great Slave Lake; Canada

Source: Sean Xu / shutterstock

Great Slave Lake is the deepest lake in all of North America as well as being the tenth largest lake in the world and the eighth deepest. The Northwest Territories’ capital city of Yellowknife sits on the north side of the lake, while the Wood Buffalo National Park is just south of the lake.

There are over 25 rivers that flow into the lake, including Hay River, Slave Rover and Taltstan River, which are its main tributaries. There also happens to be an ice road on the lake that connect Yellowknife to the town of Dettah.

There is evidence that the 614 metre deep lake’s shoreline was inhabited by indigenous people from around 8,000 years ago. In fact, it shares its name with the First Nations Slavey people.

9. Crater Lake; USA

Source: Zhukova Valentyna / shutterstock

Crater Lake is in fact a crater lake that was formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama over 7,500 years ago. The lake is one of the biggest draws of the state of Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park thanks to its magnificent clear deep blue water and stunning surroundings.

At 594 metres, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the USA and the ninth deepest on the planet. No rivers flow into the lake, instead it’s filled by rain and snowfall.

There are two islands within the lake; Wizard Island and Phantom Ship. Wizard Island is a volcanic cinder cone that rises 230 metres above the lake, while Phantom Ship is a natural rock formation.

10. Lake Matano; Indonesia

Source: Putu Artana / shutterstock

This natural lake is located in South Sulawesi in the southern peninsula of Sulawesi at an elevation of 382 metres. The 590 metre deep lake is the tenth deepest in the world and Indonesia’s deepest.

Lake Matano is owned by one of the largest nickel mines in the world; Vale Canada Limited. Still, the water is exceptionally clear and has great visibility.

Every year tourists flock to the lake to enjoy the Lake Matano Festival. It’s also a great place to go boating, fishing, swimming and even diving.

11. General Carrera Lake; Argentina & Chile

Source: Alberto Loyo / shutterstock

Also known as Lake Buenos Aires, the eleventh deepest lake in the world is located in Patagonia and surrounded by the Andes Mountains. It’s a glacial lake that drains into the Pacific Ocean.

The lake is extremely beautiful thanks to its surroundings as well as its own geological formations. In fact, it’s home to unusual formations that were formed by waves around 6,200 years ago.

There are a number of quant settlements around the lake on both the Chile and Argentina side that are used as a gateway. A ferry runs between Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez and Chile Chico on the Chile side, connecting the north and south sides of the lake.

12. Hornindalsvatnet; Norway

Source: Doin / shutterstock

Not only is Hornindalsvatnet the deepest lake in Norway, but also in all of Europe! Although it’s quite deep at 514 metres, its surface area is just 51 square kilometres.

There are four charming villages along the lake’s shoreline and European route E39 highway is close by. It flows out to River Eidselva, which then flows into Eidsfjorden.

Every year in July the lake is the sight of the Hornindalsvatnet Marathon, with runners starting at the north side of the lake and making their way around it. If you are a marathoner, this is a race not to miss.

13. Lake Toba; Indonesia

Source: Katesalin Pagkaihang / shutterstock

This large natural lake sits in the caldera of supervolcano in North Sumatra at a surface elevation of over 900 metres above sea level. It’s the largest lake in Indonesia, the world’s largest volcanic lake and the thirteenth deepest lake in the world.

The site of Lake Toba was the result of a massive supervolcanic eruption that occurred between 69,000 and 77,000 years ago. Apparently this was the largest eruption on Earth over the past 25 million years!

Lake Toba is home to the Batak people who have villages around the lake’s shoreline. Tourists visit the lake to learn about the culture of the people, see important Batak sites, and, of course, be in awe by the lake itself.

14. Karakul; Tajikistan

Source: NOWAK LUKASZ / shutterstock

Karakul is a 230 metre deep lake that site right inside an impact crater in the Pamir Mountains. The lake is part of the Tajik National Park and is an Important Bird Area.

Some of the bird species that live around the lake include Himalayan vultures, Tibetan sandgrouse, white-winged snowfinches, bar-headed geese and Caucasian great rosefinches. The islands in the lake is where most of the waterbirds nest and rest.

Much of the lake’s surroundings are used for grazing, although it does sit at an elevation of 3,900 metres above sea level. It’s one of the highest lakes in the world and in 2014 hosted the Roof of the World Regatta, making it the highest sailing regatta in the world.

15. Sarez Lake; Tajikistan

Source: Nodir Tursunzade / shutterstock

Sarez Lake was created by the 1911 Sarez earthquake that also formed the Usoi Dam. The lake sits at an elevation of 3,263 metres and is 202 metres deep, making it the fifteenth deepest lake in the world.

The lake is located in the Pamir Mountains and holds around 16 cubic kilometres. Surprisingly, water doesn’t flow over the top of the dam and into the smaller Shadau Lake.

This is Tajikistan’s biggest naturally formed and its scenery is nothing short of jaw-dropping. You will need a permit and a local guide to visit the lake, though these are easy enough to get through a reputable travel agent.

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