The largest lakes in Russia

Our country boasts the largest reserves of fresh water, most of which is contained in lakes. 19% of all world reserves are concentrated in Baikal alone. In total, within the Russian Federation there are about 2 million lakes with a total occupied territory of more than 700 thousand square meters. km including the Caspian Sea.

The top 10 includes the largest lakes in Russia in terms of area.

10 White lake | Area 1,29 thousand square meters. km

White Lake opens the rating of the largest lakes in Russia and covers an area of ​​​​1,29 thousand square meters. km, but due to low banks, the area may fluctuate throughout the year. The volume of water mass increased sharply in 1964 and this is due to the construction of the Sheksna reservoir. A huge natural pit is filled with water with the help of seventeen large rivers. The total number of rivers and streams flowing into the lake is about 60. The lake belongs to the Caspian Sea, since the only river flowing from it flows into the Volga.

9. Vats | Area 2 thousand square meters. km

Vans occupies the ninth line in the list of the largest lakes located on the territory of the Russian Federation. Endorheic salt reservoir with an area of ​​2 thousand square meters. km. It is located in the Baraba lowland of the Novosibirsk region. The name of the lake comes from the Turkic “chan”, which means “big vessel”. About 70 islands are located on its territory, the largest of which are Lezhan, Amelkina Griva, Medvezhiy and Kolpachok. There are 16 species of fish in Chany, including pike perch, perch, carp, silver carp and others.

8. Ubsu-Nur | Area 3,3 thousand square meters. km

Ubsu-Nur is one of the ten largest lakes in Russia with an area of ​​3,3 thousand square meters. km. The reservoir is 85 kilometers long and 80 kilometers wide. Part of the lake is located on the territory of Mongolia, where Ubu-Nur is considered the largest body of water. About 29 species of fish live here, of which only one is used by humans as food – the Altai osman.

7. Lake Peipus-Pskov | Area 3,5 thousand square meters. km

Chudsko-Pskovskoe Lake located on the seventh position among the largest reservoirs in Russia. Its total area is about 3,5 thousand square meters. km. 30 water arteries flow into the lake, and the only river Narva flows out. The reservoir is located on the borders of Russia and Estonia. On the territory of Lake Peipus-Pskovskoye there are 29 islands with an occupied territory of about 26 sq. km. In the coastal zone there is an ornithological reserve “Pskov-Chudskaya lakeside lowland”, which is the most valuable reserve of rare plant and animal species in the Baltic region.

6. Khanka | Area 4 thousand square meters. km

The sixth line in the top 10 largest lakes in Russia goes to the reservoir Hanka. Its location is the border between the Primorsky Territory of the Russian Federation and Heilongjiang Province of China. Khanka is the largest freshwater reservoir in the Far East with an area of ​​4 thousand square meters. km. 24 water arteries flow into the lake, including Melgunovka, Komissarovka, the Ilistaya River. Only one river flows out of the Khanka – the Sungacha. Here is the international Russian-Chinese Khanka nature reserve.

5. Taimyr | Area 4,6 thousand square meters. km

Taimyr ranks fifth among the largest lakes in Russia in terms of area. The largest reservoir of the Krasnoyarsk Territory has an area equal to 4,6 thousand square meters. km. Its feature is that for 9 months the lake is under ice. The local representatives of the flora include arctic fish species, including char, whitefish, muksun and others. Local islands serve as a nesting place for migratory birds – red-breasted geese and geese. The Western, Northern, Upper Taimyr, Baikura rivers flow into Taimyr, and the Lower Taimyr flows out.

4. Lake Onega | Area 9,6 thousand square meters. km

Fourth in the ranking is Onega Lake with an area of ​​9,6 thousand square meters. km. It is 245 kilometers long and 91 kilometers wide. The reservoir is located on the territory of Karelia, as well as the Vologda and Leningrad regions. About 50 rivers flow into it, and the only river that flows out is the Svir. Within Lake Onega, there are about 1650 islands with a total occupied territory of 224 kilometers. The most famous is the island of Kizhi, where the museum-reserve of the same name is located. The inhabitants of the reservoir are 47 species of fish, among which there are salmon, trout, sterlet, pike perch, eel and others. Due to the habitat of valuable species of fish, fishing is developed here.

3. Lake Ladoga | Area 18 thousand square meters. km

Ladoga opens the top three largest lakes in Russia. It belongs to one of the largest fresh water reservoirs in Europe. Its area is about 18 thousand square meters. km, and the maximum depth reaches 230 meters. From south to north, Lake Ladoga stretches for 219 kilometers, from west to east – for 138 km. About 40 rivers and streams flow into the freshwater reservoir, and the only river, the Neva, flows out. There are more than 600 islands on Ladoga with a total area of ​​435 sq. km. The largest of them are Riekkalansari, Kilpola and Vaalam. 120 species of plants grow in the water depths and 53 species of fish live, of which the most valuable are salmon, trout, pike perch and others. The Ladoga ringed seal lives here, which is the only representative of pinnipeds. The species is under protection and is listed in the Red Book.

2. Baikal | Area 31,7 thousand square meters. km

Baikal ranks second in the ranking of the largest lakes in Russia. It is the deepest lake in the world and the largest natural reservoir of fresh water, which contains about 19% of all world reserves. Its area is 31,7 thousand square meters. km, and the depth is 1642 m. Baikal stretches for 636 km in length and 80 km in width. There are 27 peninsulas and islands on its territory, the largest of them is the Svyatoy Nos peninsula. According to some reports, about 500 rivers and streams flow into it. The largest rivers flowing into Baikal include the Selenga, Upper Angara, Turka, Tyya, etc. The only river that flows out of the lake is the Angara. The water in Baikal is very transparent: at a depth of up to 40 meters, the flora and fauna of the reservoir is visible. Here is a very rich fauna, represented by 2600 species, among which about a thousand are endemic.

1. Caspian Sea | Area 371 thousand square meters. km

Caspian Sea – the name of this lake already speaks of its incredible size. The largest lake in Russia has an area equal to 371 thousand square meters. km. with a maximum depth in the South Caspian depression of more than a thousand meters. Its length is 1,2 thousand km, and its width is about 500 kilometers. It is also the largest enclosed body of water in the world, and is equated to the sea because of its size. The lake supposedly got its name in honor of the tribes of the Caspians who lived on the coast in ancient times. The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of the continents of Europe and Asia. About 130 rivers flow into it, among them such large water arteries as the Volga, Sulak, Samur, Ural, etc. The sea washes the shores of 5 states at once: Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The flora and fauna of the salt reservoir is very rich and has about 2 thousand representatives of the animal world and more than 700 plant species.

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