What is the deepest. Lake Baikal. The deepest lake in the world. The deepest mine

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Baikal is a great miracle of nature, a generous gift from heaven. Always so different, many-sided and charming, it fascinates with its pristine beauty. It is impossible to talk about Baikal without admiration. This lake is unique, it simply has no analogues in the world.

Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake on the planet, located in the south of Eastern Siberia. Its approximate age, according to some scientists, is about 25-35 million years. The entire perimeter of the lake is surrounded by hills and mountain ranges. Its dimensions are impressive: length - 636 km, width - 80 km, depth - 1642 meters, and the total area of ​​the water surface - 31.5 thousand km2.

Baikal is fed by about 400 large and small rivers, and only one, the great Angara, originates from it. The water area of ​​the lake includes 26 islands. The largest and most picturesque among them is Olkhon Island. Baikal is one of the largest natural fresh water reservoirs on Earth. It contains up to 19% of the world's reserves of crystal clear, almost distilled water.

Baikal water certainly deserves the highest epithets and ratings. She
so transparent and clean that some parts of the bottom are visible at depths of up to 40 meters. Such purity of the lake is largely due to one of its important inhabitants - the crustacean epishura. These amazing animals are a kind of biological filter, and are able to purify up to 450 km3 of water per year. In addition, epishura serves as the most important link in the food chain of the lake, being food for juvenile fish.

The water here is cold, rich in oxygen, ideal for the development of living organisms and plants in it. There is no other lake in the world that could be compared with Baikal in terms of biological diversity and uniqueness of the fauna. It is inhabited by more than 2,600 animal species and over 1,000 plant species. Most of them are pronounced endemics that exist only in the local biocenosis.

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Baikal waters are rich in fish. They are home to such commercial species as: omul, grayling, whitefish, taimen, lenok, sturgeon and others. Of great interest to scientists is the golomyanka fish. She is viviparous, her body is translucent, 30% consisting of one fat. The golomyanka population is very large. If we compare the biomass of these fish with all the rest inhabiting the lake, then it will exceed them by more than 2 times.

Another unusual representative of the fauna is the Baikal seal, the only seal in the world that lives in fresh water. This is a large animal. Males reach a length of up to 1.8 meters and a mass of 150 kg. Seals are excellent swimmers and very curious creatures, as evidenced by their constant escort of drifting ships. They feed mainly on golomyanka, eating more than a ton of this fish per year. The number of seals on Baikal is quite large, about 100 thousand individuals. The seal is hunted annually, as a result of which up to 6 thousand animals are hunted. Seal meat and fat is highly valued among the local population. Meat is used in cooking, and fat is used in medical and domestic needs.

Baikal has become a cozy home for many birds. Here in large numbers there are different types of ducks, gulls, cormorants, geese, screaming swans. The eagle enjoys special respect among the local population, and these are mainly Buryats. It is sung in legends and ancient myths, it is considered a cult bird here. Seven species of eagles live in these protected areas, including the most majestic - the burial eagle. This is a huge bird, with a wingspan of about 2 meters, sometimes living up to 100 years.

Many are interested in the question - which lake is the deepest in the world? Baikal- the deepest lake in the world. It is located in the southeastern part of Russia and occupies a vast territory of the central part of the Asian continent. Due to its greatness, the deepest lake in the world, Baikal, has several more beautiful names. The reservoir is called the deep or clear eye, the Sacred Lake, the mighty sea. Locals usually call it the Baikal Sea.
This lake contains the largest fresh water reserves on the planet, which have a unique composition. The water is not only clean and transparent, it can be compared with distilled water in terms of the content of mineral salts.
In terms of area, the deepest lake in the world, Baikal, is almost equal to Holland. It has several dozen islands. Its length is 635 km, the largest width in the center is 80 km, and the narrowest part is located in the Selenga region and is 27 km. The lake is located at an altitude of more than 450 km relative to sea level, and the length of its coast is approximately 2000 km. More than half of this coastal territory is protected by the state.
More than 300 rivers fill the deepest lake in the world, Baikal, with their waters, at least half of this volume falls on the Selenga River, and only the Angara flows out of it. Baikal is surrounded mountain ranges and numerous hills. On the West Coast, the terrain is more rocky and precipitous than on the east.

Some tourists are actively interested in where is the deepest lake in the world? These places are famous for their picturesque landscapes and the unique diversity of the animal world, which makes them interesting for tourists. The region has the status of a protected area of ​​world importance. In terms of the number of rare plants growing only in these parts, it surpasses even the flora of Madagascar and the Galapogos Islands. There are numerous resorts here. The best time to visit the world's deepest Lake Baikal is the period from late April to late October. In the summer months, tourists can make various excursions and hikes, fish, dive, hunt, relax on the beach, and in winter, skiing, ice fishing and boating are popular.
You can get to these places by plane or by train. There are direct flights to Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk. The journey there from Moscow by plane will take 6 hours, and by train it will take about 4 days. Now you know where the deepest lake in the world is located.

The question of the origin of Lake Baikal has long been a subject of heated debate in the scientific world and creates the basis for a variety of, sometimes fantastic, conjectures and hypotheses. How was this lake formed with crystal clear water, surrounded by picturesque mountains and unique nature?
The Buryat legend tells of the Great Fire that consumed the earth and contributed to the origin of Lake Baikal. From the resulting void came the sea. The legend did not find scientific confirmation, and for a long time scientists investigated this problem.
In the distant eighteenth century, the Germans Palass and Georgi formulated a scientifically based assumption on this topic. They participated in the Siberian expedition, which was organized by the St. Petersburg Academy around 1970. Scientists argued that the reason for the emergence of Baikal was the collapse of the land caused by a natural disaster. Most likely it was an earthquake. They believed that before the events described, a large river flowed there, flowing into the Yenisei. It took into its channel all the waters that today flow into Lake Baikal. A century later, the Pole Yanchevsky proposed his hypothesis, basing it on data obtained during a trip in the Baikal region. He believed that this reservoir was formed due to a natural disaster, after which the earth's crust began to slowly shrink.
There were many scientists who offered their theories, but they often echoed each other and their guesses about the origin of Lake Baikal differed only in details. Vladimir Obruchev came closest to the modern understanding of the process by which the Baikal Basin was formed. He suggested that everything began after the mountain system of Siberia was formed. The depression was formed after the subsidence of a large area of ​​land on both sides of the gap.
In the second half of the 20th century, thanks to scientific advances, scientists have made significant progress in the study of this problem. Some clarity was introduced by the global fault system or the world rift theory discovered at that time. According to this discovery, Baikal arose as a result of processes on a planetary scale and that there are several similar formations on the surface of the earth. Tanganyika and the Red Sea are among them.
At the end of the 20th century, scientists from many countries dealt with this problem. The basin of Lake Baikal is considered one of the central links of the Baikal rift. It stretches for more than 2.5 thousand km and is located on the very border of the Eurasian and Indonesian-Australian lithospheric plates. At first, it was believed that the rift appeared due to the collision of plates, but after a detailed study of the new data, it was found out that the anomalous heating of the mantle became the reason for everything.
The lava that floated up and spread in different directions formed massifs of mountain ranges that surround the lake. This spreading over a plane heated to very high temperatures of magma caused the appearance of large faults. As a result, this caused the formation of a depression, which later became Lake Baikal.
As new knowledge emerged and geophysical methods developed, interesting details and a scientifically confirmed chronological sequence of the formation of this unique lake appeared.

In addition to numerous large and small streams, almost 300 rivers and streams flow into it. In addition to the three navigable rivers, the Upper Angara, Barguzin and Selenga, there are several more that are especially distinguished by their size: Turka, Snezhnaya, Barguzin, Buguldeyka. And only the only Angara carries its waters to the northwest, flowing out of the mighty lake.

Only it takes all the power of its waters from Lake Baikal and carries them hundreds of kilometers through the center of Russia. Its width at the source is about 2 km. In this place stands a giant rock, called the Shaman-stone by the locals. As the legend says, Baikal-father threw this block at his daughter, who was running away from him. She decided to rush off to the handsome Yenisei, although her father wanted to marry her off to a hero named Irkut.
The Angara, like other rivers of Lake Baikal, is a beautiful and clean river. Its length is about 1800 kilometers.

The Selenga, like the river of Lake Baikal, is the largest of all the rivers that flow into the lake. The source of the river is in Mongolia, then it flows through Russian land, ending its journey by splitting in the delta of the lake itself. It carries to Baikal almost half of all water entering it.

The Upper Angara is a fast mountain river with a large number of rapids. Even when it finds itself on a plain, it continues to wriggle and separates, so that later it can unite in a single channel. Near Baikal, like other rivers of Lake Baikal, it pacifies its waters and becomes calmer.

Another river of Lake Baikal flows in Buryatia, descending along a mountain range, after which it carries its restless waters along rocky rapids. In the upper reaches there is a large nature reserve. It passes through taiga valleys, gorges and mountain ranges.
This place is very attractive for lovers of rafting on mountain rapids. The sections intended for this do not even have a minimum category of difficulty, which means that they can be passed without much risk to life. Although the river also has sections with a dangerous bottom, sharp rocks and waterfalls.
The deepest lake is an amazing, mysterious and not fully understood miracle of nature. It is fed by the same unique rivers that carry their waters along the most beautiful lands and reserved places, preserving their originality. Every effort must be made to preserve this rich supply of crystal clear water and its rare ecosystem.

There are many unusual territories on earth that combine several features that distinguish them from other places. Baikal is one of such regions. This is the cleanest lake in Russia, with perfectly clear water, which contains practically no mineral impurities. And yet it has a huge depth - the largest among all the lakes in the world.
Due to the special geographical characteristics, this corner of nature attracts the attention of people from all over the world. The maximum recorded depth of the lake is 1640 meters. With this indicator, Baikal is ahead of all the lakes in the world. The next after the Russian leader, Tanganyika is inferior to him very much. Its largest depth mark does not exceed 160 meters. In combination with the huge area of ​​​​Baikal, which is equal to Holland, these gigantic scales are simply impossible to imagine.
One of the reasons for such a great depth of Lake Baikal and its area is the presence of many rivers that flow into it. The approximate number of tributaries is approximately 300. With such a significant replenishment, Baikal continues in just one river - the Angara. It should be noted that the reservoir is considered the largest natural reservoir on the planet, with perfectly clean fresh water. In these parameters, even the Great Lakes in North America taken together cannot be compared with it. Its waters reach a volume of 23,600 m3.
The very great depth of Lake Baikal, combined with the impressive area of ​​this lake, explains the fact that the locals call it the sea. This ancient reservoir on the surface of the Earth appeared as a result of complex processes occurring in the earth's crust. Approximately 25 million years have passed since its formation began. It continues even now. Scientists believe that Baikal may be the beginning of the emergence of a new ocean, which, of course, should not appear tomorrow, but its occurrence in the future is recognized by the scientific world as a proven fact.
Due to the maximum depth of Lake Baikal and the high level of the coastline, which is 455 meters more than the surface of the ocean, the basin of the reservoir is deservedly defined as the deepest depression on Earth.

The water of Lake Baikal is unusually clean and transparent. With the help of the Secchi disk, a test was carried out, according to which the transparency of the lake was 40 meters, and, for example, in the Caspian Sea, there is not even 25 meters. Known for their purity, the Alpine reservoirs are inferior to Baikal in these parameters. The transparency of the reservoir may vary depending on several factors. The river mouth and shallow water give way to areas with great depth. Seasonal changes in the vital activity of microflora also affect.
The water of Lake Baikal meets all the criteria for high-quality drinking water. Its purity and unique properties are explained by the influence of microorganisms and vegetation. Small crustaceans epishura, living in the lake in large numbers, act as a biofilter. An armada of such crustaceans is capable of cleaning the upper layers 3-4 times a year. There are almost no organic impurities and dissolved substances in the reservoir.
The mineral composition of the water is very poor, does not even reach 100 mg/liter, and includes silicon, calcium and magnesium. Other reservoirs have concentrations of such substances starting from 400 mg/litre. There is no hydrogen sulfide in Baikal, but oxygen is present in large quantities both in the upper layers and at the very depths. Its water has excellent qualities. Its purity can only be surpassed by water from Crater Lake in the United States, which is considered a natural analogue of distillate.
Nowadays, only Baikal in the world is an open reservoir, with water suitable for drinking, which does not require additional treatment. The ideal water of Lake Baikal is now bottled on an industrial scale. It is taken at a depth of about 410 meters. The top layers protect it from any surface contamination.
The temperature in the lake is different. It is influenced not only by climatic conditions, but also by the anomalous depth of the lake. The highest water temperature is 15 degrees. As the depth increases, the temperature decreases. At around 25 meters it is only 10 degrees, and at a depth of 250 meters and below, the temperature is 3-5 degrees. Shallow water sometimes manages to warm up to 24 degrees.

Lake Baikal and its surrounding areas are one of the most unique and rich in natural treasures in the region. There are sanctuaries, nature reserves, national parks and protected natural monuments. Together, there are about two hundred such territories. Almost the entire Baikal region is under state protection. Only in a few industrialized areas: Baikalsk, Slyudyanka, Severobaikalsk, Kultuk and Babushkino, due to the developed industrial complex, there are no serious restrictions on the work of local enterprises.
The protection of Lake Baikal is carried out not only in Russian Federation as these areas are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Russia, there is Federal Law No. 94 FZ, “On the Protection of Lake Baikal”. He determined the status of protected areas, the regime of protection, the possibility of using the natural resources of the region. Since part of the unique territory around Lake Baikal is part of China and Mongolia, there is a problem with organizing the protection of the entire complex, due to the difficulties associated with the need to coordinate actions with foreign partners. The disunity of environmental services and bodies that oversee this area also has a negative effect.
The main thing that needs to be done to protect Lake Baikal is to preserve the unique natural complex in its pristine purity, which is almost never found in the world. Amazingly beautiful places with unique climatic, geological, biospheric and other conditions in which wildlife can exist will have to be preserved. Some territories will have to remain free from many types of economic activity due to their remoteness from civilization. They are located in hard-to-reach areas where there is often no transport connection. To provide assistance in protecting the environment and to prevent the hunting of rare animals and birds, illegal fishing and the destruction of plants, the forces of law enforcement agencies and the huntsman service should.

The uniqueness of Lake Baikal lies in its record depth, unusual geographical location, perfect water purity and, of course, in its vast territory. The lake is located in Russia, in the east of Siberia and is the natural border of two regions of the Russian Federation. With a maximum depth of 1640 m, the area of ​​Lake Baikal is 31 thousand km 2. It exceeds the size of the territories of such states as Holland or Belgium. In the world rankings of the most extensive lakes, it is in 6th place.
The area of ​​Lake Baikal in the center of Asia is 365 km long and not less than 80 km wide. All this territory is surrounded by rows of mountain ranges and is located in a wide basin. It could fit the waters of 92 seas, such as the Sea of ​​Azov. It contains almost 20% of the world's fresh water.
Among the coastal areas there are numerous hills. In the west, the coasts are rocky and steep, while on the east coast the relief is not so steep. In some places, mountain ranges are located at a distance of tens of kilometers from the coast.
Baikal did not suffer the fate of other ancient lakes, and it did not turn into a swamp. On the contrary, every year its area only increases, and scientists predict that the area of ​​Lake Baikal will expand to a gigantic size and become a new ocean.

The nature of Lake Baikal is amazing and unusual. Such a variety of flora and fauna on the planet is not found anywhere else. In these parts, there are the rarest specimens of flora and fauna.

Vegetable world

There are few places on earth that can cause so much surprise and delight in a botanist as the Baikal region. At present, science identifies about 1 thousand different plant species that grow in the vicinity of this wonderful lake. Most of them are endemic. This means that they grow only in these parts. The diverse natural conditions and the multimillion-year history of these territories have preserved the local ecosystem in its original form. They determined the appearance of this magnificent nature reserve, where many relict plants are preserved that have long disappeared in other parts of our planet.
Pine, spruce, fir and cedar trees are located along the banks - traditional Siberian trees, and only the southern shore of the lake is decorated with blue fir trees. The origin of this species is still a mystery. Olkhon Island is located in the middle of Lake Baikal and has relict thickets. Basically, this is a spruce forest that has retained its original appearance since the Paleolithic. In the west of the lake there is a tundra-steppe, with relict plants preserved since the end of the Ice Age. The combination of special tundra plants with steppe species is not found anywhere else on the planet.
The nature of Lake Baikal pleases with a bright green carpet of herbs and flowers, forest slopes are covered, where you can often find rare berries and fragrant wild rosemary in abundance.

Animal world

Scientists believe that the fauna of the deepest lake is ancient, and consists of a large number of different animals, including very rare ones. More than 2.5 thousand species of animals live here, more than half of which are endemic. First of all, it is worth noting microscopic crustaceans, called epishura endemic, which are a biological filter. Their presence is one of the main factors affecting the crystal clearness of lake water.
The deepest lake is inhabited by 54 species of fish, and 15 of them are considered commercial. The most famous of them is omul. He lives for about 25 years. It should be noted an amazing, almost transparent fish, called golomyanka. She gives birth to live larvae. Not a single fish in the world reproduces in this way.
The seal lives here - the only seal that lives in reservoirs with fresh water. Also in the lake there are many sturgeons, pikes, whitefish, taimen.
In the forest areas and on the hills of the Baikal region, there are a wide variety of animals and birds. A large number of deer, martens, sable live in the forests. Sheep are found in the mountainous regions, and marmots and ground squirrels are found in the steppes. A huge number of ducks settle in these parts. Seagulls and cormorants nest here. Geese, herons, swans, loons are less common. There are 7 species of eagles here.
The nature of Lake Baikal is diverse and unique. Every effort must be made to preserve this rare land for posterity.

Some are interested in the question of which lake is the largest in the world. And oddly enough, this, which, despite its name, is the largest lake in the world. This reservoir separates the land of Europe and Asia.

What is special about it?

The lake does not have any current, but it is customary to call it the sea. The presence of the second name of the reservoir is determined by the following factors:

• dimensions
• depth
• lodge features

After the formation of the largest lake in the world, numerous studies were carried out, thanks to which it was possible to find out the basic information and understand what a reservoir is, what important differences it has.
The Caspian Sea is a lake whose shape resembles the Latin letter S. The surface area of ​​the reservoir is 371 thousand square meters, the width is four hundred and fifteen thousand square meters. Such dimensions lead to the fact that many countries border the Caspian Sea.
An important advantage of the reservoir is a surprisingly rich underwater world, and many of its inhabitants have acquired resistance to constant changes in the reservoir.
The reservoir includes several bays. At the same time, the largest is Kara-Bogaz-Gol (separation took place in 1980 with the help of a deep dam, and four years after an important event, the result was secured by a culvert).
In addition, the lake includes the following large bays:

• Komsomolets
• Turkmen
• Mangyshlak
• Kazakh
• Krasnovodsky
• Agrakhansky
• Kizlyarsky

The water area of ​​the Caspian Sea includes 50 islands that differ in size. However, some islands have an area of ​​​​more than 350 square meters. Some are combined into island archipelagos, known as the Apsheron and Baku.
The Caspian Sea appeared due to oceanic processes. This is proved by the features of the bed, which consists of the earth's crust of the oceanic type. At the same time, the creation process dates back to distant times, because the age of the lake is already 13,000,000 years. It was then that the Alps mountains appeared, which separated the Sarmatian and Mediterranean Seas from each other. The Akchagyl Sea existed for a long period. But after that, numerous transformations of the reservoir began:
1. The Pontic Sea dried up, as a result of which only Balakhani Lake (the southern part of the Caspian Sea) remained of it;
2. The Akchagyl Sea turned into the Absheron Sea;
The main changes associated with the reservoir took place approximately 17,000 - 13,100 years ago. The changes were due to transgression.
At present, after numerous transformations, there is the Caspian Sea, which is actually a lake.
Such changes led to the need for a thorough study of the region. As it turned out, the southern coast includes numerous caves. At the same time, scientists note that people lived in these parts about 75,000 years ago.
The first mention of the reservoir and the Massagetae tribe that inhabited the region can be found in Herodotus. At the same time, it was established that other tribes also lived in the region: Saks, Talysh.
Handwritten documents testify that the Russians have been making sailing operations to the Caspian Sea since the 9th-10th centuries. The presence of such official information indicates that the lake has attracted increased attention from the very beginning.

- This is the largest lake on planet Earth. A distinctive feature of the reservoir is the instability of the hydrological regime, which is due to specific influences:

• climatic
• geological
• hydrological

On the territory of the Caspian basin, special processes are taking place that are gradually changing the lake. Scientists note that the water balance changes quite often, and changes occur in different periods of time (tens, hundreds, thousands of years).
Changes include:

• level with maximum value
• temperature regime

At the same time, researchers describe the current state of the Caspian Sea, allowing the inhabitants of the planet to understand how the largest lake in the world differs from many other reservoirs.

Water temperature

The temperature regime fluctuates in the following ranges:

• Winter. In the southern part - +10 - +13 degrees Celsius, in the northern part - below 0 degrees Celsius
• Summer. During this season, the temperature can rise to +25 - +28 degrees Celsius

At depth, the water temperature is about +5 degrees Celsius.
In fact, the water temperature undergoes significant latitudinal changes, which, first of all, manifest themselves in the cold season. The difference is about +10 degrees, which is a significant indicator. In fact, these figures do not become prohibitive: shallow water areas, where the depth is less than 25 meters, the annual difference can reach even twenty-five degrees Celsius.
At the same time, we can note the average differences:
The west coast is usually a couple degrees Celsius warmer than the east;
Open and closed parts also differ in their temperature regime. At the same time, external influences lead to warming up to four degrees Celsius.
The researchers note that over time, the temperature regime of the reservoir may change.

Features of the climate of the Caspian Sea basin

The climate of the region in which the Caspian Sea is located captures 3 directions at once, which causes a significant difference in the temperature regime at different times of the year.
In winter, the air temperature varies from minus 8 degrees Celsius in the north to plus 10 degrees Celsius in the south. Thus, the maximum difference can reach 22 degrees.
At the same time, in the summer, the temperature ranges from +24 to +27 degrees Celsius, as a result of which a difference of a couple of tens is excluded. Over the entire history of observations, the maximum air temperature of +44 degrees was noted, and this important event took place on the east coast.
On average, 200 millimeters of precipitation falls per year, but the figures for different parts of the region vary significantly:
The eastern part is always characterized by dry weather. As a result, the indicator does not exceed millimeters;
The southwestern region boasts 1700 millimeters.
It should be noted that water can evaporate quite actively from the surface of the lake. This has a positive effect on the climate of the region. Successful evaporation of the water ensures proper water circulation, which prevents large fluctuations in humidity levels.
The average annual wind speed in the region is from three to seven meters per second. In this case, the northern direction is predominant. It should be noted that in the cold months of the year, wind gusts sometimes reach up to forty meters per second.
The most windy areas are traditionally considered:

• Absheron Peninsula
• Makhachkala
• Derbent

It is in this area that the highest rates of windiness can be recorded. The climate features of the region are largely determined by the influence of the Caspian Sea.

currents

The Northern Caspian plays the most important role in shaping the region's climate. In this case, the main direction of the flow occurs from the northern side of the reservoir.

Salinity of water

Salinity is from 0.3% (the lowest). This characteristic is fixed near the mouth of the Volga. The salinity index allows us to state that the Northern Caspian is a desalinated sea basin. At the same time, in the southeast, the salinity index reaches 13%. The maximum rate is recorded in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, where it already reaches 300%.

Lake relief

The Caspian Sea has a specific bottom relief, which is divided into three varieties:
Shelf;
Continental slope;
Deep sea trenches.
How were all the above types of relief distributed?
The shelf starts from the coastline and stretches to a depth of 100 meters. At the same time, a continental slope begins below its border, the depth of which, depending on the region of the lake, ranges from 500 to 750 meters;
The coast is characterized by low relief. At the same time, the banks have canopies and indented places;
The Middle Caspian includes a mountainous coast, which has practically no indented shape;
The eastern part is elevated;
The South Caspian has mountainous areas. At the same time, the coastline is more indented.
The Caspian Sea and its relief belong to the zone of high seismicity. It should be noted that in the region in which the lake is located, mud volcanoes often erupt, located at the southern point of the reservoir.

Characteristics of the reservoir

Historians and scientists testify that the area and volume of water can vary significantly. Both factors are seriously affected by water level fluctuations.
What examples can be given? For example, when a reservoir rises, it can account for up to 78 and a half thousand cubic kilometers. Moreover, in this case, the volume indicator reaches about 44% of all lake water reserves.
The maximum depth is 1025 meters. This indicator was recorded in the South Caspian depression. It should be noted that the Caspian Sea ranks third in depth. The leader is Baikal with an indicator of 1620 meters, as well as Tanganyika with 1435 meters. It is important to note that the northern part is a shallow section of the reservoir, because the maximum depth never exceeds twenty-five meters.

Fluctuating water in a pond

Historical studies confirm that the water level in the lake can fluctuate significantly. At the same time, scientists and historians record the features of changes in the water level.
Throughout the history of the reservoir, frequent changes in its characteristics are noted. It should be noted that in the Middle Ages, the highest indicators were noted regarding the height of the water. Despite this, the process is continuous, the tendency to lower and increase the water level in the lake constantly replaces each other, which indicates the circulation and preservation of the water balance. Any recorded indicator cannot be final.
Measurements have been taken on a regular basis since 1837, with researchers using special instruments for regular checks. Scientists note that the downward trend - the rise in the total water level changed many times, and these changes occurred at different intervals.
Serious fluctuations are due to a whole chain of factors that are divided into the following areas. The researchers note that in the future fluctuations in the water of the Caspian Sea should be preserved, but the safety of the reservoir is guaranteed.

Features of water balance cycles

Surface currents define complex cyclones that follow each other. Significant differences are noted in each part of the Caspian. It should be noted that the lake belongs to restless water bodies. For example, changes in atmospheric pressure and direction, wind speed always lead to fluctuations in water levels. Changes in characteristics are most pronounced in the shallow part of the reservoir, because surges during stormy weather can reach even four meters.
The instability of the lake leads to the fact that the climatic picture is also subject to serious changes.
The water balance is always determined by the characteristics of the flow and atmospheric influences, the volume of evaporating liquid from the surface of the reservoir. At the same time, the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay belongs to the consumable part of the reservoir. The most important role is played by the flow of the Volga, which belongs to the incoming part. The flow of the Volga can reach about 80% of the inflow of river waters to form the Caspian.

Water composition

The Caspian Sea is distinguished by its closed structure and unique composition. At the same time, serious differences in proportions are noted for the waters of areas that are under the influence of continental runoff.
Constant fluctuations in water and changes in water balance do not allow chloride levels to rise.
This provides for a regular increase in the following components:

• Carbonates
• Calcium
• sulfates

The above three components occupy an important place in any river waters. The composition of water also changes under the influence of complex cyclic factors.

The largest lake is usually called the Caspian Sea and many are interested in the question: where is the largest lake in the world? This body of water is located in the part of the world where Europe and Asia meet. Thus, the lake belongs to Eurasia.
The water area is divided into three large parts, which have the characteristics of the climatic region, the unique characteristics of the reservoir and its water balance:

• Northern Caspian occupies 25% of the territory
• The Middle Caspian has 36%
• The South Caspian has 39% of the total installed area

It is important to note that the reservoir is characterized by serious fluctuations in depth. For example, up to 22 meters fall on the northern part, and up to 1025 meters on the southern part. Moreover, a depth of less than one meter is recorded in 20% of the Northern Caspian. Despite such fluctuations, the Caspian still occupies the third position in the world in terms of depth.
The large size of the Caspian Sea determines that as many as five countries belonging to Eurasia are in contact along the borders with the lake:

• Russia
• Azerbaijan
• Kazakhstan
• Turkmenistan

This information proves that the lake actually occupies an important place on the world map.
Caspian Basin
Four more states are included in the Caspian basin: Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Uzbekistan. Each country has a direct access to the Caspian Sea.
The basin includes more than one hundred and thirty rivers, the largest being the Volga. It is the Volga River that connects the Caspian Sea and the World Ocean. The Volga and all its river tributaries are regulated by operating reservoirs, which are formed by hydroelectric dams.
The Caspian basin also includes additional rivers that guarantee the maintenance of the water balance of the world's largest lake. At the same time, the Volga, which flows through Europe, remains the most important.
It should be noted that the eastern coast of the Caspian can no longer boast of a developed hydrographic network. The rivers Emba and Ural flow into the territory of Kazakhstan. In Turkmenistan, there is one watercourse that is not permanent, but it still needs to be noted: the Atrek River. Iran is distinguished by the connection of the Caspian Sea and several rivers. Despite the fact that connections still exist in the eastern direction, their total length turns out to be significantly less.

Cities of the Caspian Sea

The largest port city located on the Caspian Sea is the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The city is located in the south of the Absheron Peninsula. It should be noted that in 2010, 2,500,000 people lived in Baku.
The following are also associated with the Caspian Sea big cities:
Sumgayit, Lankaran (Azerbaijan);
Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan);
Aktau, Atyrau (Kazakhstan);
Kaspiysk, Makhachkala, Astrakhan (Russia).
Such a geographical position, and, accordingly, the relationship with rivers, countries and cities, indicates that the Caspian Sea is actually the largest lake in the world.
Features of the development of the Caspian Sea
The economic development of the Caspian Sea has been of interest to society since ancient times. This is evidenced by historical information. At present, people have managed to achieve good results.

Story Features

For the first time, studies of the reservoir began in 285 BC. At the same time, the corresponding measures were carried out by the Greeks. After the first attempt, the work was postponed for a long time.
Nowadays, they began to try thanks to Peter the Great, who organized the expedition in 1714 for almost a whole year. Then hydrographic studies were carried out in the 1720s with the help of Russian and foreign researchers.
At the beginning 19th century there is already an opportunity for instrumental photography, thanks to which it was possible to carefully analyze the features of the geography of the reservoir and the region.
In 1866, 50 years of research began. The main objective was to enrich knowledge regarding hydrobiology and hydrology.
The most active research began in the late 1890s. At the same time, Soviet geologists made every effort to understand the peculiarities of fluctuations in the level of the reservoir, study the water balance and find oil.
Numerous expeditions made it possible to start using the Caspian Sea for the benefit of the entire world society.

Development results

How can the Caspian Sea be used for the benefit of the people?
Gas and oil production. Numerous deposits with a special purpose are being developed on the territory of the Caspian Sea. To date, the resources of oil and gas condensate amount to about twenty billion tons, and half of this volume is oil. Mining of valuable minerals has been carried out since the 1820s, but it was possible to reach the industrial level only in the second half of the 19th century.
The Caspian shelf, which is included in the water basin, is used for the extraction of salt, stone, sand, clay, limestone.
A developed network allows the use of the Caspian Sea for navigation.
The lake has a rich water world. This is used for the active development of fisheries. It should be noted that more than 90% of sturgeons can be caught in this region. To date, fishing and the extraction of valuable caviar have been successfully developed. At the same time, the seal fishery is also developing at a rapid pace.
Recreational resources are another advantage associated with the Caspian region. A special water composition and a unique balance, a beneficial climate allow the successful development of a number of resorts, but at the same time, the economic, political and religious characteristics of the eastern states do not allow the recreational resources of the Caspian region to be fully used, due to the unique characteristics of the sea-lake.
The Caspian Sea is the largest and most important lake in the world, which justifies its position and increased attention to itself.

TOP 10 deepest lakes in the world

If you did not know which lake is the deepest in the world and where the deepest lake in the world is located, then you should familiarize yourself with the TOP 10. Baikal is a legendary lake. It is written about in various sources, the reservoir is unusually loved by travelers and researchers. Every year, amazing discoveries are made on Baikal, expeditions are carried out, and studies are carried out. This lake holds an impressive number of different world records.
The deepest lake is considered one of the oldest on the planet, and it is also the deepest in the world. The average depth is 730 meters, and the maximum mark is 1637 meters. Since 1996 Baikal has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The origin of the lake is disputed even today. Scientists have not come to a consensus regarding the age of the reservoir, which is estimated at about 25-35 million years. That is why Baikal is considered a unique body of water, because other glacial lakes "live" for an average of 10-15 thousand years, gradually becoming waterlogged.
A distinctive feature of the deepest lake in the world is the fact that it contains about 19% of the world's fresh water reserves. This is an impressive amount that is not found in any other body of water in the world. The transparency of the lake attracts attention. Inhabitants or various objects can be seen at a depth of up to 40 meters. At the same time, the water contains the minimum amount of mineral salts, on average, the value reaches 100 mg per liter. All this makes it possible to use Baikal water as distilled water.
In total, there are about 2630 species of inhabitants of both plants and animals. However, most of them are endemic. In other words, you can only meet them here. The abundance of living organisms can be explained by the impressive oxygen content in the water column. Among all animals, golomyanka is distinguished. This fish contains less than 30% fat. The epishura crustacean, which contains over 300 species, also becomes an amazing inhabitant. Among the mammals, it is worth highlighting the seal, which is called the Baikal seal.
Interestingly, the water reserves in Baikal are so impressive that they could provide all the inhabitants of the world for a long 40 years. Scientists are still studying Baikal ice, which is fraught with many mysteries. A distinctive feature is an extraordinary shape. It can be found exclusively on Baikal. If you see the lake from space, you can see the dark rings in the pictures. Their origin is currently unknown, although scientists are making a lot of guesses. Answering the question which lake is the deepest in the world, there is no doubt that this is Baikal.

All the deepest lakes in the world are of interest, and Tanganyika is a special lake that has a personal status in Africa. Its location is known to locals throughout the mainland. A distinctive feature of Lake Tanganyika is the amazing fauna and flora, as well as impressive dimensions. The waters of the lake are located in the East African Rift, which is a narrow valley with an impressive length. The crescent shape and proximity to the mountains make the area surprisingly picturesque.
Lake Tanganyika feeds the great Congo River. This is carried out through the Lukuga River. However, Tanganyika does not belong to the Congo Basin. The lake holds one of the world records as the longest freshwater body of water. At the same time, it is located above the sea at an altitude of 773 meters. The total length reaches 673 kilometers, and the width at its largest point is 72 kilometers. The depth of the reservoir is quite impressive and is 1470 meters, which makes the lake the second deepest in the world. On the territory of the entire reservoir, the average depth reaches 570 meters.
The volume of water in Lake Tanganyika is 18.9 thousand cubic meters, which also brings the lake to the second place in the world ranking. The total area exceeds 32 thousand square kilometers. The coastline has an impressive length and is 1828 kilometers long. The reservoir basin also includes streams and rivers. In general, Lake Tanganyika is often referred to as the "African pearl", because it holds a huge number of world records.
It is surrounded on different sides by four countries at once. These are Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Tanzania. Communication with the Atlantic Ocean is also available through the Congo and Lukuga rivers. Interestingly, Tanganyika has an impressive age of 10-12 million years. For the entire impressive period of history, the lake has never dried up. As a result of this, an unusual underwater world was formed, which is not similar in any corner of the planet.
There is no full circulation of water in the lake, the reason is the impressive depth, as well as the absence of bottom currents. As a result, a high amount of hydrogen sulfide is concentrated in the lower layers of the water. Already at a depth of 200 meters, the so-called "dead zone" begins. There is no life here due to lack of oxygen. Near the surface of the water there is an impressive variety of fish species. In particular, there are a lot of cichlids here. They are present in the amount of 250 species, among which about 98% live exclusively in this lake.

Answering the question which lake is the largest in the world or where is the largest lake in the world, you will be somewhat surprised. The Caspian Sea is an unusual body of water with a non-standard name. In fact, this sea has no connection with the World Ocean, it is located at a considerable distance from it. In the north and east, the sea borders on a desert area, the southern coast is represented by lowlands, and the western coast is represented by the mountain ranges of the Greater Caucasus. On all sides, the reservoir is surrounded by land, which is why it is called the "sea-lake".
A distinctive feature is the different topography of the bottom. Shallow water is observed in the northern part, depressions and an underwater threshold are observed in the central and southern parts. An interesting feature is the fact that the Caspian Sea is located in more than one climatic zone. The northern part of the sea is represented by a continental climate, the western part is temperate, the eastern part is desert, and the southwestern part is subtropical humid.
Such a climatic feature leads to the fact that the sea “behaves” differently at different times of the year. In winter, strong winds and low temperatures prevail here, reaching a maximum of 8-10 degrees below zero in the air. In spring, northwest winds reign here. In summer, the air masses circulate slightly; near the coast, the wind can increase. Temperatures in summer can rise to a maximum of 27-28 degrees above zero. It can be concluded that winters in the Caspian Sea are cold and windy, and summers are windy and hot.
The volume of river runoff varies significantly throughout the year. It reaches its maximum in spring and also in early summer. There may be spring floods. To date, the water resources of the lake are actively used by people, reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations are being built. All this has led to the fact that the water level in the Caspian Sea has dropped somewhat today.
The main food of the lake is river. Among the rivers that flow into the Caspian Sea, the Ural, Volga and Terek are distinguished. It is these three rivers that bring about 90% of the river runoff. About 9% of the rivers flow from the western side and only 1% from the rivers of the Iranian coast. There are also tidal waves in the lake, which are significantly noticeable especially in November and December. It is during this period of time that the sea level can increase by an average of 2-3 meters. In summer, the sea level practically does not change.
There is an impressive number of fish species here. As a result, fishing and fisheries are actively developing here. In particular, there is a lot of sturgeon fish, and oil has recently been discovered in the Caspian Sea.

San Martin- a reservoir that is located in the state of Santa Cruz in Argentina. San Martin, like other deepest lakes in the world, impresses with its impressive dimensions, which makes it one of the largest in the world. It is also the deepest on the continent of South America. The lake occupies the territory between Chile and Argentina, located right on the border. Interestingly, the reservoir also has another name for its Argentine part. He was given a "name" in honor of José de San Martin, who is a national hero.
The area of ​​the reservoir reaches 1010 square meters, and the maximum depth is 836 meters. The shape of the lake is uneven and “torn”, it is additionally represented by eight branches. The Mayer River becomes the main tributary, flows into Lake San Martin and the Chico and O'Higgins glaciers, and there are also small streams. Only one Pascua River flows out of the reservoir.
Around the lake are picturesque views of the pampas, and also hit the snowy peaks. The flora and fauna of the area is rich, especially many species of birds and animals. A huge number of trout live here, so sport fishing competitions are often held. Lake San Martin is amazingly clear, the water in it can change its hue from green to deep blue.
Nearby is the town of El Chalten, which is called tourist center region. Everything here is arranged so that it is convenient for travelers to relax and explore the lake. The town has information centers, travel agencies, souvenir shops, as well as camping-type hotels. Additionally, you can choose a walking tour along the coast of San Martin. We also offer boat trips, extreme trips to the snowy peaks of the nearest Andes mountains.
There are full-fledged attractions on the coast of Lake San Martin. These include the luxurious estate of Nahuel Huapi. Guests of the lake can take time to explore the estate. For this, horseback riding tours are offered, which give incredible pleasure from the trip.
Lake San Martin reaches 1058 square kilometers. The reservoir is located above sea level, at an altitude of 250 meters. The coastline is quite impressive and reaches 525 kilometers in length. The lake is considered the deepest in America. Here you can always meet tourists and local residents, photographers and artists who come here to admire the beauty and magnificent views of the territory.

One of the largest African reservoirs and the deepest lakes in the world is called Nyasa. It is located in East Africa in the Great Rift Valley. The lake is 560 kilometers long and up to 80 kilometers wide. The depth is quite impressive and reaches 704 meters. This allows us to bring Lake Nyasa to fifth place in the world ranking of the deepest reservoirs. The reservoir was discovered in 1616 by Bucarra travelers from Portugal.
The name of the reservoir is quite standard. It was picked up in the Yao language, and in translation it means "lake". Nyasa is located on the territory of several countries at once - Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, occupying their borders. A distinctive feature is the relief of the coast, which is represented by spatial beaches and steep banks. The plains from the northwestern part of Lake Nyasa have special expanses, where the plains amaze with their picturesqueness.
In the same place, the Songwe River flows into the lake. In addition, the reservoir feeds 14 rivers, among which are Bua, Ruhuhu, Lilongwe, Rukuru. The only river that flows out of the reservoir is the river with the sonorous name Shire. The water of Lake Nyasa has different temperatures, ranging from warm to cool. The lake impresses with rich fauna, so fishing is actively practiced here. In total, it contributes about 4% of Malawi's GDP. A huge number of different species of fish live in Nyasa, as well as crocodiles, whooper eagles. All this emphasizes the originality of the lake. Crocodiles and whooper eagles prey on fish.
Lake Nyasa is a natural landmark that amazes with its picturesqueness and eccentricity. This is what attracts the attention of travelers from all over the world. The reservoir itself ranks third in Africa and is one of the five deepest in the world. Today, shipping is developed here, among the main ports are Karonga, Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkota-Kota, Bandawe, Mwaya, Metangula.
The Lake Nyasa basin is sparsely populated. The bulk of the people live near the southern coast of Nyasa. The western and northern coasts have a very sparse population with little economic activity. There is a hydroelectric power plant on the outflowing Shire River. It becomes the main source of electricity. Very often, the energy of the country suffers due to the volatility of the lake. The greatest shortage was observed in 1997, when the lake level was at its lowest.

Kyrgyzstan- a surprisingly picturesque country that abounds in luxurious territories. Lake Issyk-Kul attracts the attention in particular. This reservoir is considered one of the largest in the world. Interestingly, in terms of water transparency, this reservoir is in the second position in the world ranking, second only to Baikal. Issyk-Kul is considered the pearl of both Kyrgyzstan itself and Central Asia. The lake is salty and mild winters do not allow the reservoir to freeze even in winter. A distinctive feature is the amazing surrounding beauty, which attracts the attention of tourists from all over the world.
Lake Issyk-Kul is located in the Northern Tien Shan, occupying the territory between two ridges. Their maximum height is 5200 meters high. Spruce forests are located on their slopes on the northern side, and steppe vegetation on the southern side. The lake is fed by rivers, which in total flow into about 80 pieces. Among the main ones are Zhuuku, Zhyr-galan, Tyup, Ak-Terek, Tong and some others. Most rivers are fed by glaciers.
Interestingly, the appearance of the river looks unexpected from space. The astronauts themselves claim this. Along with the Great Wall of China and the pyramids of Cheops, Lake Issyk-Kul is distinguished. From space at such an impressive height, it resembles a human eye.
Not a single river flows out of the reservoir. This leads to the fact that the water in the river is salty, as mineral substances are collected. However, in terms of salinity, the reservoir is significantly inferior to sea water, on average, five and a half times. However, the type of mineralization is considered quite valuable, which belongs to the chloride-sulfate-sodium-magnesium type.
The water is permeated with oxygen, which makes it light and transparent. It unusually resembles an ocean or sea. Many different legends are associated with this lake. One of them says that there are ruins at the bottom of the reservoir ancient city, which had a beautiful appearance. The color of the water is extraordinary. It can change shades from pale blue to dark blue.
Lake Issyk-Kul has an impressive history. The first mention dates back to the chronicles of the second century BC. In them, the reservoir is called Zhe-Hai, which in Chinese means “warm sea”. Most likely this name was given due to the fact that the lake does not freeze. The scientific study of the flora and fauna of the reservoir, as well as the composition of the water, began in the 19th century. Many scientists were so interested in the nature of this place that they bequeathed to bury themselves on its coast.

The Great Slave Lake is an amazing body of water that amazes with its spaciousness and picturesqueness. The name Slave is of unknown origin and most experts are inclined to believe that it was not given to him by chance. The reservoir itself is located on the territory of Canada and in terms of its dimensions it can easily compete with the largest lakes in the world, including the Great American Lakes.
The depth of the large Slave Lake is about 614 meters. For the North American continent, this figure is considered the maximum. In the world ranking, the reservoir ranks seventh. Slave Lake is navigable in the summer, but under ice in the winter. It is so strong that cars can safely drive on it. Until recently, the road on frozen ice was the only one until a full-fledged highway was built.
The Great Slave Lake is completely covered with ice for seven to eight months of the year, from November to June. Interestingly, the lake itself appeared during global cooling. For most of the year, it reminds of this time. A distinctive feature is the scenic beauty of the surrounding area, which attracts the attention of tourists. The shores are adorned with dense tundra forests. The seething streams of water that can be seen between the rocks look spectacular.
Gold miners are usually attracted to the northern shores of water bodies. It will be of interest to adventure lovers who dream of learning about the formation of the city of Yellowknife. It originated during the gold rush. Prior to that, only Indians lived on the coast of the lake, namely, the slave tribe. Interestingly, the name of the tribe, translated into Russian, means "slave" or "slave".
It is from this tribe that the name of the lake appeared, according to most researchers. However, after a long study of this fact, it was found that the slave tribe has nothing to do with slaves. The representatives of the tribe are brave, courageous and strong people. To date, the composition of the tribe is about ten thousand people. All of them live on the coast of this reservoir.
In length, the Great Slave Lake reaches 480 kilometers, and the width of the reservoir reaches from 19 to 225 kilometers. Several rivers flow into the lake, in particular the Slave, Snowdrift, Hay, Tolson, Yellowknife. Only one river flows out of the lake - this is the Mackenzie. In terms of area, the reservoir reaches 28.5 thousand square kilometers with a volume of over 1,500 cubic meters.

- one of the most amazing natural objects in the world. The formation of this reservoir occurred after the eruption of Mount Mazama volcano. It happened over seven thousand years ago. A distinctive feature of the lake is the deep blue hue and the incredible beauty of the surrounding landscape. This place is considered one of the most picturesque in the world. Not every lake causes such a storm of emotions as Crater.
The depth of Crater Lake reaches 594 meters. This explains its rich dark blue hue. Attracts and cleanliness of the surrounding area, its environmental friendliness. Here you can often meet tourists who come to admire the beauty. You can also see photographers and artists who are trying to capture the picturesque.
The history of the lake began about twelve thousand years ago. It was then that for the first time people began to live here, who saw the volcanic eruption. The result was Crater Lake. For a long time it was not known to Europeans. It was first found by John Fremont, who led the expedition of 1843-1846. Gradually, the lake began to be explored, a lake was found here. It changed its name several times. The modern one was fixed only by 1869.
Many researchers wonder why the water turned out at the top of the mountain. Most experts are inclined to believe that this has been happening for centuries. This happened gradually by filling the lake with snow and rain. The lake is a bowl of a volcano.
Interestingly, the lake has many different attractions. One of them is a ghost ship. This is an island that reaches 48 meters in height. It is formed from the lava of a volcano and resembles a ship in its silhouette. Another attraction is Halman Peak. This is a volcanic cone, whose age exceeds 70 thousand years. It was named so in honor of the explorer who first discovered this lake.
It is also worth highlighting the island of the Sorcerer, located on the island. His name is given to him in honor of the sorcerer's hat, which he resembles. It is extraordinarily beautiful and reaches 233 meters in height. The pointed peaks of the Pinnacles are also distinguished, which were the result of volcanic gases and erosion. Crater Lake is today part of the park. Everything has been created here for the convenience of tourists, to provide them with a comfortable viewing of the picturesque territory.

Lakes are extremely important for our planet, as they contain an impressive amount of fresh water. Lake Buenos Aires and Matano are called one of the interesting and attracting attention. Matano is a lake located in Indonesia. In its country, it is an important source of fresh water. The lake is located in the south of the island of Sulawesi. The area of ​​the reservoir is impressive and reaches 164 square kilometers, and the depth is 590 meters.
A distinctive feature of Lake Buenos Aires and Matano is the crystal clear water. Those who have been here claim that one can easily see everything that happens at a depth of 20-25 meters. An interesting feature is called the unique flora. It is here that an impressive number of fish are found, whose ancestors swam here several thousand years ago.
The scenic area around the lake also attracts. It is represented by mountains and tropical forests. For the convenience of vacationers, beaches with white sand are organized here. Diving is also offered on the lake. A huge number of divers gather here who dream of admiring the beauty of the underwater world. An extraordinary feature of Matano can be called the presence of two levels of the water column. The first has a high percentage of oxygen, and the second lacks sulfates, there is an excess of iron. Many scientists compare this composition with the oceanic one, which is quite atypical for lakes.
Lake Buenos Aires and Matano is located on the border of Chile and Argentina. It has the same depth as Matano, reaching 590 meters. The total area of ​​the reservoir is 1850 square kilometers. The origin and nutrition of the lake is glacial, and it is located directly in the Patagonian Andes. On the territory of South America, Buenos Aires is considered the deepest body of water, and in the world ranking it occupies the ninth position.
The main feature is excellent ecology and crystal clear water. Also, Lake Buenos Aires and Matano are notable for the presence of marble caves. They have an amazingly beautiful view that attracts tourists from all over the world. The color of the water, which consists of shades of turquoise and emerald, also looks interesting.
Near the lake there is an impressive number of cities and towns. This is due to the excellent climate and scenic beauty of the area. Excursions are often made here so that tourists have the opportunity to admire the magnificent appearance of the marble caves. You can only see the beauty live, as photographs are not able to convey it.

- an amazing reservoir that attracts attention. It has not yet been fully studied, so the official parameters have not been established. To date, it is believed that the depth of the lake reaches 514 meters, but this is not an accurate indicator. However, it also allows Hornindalsvatnet to be the deepest lake in both Norway and all of Europe. In the world ranking, the lake occupies the tenth position.
In the 90s of the 20th century, the Telenor company took up the study of the lake. Previously, it was the country's official telephone company. Telenor planned to lay the fibers directly on the bottom of Lake Hornindalsvatnet. At that moment, a depth of 612 meters was declared. If this indicator is officially confirmed, the lake will take the seventh position in the world ranking.
Lake Hornindalsvatnet has no other outstanding characteristics. Its volume of water reaches 12 cubic meters with a total surface area of ​​50 square meters. These are rather modest dimensions even for Norway. In the country, in terms of volume and area, the lake ranks 19th.
Of interest is the location of the lake. It is located in the Norwegian province in the west of Norway. This is the coast of the Atlantic in the county of Sogn ok Fjordane. Hornindalsvatnet is located above the sea at an altitude of 53 meters, and Hornindal is located on its shore. It is the administrative center of the commune. The town is quite small and has only a few hotels.
Crystal clear water becomes a distinctive feature of the lake. On the territory of all Scandinavia, it is Lake Hornindalsvatnet that is considered the cleanest lake. This is explained by the fact that the feeding of the reservoir is not connected with the rivers. The main source of food is glaciers. Here everyone can go fishing, because the fauna of the reservoir is really unique. You can find quite rare varieties of fish that are not found in other water bodies in Norway. However, their fishing is not prohibited.
The landscape is also remarkable, which is distinguished by its beauty and picturesqueness. Many consider this place to be the pearl of the country, so excursions are often organized here. Also on the lake every year in the middle of summer a Marathon is held, in which an impressive number of people take part. This is a race for an impressive distance, reaching 42 kilometers and 195 meters. If you wish, you can just relax, swim and sunbathe on the beach. You can also try your hand at rowing, which is developed on Hornindalsvatnet.

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The Plitvice Lakes are 16 lakes interconnected by beautiful waterfalls, which are located deep in the forest, where deer, bears, wolves, wild boars and rare bird species live.

The Plitvice Lakes are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Known for their unique colors, from azure to green, gray or blue. The colors change constantly, depending on the concentration of minerals or microorganisms in the water, as well as how the sun's rays fall.

2. Boiling Lake (Dominica): flooded geyser

Boiling Lake is located in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, which is included in the World Heritage List of Dominica. It is a submerged geyser, or depression in the earth's surface, 10.5 km east of Roseau, Dominica, in the Caribbean. The lake is filled with greyish-blue water with bubbles, usually shrouded in a cloud of steam. The lake is about 60 m wide.

3. Red Lagoon (Bolivia): red (algae) + white (borax)

The Red Lagoon of Colorado (Laguna Colorada) is a shallow salt lake, which is located in the southwestern part of the Altiplano plateau, in Bolivia, near the Chilean border. In the lake there are islands of borax, whose white color contrasts beautifully with the reddish color of the water, which it acquires from seaweed - algae, growing on the bottom of the lake.

4. Five Flower Lake (China): A beautiful multi-colored lake with fallen tree trunks.

Five Flower Lake (Wuhua Hai) - a beautiful place in the national park national park Jiuzhaigou, in China. The lake is quite shallow, and the trunks of fallen trees lie at its bottom. The water is so clear that you can clearly see these logs. The color of the water shimmers with different shades of turquoise, from yellowish to green and blue. The lake is located at an altitude of 2472 m, below Panda Lake and above the Pearl Shoal waterfall.

5. Dead Sea (Israel and Jordan): the lowest point on the globe

The Dead Sea is a salt lake located between Israel and the West Bank to the west, and Jordan to the east. It is located 420 m below sea level and its shores are the lowest point on the Earth's surface on land. The Dead Sea reaches a depth of 330 m and is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. It is also the second most saline body of water in the world, after Lake Assal in Djibouti, with 30% salinity. The Dead Sea is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. This salinity causes harsh environmental conditions where animals cannot live and ships cannot sail. The Dead Sea is 67 km long and 18 km wide in its widest part.

For thousands of years, the Dead Sea has attracted travelers from the Mediterranean basin. According to the Old Testament, this was the place of refuge for King David. It was here that one of the first health resorts in the world (for King Herod) was opened, and it was thanks to the minerals of the Dead Sea that such products as balms for Egyptian mummification, as well as various cosmetics, appeared.

6. Lake Baikal (Russia): The deepest and oldest lake in the world

Lake Baikal is located in the southern part of Siberia, in Russia. It is also called the "Blue Eye of Siberia". It contains more water than all the Great Lakes of North America combined. Reaching a depth of 1,637 m, Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, and the largest reservoir of fresh water by volume in the world, containing approximately 20% of the world's fresh water. Be that as it may, Lake Baikal contains only 1/3 of the amount of water contained in the Caspian Sea, which is the largest lake in the world. Lake Baikal was formed in the valley of an ancient fault, so it is long and shaped like a crescent with a surface (31,500 sq. km) somewhat smaller than, for example, Lake Victoria in North America. More than 1,700 species of animals and plants live on the territory of the lake, 2/3 of which can be seen only in this place. In 1996 Baikal was declared a World Heritage Site. This lake is also considered the oldest in the world, as its age is more than 25 million years.

7. Lake Titicaca (Bolivia and Peru): The highest navigable lake in the world

Lake Titicaca is located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It sits at 3,812 meters above sea level, making it the highest navigable lake in the world. By volume of water, this lake is also the largest lake in South America. Lake Titicaca is filled with tropical rainfall and meltwater from glaciers that rise on top of the mountain ranges bordering the Altiplano plateau.

8. Caspian Sea (Russia): The largest lake in the world

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake or the world's largest inland body of water, accounting for 40 to 44% of the world's total lake water. Since the surface area of ​​the lake is 394.299 sq. km, the area of ​​the Caspian Sea is many times larger than the previous 6 great lakes combined.

9. Crater Lake (USA): The water in this lake is considered one of the cleanest in the world

Crater Lake is a crater lake located in Oregon, USA. The waters of Crater Lake are considered one of the cleanest in the world, as it has no tributaries and bays. The lake partially fills a 1,220 m deep caldera formed approximately 7,700 years ago after Mount Mazama collapsed. The maximum depth of the lake reaches 594 m, which makes this lake the deepest in the United States, and the 9th deepest in the world.

10. Lake Karachay (Russia): the most polluted point on the globe

Lake Karachay is a small lake in the southern part Ural mountains in the western region of Russia.

Beginning in 1951, the Soviet Union used the lake to dump radioactive waste from the Mayak plant, which stored and processed nuclear waste. The Mayak plant was located in the city of Ozersk. According to a report published by the Washington-based Nuclear Waste Observatory, Karachay is "the world's most polluted spot." The lake accumulated 4.44 becquerels of radioactive particles per liter, including 3.6 becquerels of caesium-137 and 0.74 becquerels of strontium-90. For comparison, the catastrophe in Chernobyl led to the release of 5 to 12 beckel of radioactivity, but these radioactive particles were not concentrated in one place.

About Baikal You can find entire volumes of information, both on the Internet and in various magazines and book publications. The lake is not deprived of attention from tourists, researchers and politicians. From year to year, stunning scientific discoveries are associated with Baikal, expeditions are constantly equipped for thorough research. I decided to dedicate this topic to the most Interesting facts and events related to Lake Baikal. I will try to save you from boring geographic terms, here will be only the most interesting. Most of the photos in the topic are clickable (open on click)

- one of the oldest lakes on the planet and the deepest lake in the world. Baikal is among the ten largest lakes in the world. Its average depth is about 730 meters, the maximum is 1637 meters. In 1996, Baikal was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Scientists disagree in opinions regarding the origin of Lake Baikal, as well as about its age. The age of the lake scientists traditionally determine in 25-35 million years. This fact also makes Baikal with a unique natural object, since most of the lakes, especially glacial origin, live an average of 10-15 thousand years, and then filled with or fertilize and fell


There is also a version about the relative youth of Lake Baikal, put forward by Alexander Tatarinov, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences in 2009, which received indirect confirmation during the second stage of the Worlds expedition to Baikal. In particular, the activity of mud volcanoes at the bottom of Lake Baikal allows scientists to assume that the modern coastline of the lake is only 8 thousand years old, and the deep-water part is 150 thousand years old.

Baikal contains about 19% of worldwater reserves. In Baikal, water is more than in all the five great lakes combined and 25 times more than, for example, in Lake Ladoga

The water in the lake is so transparent that individual stones and various items are visible at a depth of 40 m. The purest and transparent water of the Baikal contains so few mineral salts (100 mg / l), which can be used instead of distilled





2,630 species and varieties of plants and animals live in Baikal, 2/3 of which are endemic, that is, they live only in this reservoir. Such an abundance of living organisms is due to the large content of oxygen in the entire thickness of the Baikal water


Photo of Baikal from space

The most interesting in Baikal is the viviparous golomyanka fish, whose body contains up to 30% fat. She surprises biologists with daily feeding migrations from the depths to shallow water.

The second, after the golomyanka, the miracle of Baikal, to which it owes its exceptional purity, is the epishura crustacean (numbers about 300 species). The Baikal epishura is a copepod, 1 mm long, a representative of plankton, found throughout the depth (it is not found in bays where the water warms up). Not to be Baikal Baikal without this tremendous lap, barely noticeable on the eyes, surprisingly workable and numerous, who has time to do it over a year, and even more profile all the Baikal water

A typical marine mammal lives here - a seal, or a Baikal seal.

Baikal water reserves would have enough for 40 years for residents of the whole land, and at the same time, 46 x 1015 people could quench thirst

Baikal Loda presents a lot of mysteries to scientists. So, in the 1930s, specialists from the Baikal Limnological Station discovered unusual forms of ice cover, typical only for Lake Baikal. For example, “hills” are cone-shaped ice hills up to 6 meters high, hollow inside. Appearance they resemble ice tents, "open" in the opposite direction from the coast. Hills can be located separately, and sometimes form miniature "mountain ranges"

Satellite images clearly show dark rings 5-7 km in diameter on the ice of Lake Baikal. The origin of the rings is not known. Scientists believe that the rings on the ice of the lake may have already appeared many times, but it was impossible to see them because of their huge size. Now, using the latest technologies, this has become possible, and scientists begin to study this phenomenon. For the first time, such rings were discovered in 1999, then in 2003, 2005. As can be seen, the rings are not formed every year. Rings are also not located in the same place. Scientists were particularly interested in the reason for the displacement of the rings in 2008 to the southwest, compared with 1999, 2003 and 2005. In April 2009, such rings were found again, and again in a different place than last year. Scientists suggest that the rings are formed due to the release of natural gas from the bottom of Lake Baikal. However, the exact causes and mechanisms of the formation of dark rings on the Baikal ice have not yet been studied, and no one knows their exact nature.

The Baikal Area (so on. Baikal rift zone) refers to territories with high seismicity: earthquakes are regularly occurring, the power of most of which is one or two points on the MSC-64 intensity scale. However, strong ones also happen, so in 1862, during a ten-point Kudarinsky earthquake in the northern part of the Selenga delta, a land area of ​​​​200 km2 went under water? with 6 uluses, in which 1,300 people lived, and the Proval Bay was formed

A unique deep-sea neutrino telescope NT-200, built in 1993-1998, was created and operates on the lake, with the help of which high-energy neutrinos are detected. On its basis, the NT-200+ neutrino telescope with an increased effective volume is being created, the construction of which is expected to be completed no earlier than 2017.

The first dives of inhabited devices on Baikal were committed in 1977, when the bottom of the lake was studied at the Pysis's deep-water apparatus of Canadian production. In the focusing bay, depth 1,410 meters was reached. In 1991, the Pisis sank to a depth of 1,637 meters from the eastern side of Olkhon.

In the summer of 2008, the Foundation for Assistance to the Preservation of Lake Baikal carried out a scientific research expedition “Mira” on Baikal. 52 deep-sea manned submersibles “Mir” were dived to the bottom of Lake Baikal. Scientists delivered water samples, Soil and microorganisms raised from the bottom of Baikal

In 1966, production began on the Baikal pulp and paper plant (BCBC), as a result of which they began to degrade the adjacent bottom territories of the lake. Dustless emissions negatively affect the taiga around the BCBC, the dryness and drying of the forest are observed. In September 2008, the plant introduced a closed water circulation system designed to reduce the discharge of wash water. According to the source, the system turned out to be inoperable and less than a month after its launch, the plant had to be stopped.

There are many legends associated with. The most fascinating of them is connected to the Angara River:
In the old times, the mighty Baikal was cheerful and kind. He deeply loved his only daughter Angara. She was not more beautiful on earth. In the afternoon, she brightened - the lighter sky, at night there is a dark clouds. And whoever rode past the Angara, everyone admired her, everyone praised her. Even migratory birds: geese, swans, cranes - descended low, but rarely landed on the water of the Angara. They said: “Is it possible to blacken light?”

Old man Baikal took care of his daughter more than his heart. Once, when Baikal fell asleep, Angara rushed to run to the young Yenisei. Father woke up, angrily splashed waves. The sweeping of the storm rose, the mountains were buried, the forests fell, smoked from the grief of the sky, the beasts in fear ran away throughout the land, the fish dived at the very bottom, the birds were shown to the sun. Only the wind howled, and the heroic sea raged. Mighty Baikal hit the gray-haired mountain, broke off a rock from it and threw it after the fleeing daughter. The rock fell on the very throat of the beauty. The blue-eyed Angara pleaded, panting and sobbing, and began to ask:

Father, I'm dying of thirst, forgive me and give me just one drop of water.

Baikal shouted angrily:

I can only give my tears!

For thousands of years, the Angara has been flowing into the Yenisei with water-tear, and the gray-haired lonely Baikal has become gloomy and scary. The rock that Baikal threw after his daughter was called by people the Shaman stone. Rich sacrifices were made to Baikal there. People said: “Baikal will be angry, it will tear off the Shaman stone, the water will gush and flood the whole earth.” Currently, the river is blocked by a dam, so only the top of the shamanskaya stone is visible from the water

There is a legend among the people about the creation of Baikal "The Lord looked: the unkind land came out ... no matter how she began to be offended by him! And so that she would not hold a grudge, he took and waved her not some kind of foot mat, but the very measure of his generosity, which he measured how much to be from him. The measure fell and turned into Baikal.

Lakes are the natural reservoirs that store 67.4% of all fresh waters of the Earth in the deepens of sushi. The size and depth of lakes can be very different, and some of them significantly exceed many seas in these indicators.

This review presents ten deepest lakes in the world.

10th place: - Lake of tectonic origin, located in the south of the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi. Its depth is 590 meters. Matano is the deepest lake in Indonesia. Lake Matano is an important source of fresh water in Indonesia, famous for its crystal clear waters, in which there are many rare species of plants, fish and crustaceans. On its banks there are deposits of nickel ore. In Matano, the Patea River takes its source, which, flowing through the waterfall, flows into Lake Mahalona.

9-seat: - Crater lake, which has a depth of 594 meters. Crater - deepest lake in the usa and the second deepest in North America. This lake is the main attraction of the national park located in Oregon. Crater Lake was formed in a deep volcanic basin (caldera) more than 7 thousand years ago due to the destruction of Mount Mazama volcano. Thanks to the melting of snow, the water in the lake is particularly clean and blue. Lake Creuter has an unusual landmark - a huge log called "Loystone Old Man", more than a century floating in a reservoir in a vertical position. In 2005, Crater Lake was featured on an Oregon commemorative coin.

8th place: Great Slave Lake – The deepest Lake Canada and all of North America. Its maximum depth reaches 614 meters. For eight months of the year, the surface of the lake is covered with ice, which in winter is so thick that it can support a heavy truck. In the 1930s, gold was found here, which was the reason for the foundation on the shore of the Lake of Yellowuna.

7th place: Issyk-Kul is a salty drainless lake in the northern part of the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan. The maximum depth of this deepest lake in Central Asia is 702 meters. From the Kyrgyz language "Ysyk Kel" is translated as "hot lake". It obtained such a name due to the fact that its brassing water does not freeze even in a walking winter. Several interesting legends and stories are connected with Issyk-Kul lake. According to one of them, an ancient Armenian monastery with the relics of St. Matthew is kept in the lake. Another legend says that it is in this place the warriors of Tamerlane folded their famous pyramids from stones. In 2006, traces were found at the bottom of the lake ancient civilization that existed 2.5 thousand years ago.

6th place: Malawi(other name - Nyasa) - The most southernmost of the Lakes of the East African Rift Valley, located between Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. This is the second deepest lake in Africa - its maximum depth is 706 meters. In the tropical waters of Malawi is the largest species diversity of fish among all lakes of the Earth. Scientists came to the conclusion that over the past 100 thousand years, the depth of the lake has decreased by more than 100 meters. The causes of water losses are superficial evaporation (up to 80%) and the river is wider, resulting from the southern part of the lake.

5th place: San Martin(other name - O'Higgins) - Fjordo-like lake in Patagonia, located on the border of Argentina and Chile at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level. The area of ​​the lake is 1058 km², and the depth is 836 meters. This deepest lake in south america. In Argentina, the lake is called San Martin, in Chile - O'Higgins. The lake is named after national heroes José de San Martin of Argentina and Bernardo O'Higgins of Chile who fought together for the freedom of South America. It feeds on the lake by the waters of the Mayer River and small glacier streams, and flows into the Paska River, which flows into Pacific Ocean. A unique feature of the lake is the milky-blue hue of the water, which occurs due to particles of stone deposits that enter the lake along with the melt waters of glaciers and settle on its bottom.

4th place: Caspian Sea – the largest closed lake in the world With salty water, called the sea due to the fact that its base is the earth's ground of the ocean type. Located between Europe and Asia, the lake washes the shores of five countries - Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. The maximum depth of the Caspian reaches 1025 meters, and its area is 371 thousand km². More than 130 rivers fall into the lake, the largest of them is the Volga. The Caspian Sea has a rich fauna - the Caspian seal is found in it, there are many sturgeons, and some species of fish are found only here. This huge reservoir is a rich source of energy resources. To date, the total cost of oil and gas in the sea is 12 trillion. dollars.

3rd place: East – the deepest and largest of all subglacial lakes on Earth, covered with a thickness of ice of 4 kilometers. The unique reservoir is located in Antarctica, next to the Russian Antarctic station Vostok, after which it got its name. The estimated maximum depth of the lake is more than 1200 meters. The lake was opened in 1996. In February 2012, Russian scientists reached the surface of Lake Vostok, the drilling of the ice shell of which lasted 20 years. Lake studies can give a lot of useful information to the world, because the conditions in it are similar to those that existed many million years ago, besides there is an assumption that such lakes are on Jupiter satellites.

2nd place: Tanganyika- it deepest lake in africa and the second deepest (1470 meters) in the world. It is also the first in length (673 km) of the world of the world belonging to the four countries - Tanzania, Congo, Burundi and Zambia. The lake is located in the deepest tectonic basin in Africa. It was accidentally discovered in 1858 by British explorers John Speke and Richard Burton, who discovered it while searching for the source of the Nile. The lake is fed by several channels, and only one river flows out of it - Lukuga. In Tanganic, crocodiles, hippo, many waterfowl, as well as many unique species of fish are found. After the magazine National Geographic published a story about a 9-meter krokrodile killer, which caused the death of several dozen people, Lake Tanganyika for a long time was a special interest.

1st place: Baikal- it the deepest lake in Russia, Eurasia and the whole world, reaching a depth of 1642 meters. Located in the south of Eastern Siberia, the reservoir is the largest natural reservoir of fresh water - it keeps in itself 20% of the overall stock of the surface fresh water of the planet. The volume of water in Baikal is greater than in all lakes in the United States combined. Baikal is also known as the oldest lake on Earth, formed 25-35 million years ago, although lakes usually do not exist for more than 15 thousand years. Baikal is a unique ecosystem, home to about 1,700 species of flora and fauna, many of which are found nowhere else. The lake is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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