Green Leaf Shape

9 Of The World's Largest Lakes That Are Bigger Than Some Countries

Lake Urmia, Iran

Located in northwest Iran and formerly one of the biggest saltwater lakes in the world, Urmia has an intriguing tale. At its largest, the lake measured around 2,317 square miles (6,001sq km) but its size has fluctuated over the years.

Lake Taymyr, Russia

This 1,760-square-mile (4,560sq km) lake sits on a peninsula in the far reaches of Russia's north and is bigger than the likes of St Lucia, Bahrain and Singapore.

Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

At 2,425 square miles (6,280sq km), Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and is bigger than the islands of Cape Verde and Trinidad and Tobago.

Lake Turkana, Kenya

The very existence of Lake Turkana in such a dry and barren landscape is astonishing. Surrounded by northern Kenya's dry, harsh landscape, the lake is a true desert oasis the size of Brunei.

Reindeer Lake, Canada

Sitting across the border of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Reindeer Lake is an astonishing 2,568 square miles (6,650sq km) in size and is dotted with around 5,500 islands.

Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua

The biggest lake in Central America and twice the size of Cape Verde, Lake Nicaragua is 3,149 square miles (8,157sq km) of fresh water.

Lake Titicaca, Bolivia and Peru

On the Peruvian side of the lake are the Uros islands, unique floating platforms built out of reeds where people live in small thatch dwellings.

Lake Onega, Russia

This vast lake in the European side of Russia is 3,753 square miles (9,720sq km) in size (larger than the island of Cyprus) and has well over 1,500 islands on its surface.

Lake Vostok, Antarctica

Travelling here is almost impossible unless you've unlimited funds for a private expedition, as the lake sits below a Russian research station base near the South Pole.