There are many beautiful and majestic lakes globally, and if you love spending time near or around the water, you will fall in love with these 20 deepest lakes. If you love adventures and want to explore as many places as possible, you should try and visit all of these 20 deepest lakes in the world. These lakes are worth seeing from North America to Europe and even Asia.
20. Nahuel Huapi (1,523 feet) Argentina – Rio Negro, Patagonia
Nahuel Huapi is a glacial lake located in the Argentine province of Río Negro, in the southwest of Patagonia. It is the largest and deepest lake in Argentina, with 1,523 feet. The lake is home to several islands, including Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, the largest island in the lake. The lake is also popular fishing, boating, and hiking destination.
19. Salsvatnet (1,523 feet) Norway – Trøndelag
Salsvatnet is a lake located in the municipalities of Meråker and Steinkjer in Trøndelag county, Norway. Several rivers, including the theLågen, feed the 1,523-foot deep lake, and it drains into the Trondheimsfjord via the river Gaula. The lake is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and swimming. It is also home to some fish species, including brown trout, Arctic char, and European whitefish.
18. Kivu (1,575 feet) The Democratic Republic of the Congo & Rwanda
Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies between the DRC to the west and Rwanda to the east. Kivu is considered one of the world’s deepest lakes, with a maximum depth of 1,575 meters. The lake is also notable for its unique geology, as it is one of three known “exploding lakes” in the world. Exploding lakes contain high methane and carbon dioxide concentrations, which can build up and cause a sudden release of gas and water. According to Wikipedia, the lake is also home to many unique species of fish, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.
17. Argentino (1640 feet) Argentina – Santa Cruz (Patagonia)
Argentino Lake is a glacial lake located in the Andes mountain range in the San Martín de Los Andes department of the Argentine province of Neuquén. It has a depth of (1,647 ft) and is fed by the melting waters of the Viedma Glacier. It is located within the Los Glaciares National Park. The lake has the shape of a stretched “Z,” with Arms reaching up to 30km in length.
16. Tahoe (1645 feet) United States – California, Nevada
Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, and at 1,645 feet, it’s also one of the deepest. It’s so big and deep that it’s thought to have its microclimate, contributing to the area’s heavy snowfall. The lake is also home to some unique fish species, including the Lake Tahoe brown trout and the kokanee salmon. Tahoe Basin has formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The lake sits in California and Nevada, with two-thirds of it lying in California.
15. Sarez (1657 feet) Tajikistan
Sarez is the deepest lake in Tajikistan and the 15th deepest globally. It was formed when a massive earthquake caused a piece of the mountain to collapse and dam up the valley below. Sarez is one of the most remote lakes globally, situated in the Pamir Mountains, far from any major city. The lake is also one of the most beautiful, with clear turquoise waters and stunning mountain views. According to Wikipedia, the lake is approximately 47.1 miles long and 2.1 mile wide and has a maximum depth of 662 feet.
14. Toba (1,657 feet) Indonesia – Sumatra
Toba is a large, deep lake located in Sumatra, Indonesia. Its depth has been measured at 1,657 feet by sonar. It is one of the world’s deepest lakes, home to many fish, including carp and catfish. It is also a popular destination for fishing trips. The lake was formed through an eruption 75,000 years ago, which created a massive volcanic crater that is now filled by the lake. The eruption also caused a global cooling event that may have contributed to the extinction of the Neanderthals.
13. Quesnel (1677 feet) Canada – British Columbia
This lake is located in British Columbia, Canada. It’s one of the deepest fjord lakes in North America and was formed during the last ice age. The lake’s average depth is 1677 feet and, according to Wikipedia, the lake is home to various fish, including rainbow trout, Lake trout, and kokanee, salmon. It’s a popular destination for fishing, camping, and boating. The lake is also home to various wildlife, including bald eagles, ospreys, and loons.
12. Hornindalsvatnet (1686 feet) Norway
This is Europe’s deepest lake, measuring 1686 feet at its deepest point. It is located in the Municipality of Hornindal in Norway’s Vestlandet county. The lake was created during the last ice age when a glacier carved out a large depression in the Earth. Meltwater from the glacier-filled the depression, creating the lake. Hornindalsvatnet is home to various fish, including brown trout, Arctic char, and European whitefish. It is a popular spot for fishing and camping.
11. General Carrera-Buenos Aires (1923) Chile – Argentina
With a depth of 1923 feet, General Carrera is the deepest lake located in South America. It is also the second-largest lake in Chile. The water in this lake is so clear that visitors claim to see up to 140 feet below the surface. The General Carrera Lake is located in the Patagonian Andes and is shared between Chile and Argentina. It was created by melting a glacier and fed by rivers and underground streams. The water in the lake is so pure that it is used for bottled water. The General Carrera Lake is also home to a unique type of freshwater fish called theombatrout. This fish can only be found in this lake and a few other nearby lakes. General Carrera Lake is a popular tourist destination for Chileans and Argentinians. Visitors can go camping, hiking, fishing, and kayaking in the lake.
10. Matano (1936 feet) Indonesia – South Sulawesi
Matano is a caldera lake located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It has a depth of 1936 feet and is believed to be formed around 4-5 million years ago. The name Matano comes from the local language “ma,” meaning “water,” and “tano,” meaning “big.” The lake is home to various fish, including the Matano loach (Schismatogobius matses), only found in this lake. Matano is also one of the deepest lakes in Indonesia and has been designated as a nature reserve.
9. Crater (1949 feet) United States – Oregon
Crater Lake is a caldera lake in the western United States, located in south-central Oregon. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. According to Wikipedia, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States formed around 7,700 years ago when the 12,000-foot volcano Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed. It is now a caldera lake, 1949 feet deep. The Crater Lake area is full of hiking trails, waterfalls, and scenic views. The best time to visit is in the summer when the weather is warm and dry. It’s also an excellent spot for fishing, with rainbow trout and kokanee salmon being the most popular catches.
8. Great Slave (2105) Canada – Northwest Territories
The Great Slave Lake is located in Canada’s Northwest Territories, and it is the deepest lake in North America. The lake is also the eighth deepest globally, with a depth of 2015 feet. The lake was named by the explorer David Thompson after the Slave, who assisted him in his explorations. The lake has 27,200 square kilometers and is home to various fish species, including the northern pike, walleye, and Lake trout. The lake is also a popular destination for recreational boaters and anglers.
7. Issyk Kul (2192) Kyrgyzstan
Issyk Kul is a large, deep lake located in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. It is one of the largest high-altitude lakes globally and has a depth of 2192 feet. The lake was formed when an earthquake caused a landslide that blocked the flow of the Chu River. The lake has a surface area of 6,236 square kilometers and is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and swimming. It is also home to various fish species, including the endemic Issyk Kul whitefish.
6. Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa (2,316) Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania
This African Great Lake, also known as Lago Niassa in Mozambique, where it takes up about a third of the country’s surface area, is the fourth largest lake in Africa and the ninth deepest in the world. According to Wikipedia, the average depth is 2316 feet, and it holds about 18% of the world’s unfrozen fresh water and is home to over 1,000 species of fish, making it an important source of food for the countries that border it. The lake was formed by tectonic activity and is part of the East African Rift system. The northern and southern shores are hilly, while the western shore is flat. The lake has numerous islands, the largest of which is Likoma Island. The lake has two main inflows, the Ruhuhu River in the north and the Shire River in the south. The only outlet is the Livingstone Falls, a series of rapids that empty into the Zambezi River.
5. O’Higgins-San Martín (2742 feet) Chile – Argentina Aysén (Chile), Santa Cruz (Argentina)
O’Higgins-San Martín is shared by Chile and Argentina. It’s located in their countries’ Aysén (Chile) and Santa Cruz (Argentina) regions. This lake is 2742 feet deep. Lake Baikal (Russia) is the deepest lake in Eurasia and the world’s deepest freshwater lake. It’s also the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume. Lake Baikal is located in Siberia and is home to more than 3,000 species of plants and animals, many of which can be found nowhere else.
4. Vostok (3300 feet) Antarctica
Vostok is the world’s fourth deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 3,300 feet. It was discovered in 1964 by Russian scientists and has been the subject of numerous research projects ever since. The thick ice sheet that covers Vostok conceals an extensive ecosystem consisting of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that have been isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. Vostok is also notable for being the site of a Russian research station where, in 1990, scientists drilled through the ice and reached the lake’s surface for the first time. Since then, they have continued to study Vostok’s unique ecosystem and its potential implications for astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life.
3. Caspian Sea (3363 feet) Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
The Caspian Sea is the world’s third deepest lake, measuring 3,363 feet deep. According to Wikipedia, it spans five countries: Iran, Turkmenistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. The Caspian Sea is also the largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth, and its deepest point is located in the Azerbaijan sector, where it reaches a depth of 5,426 feet. The Caspian Sea is a popular tourist destination, with resorts and beaches dotting each country’s coastline. The lake is also an essential source of seafood, with caviar being the most renowned product.
2. Tanganyika (4823 feet) Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Zambia
This massive lake is the world’s second deepest and largest freshwater lake in Africa. It is also thought to be the longest lake globally, measuring 410 miles north to south. The average depth of Tanganyika is a whopping 1 mile. The lake’s name comes from the Makonde tribe, which lives on its shores. The lake is thought to be around 20 million years old. The deep waters of Tanganyika are home to an incredible array of wildlife, including more than 200 different types of fish. One of the most popular attractions is scuba diving with cichlids.
1. Baikal (5387 feet) Russia – Siberia
Discovered in 1643, Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake globally. It is also the largest freshwater lake by volume, containing about 20% of its unfrozen surface freshwater. According to Wikipedia, the average depth of Baikal is 5369 feet, with a maximum depth of over 6800 feet. The lake is home to more than 1,500 species of plants and animals, including the freshwater seal and the Siberian sturgeon. The lake is a popular tourist destination, with visitors attracted to its natural beauty and rich biodiversity.
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