Lake Taimyr is salty or fresh. Five most amazing lakes in Russia

There are more than two million freshwater and salt lakes in Russia. The largest lakes in the European part of the country include Ladoga (17.87 thousand km²) and Onega (9.72 thousand km²) in the northwest, Lake Peipsi (3.55 thousand km²) on the Estonian border, as well as the Rybinsk reservoir ( 4.58 thousand km²) on the Volga north of Moscow.

Narrow lakes from 160 to 320 km in length are located behind the dams on the Don, Volga and Kama. In Siberia, similar artificial lakes are located on the upper Yenisei and its tributary, the Angara, where the 570 km long Bratsk reservoir is one of the largest in the world. But they are all insignificant compared to Lake Baikal, the largest reservoir of fresh water on the planet. With a length of 636 km and an average width of 50 km, the surface area of ​​Lake Baikal is 31.72 thousand km², and the maximum depth is 1642 m.

There are countless smaller lakes, located mainly in the poorly drained lowlands of the Russian and West Siberian Plains, especially in the more northern regions. Some of them reach significant sizes, in particular, Lake Beloe (1.29 thousand km²), Topozero (0.98 thousand km²), Vygozero (0.56 thousand km²) and Lake Ilmen (0.98 thousand km²) on the territory of the European north-west of the country, and Lake Chany (1.4-2 thousand km²) in south-west Siberia.

List of the largest lakes in Russia

We present to your attention the 10 largest lakes of the Russian Federation with a description, photo and geographical location on the map of the country.

Caspian Sea

Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland water body (area: 371 thousand km²). It is called a sea, not a lake, because the ancient Romans who arrived in this region discovered that its water was salty and named it the sea after the tribes of the Caspian who lived near the shores of the lake. The Caspian Sea borders the following five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Iran. main river the lake is fed by the Volga, which provides about 80% of the inflow of the Caspian Sea, and the remaining 20% ​​falls on other smaller rivers.

The Caspian Sea is rich in oil and natural gas but mining of these are under development. Also, the extraction process is hampered by the problem of separation natural resources lakes between the five countries bordering it. About 160 species and subspecies of fish from 60 genera live in the Caspian Sea and the deltas of the rivers flowing into it. About 62% of the species are endemic.

Baikal

Baikal is the deepest (1642 m), the oldest (25-35 million years) and the most voluminous (23.6 thousand km³) of all lakes in the world, it is a superstar reservoir in the field of hydrology, geology, ecology and history. Today, Lake Baikal contains about 20 percent of the fresh water on the Earth's surface, which is comparable in volume to the entire Amazon River basin. Baikal has 27 islands, including one over 70 km long (Olkhon Island).

More than 1,500 species of animals live off the shores of the lake, 80% of which are found nowhere else on the planet. The most famous representative of the Baikal fauna is the seal, which lives exclusively in fresh water. According to some reports, the population of seals is about 100,000 individuals. Also near the lake there are such large predators as wolves, which occupy the top positions of the Siberian food chain, feeding on deer, birds, rodents and smaller predators.

Ladoga lake

Ladoga lake- the largest freshwater lake in Europe, located in the north-west of Russia, 40 km east of St. Petersburg. The area of ​​the lake is 17.87 thousand km², the volume is 838 km³, and the maximum depth at a point to the west of Valaam Island it reaches 230 m.

The depression of the lake appeared under the influence of glaciers. northern shores mostly high and rocky, but also separated by deep, ice-covered bays. southern shores have many sandy or rocky beaches, mostly low, slightly concave, overgrown with willow and alder. In some places there are ancient coastal embankments covered with pine trees. The largest tributaries are the Volkhov, Svir and Vuoksa rivers.

48 different species of fish were found in the lake, of which the most common are roach, carp, bream, pike perch, perch and smelt. Of the 48 species, 25 are of commercial importance and 11 are in the important food fish category.

Lake Ladoga also serves as a key stopping point for migratory birds of the North Atlantic Flyway, which typically mark the arrival of spring.

Lake Onega

Lake Onega is the second largest lake in Europe, located in the north-west of the European part of Russia, between Lake Ladoga and the White Sea. It covers an area of ​​9.72 thousand km², 248 km long and up to 83 km wide. The greatest depth is about 127 m.

The basin of the lake was formed by the movement of the earth's crust and glaciers. The high rocky shores in the north and northwest are composed of layered granite and covered with forest. There are deep bays in Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Pevenets. The southern shores are narrow, sandy, often swampy or flooded. Lake Onega has about 1650 islands, covering a total of about 260 km², usually in the northern and northwestern bays.

The lake is home to over 40 species of fish, including vendace (a small member of the salmon family), smelt, burbot bream, pike, perch, roach and salmon. Many types of fish have significant economic value.

Taimyr

Taimyr is the second (after Baikal) largest lake in the Asian part of Russia, located in central regions the Taimyr Peninsula. It is located south of the Byrranga mountains, in the zone.

The lake and tundra zone is popular place for birds such as geese, swans, ducks, buzzards, peregrine falcons and snowy owls. Lives in Lake Taimyr a large number of fish, including grayling, muksun, char and whitefish. Although the area is relatively remote, depletion of stocks of certain commercial fish species is still observed.

Taimyr is famous for the largest population of reindeer in Eurasia. Also in this region there are such animals as argali, arctic fox, wolf and lemmings. In 1975, the area was re-introduced.

Since 1983, the lake and its environs have been included in the Taimyr nature reserve. Scientists have discovered plutonium in the sediments of the lake, which allegedly entered Taimyr through wind-blown radioactive particles after nuclear testing held on Novaya Zemlya during the Cold War.

Khanka

Lake Khanka has an area of ​​4 thousand km², of which approximately 97% is located in Russia. The maximum depth of the lake is 10.6 m, and the average volume is 18.3 km². The lake is fed by 23 rivers, 8 of which are in China, and the rest in the territory of the Russian Federation. The only outflow is the Sungacha River, which flows east to the Ussuri River, which forms the international border, and flows north where it joins the Amur River.

Khanka is famous for being home to the highest diversity of birds in the entire temperate zone of Eurasia. At least 327 species of nesting, wintering and migratory birds have been sighted in the lake area.

Chudsko-Pskovskoe Lake

Lake Peipus-Pskovskoye is the largest transboundary and fifth (after Ladoga, Onega, Swedish Venern and Finnish Saim) lake in Europe, located on the border between Estonia and Russia. It occupies 3.6% of the total area of ​​the Baltic Sea basin. A total of 30 islands are located on Lake Peipus, and 40 more in the delta of the Velikaya River. Most of them rise only 1-2 m above the water level, and often suffer from floods.

About 54 species of coastal aquatic plants grow in the basin of Lake Peipus-Pskov, including reed, calamus, reeds and various herbs. 42 species of fish live in the waters of the lake, such as smelt, vendace, bream, perch, pike, roach and whitefish. Wetlands serve as important nesting and feeding grounds for migratory birds such as swans, geese and ducks that migrate from the White Sea to Baltic Sea. The region is home to one of the largest swallow colonies in Estonia.

Ubsu-Nur

Ubsu-Nur is the largest lake in Mongolia in terms of surface area (3.35 thousand km²), as well as the largest salt lake in the country. The Ubsu-Nur basin is one of the most important biodiversity poles of Eurasia. Although most of the lake is in Mongolia, its northeastern shores are located in the Tyva Republic of the Russian Federation.

The lake is shallow, very salty, and is the remnant of a large sea that existed several thousand years ago. The basin covers an area of ​​about 70 thousand km² and is one of the best preserved natural steppe landscapes on the continent. It is here that the northernmost part of the desert and the most southern part tundra.

Reed and freshwater river deltas serve as resting and nesting sites for numerous migratory birds. Over 220 species of birds can be found around the lake, including the black stork, osprey, white-tailed eagle, whooper, and black-headed gull. About 29 different species of fish live in the waters of the lake, one of which is suitable for human consumption. mountainous area serves as a home for Mongolian gerbils, wild sheep and Siberian ibex.

vats

Although Lake Chany is not well known outside of Siberia, it is one of the most big lakes countries. Chany is a shallow lake with salty and constantly fluctuating water, the level of which can vary from season to season and from year to year. The lands of the lake basin serve as pastures for cattle.

Tanks play an important role in the region's fisheries. The most common species are silver carp, carp, ide, perch. AT recent times there is a trend of depletion of fish stocks of the lake.

Lake Beloe

In terms of area, Beloye is the second (after Onega) natural lake in the Vologda region, and the third (after the Rybinsk reservoir). It is one of the ten largest natural lakes in Europe. The lake has a relatively round shape with a diameter of 46 km. Its area is 1.29 thousand km², and the basin area is about 14 thousand km².

The lake is famous for its fish stocks, the most famous delicacy is the Belozersky smelt. The forage base and high level of oxygen create favorable conditions for the life of many species. The following fish species are common in the waters of the lake: perch, pike, bream, ruff, sabrefish, roach, bleak, burbot, chub, rudd, whitefish, ide, tench, asp, dace and gudgeon).

Table of 10 largest lakes in Russia

There are about 5 million lakes in the world, but we have only heard of a few of the largest. Do you think Baikal is the largest lake in the world? In fact, Baikal occupies only the 7th line in the ranking of the largest lakes!

Did you know that the area of ​​the largest lake on the planet is equal to the area of ​​52 million football fields and is comparable to the area of ​​Moscow multiplied by 150 times? Not? Then read below!

No. 10. Great Slave Lake - 28,930 square kilometers. North America.

The Great Slave Lake is the 10th largest lake in the world by area, and it is also the deepest lake in North America. Its depth is 614 meters. The dimensions of the Great Slave Lake are 480 km long, 19-109 km wide, and the area is 28,930 square kilometers.

From October to June, the lake is covered with ice; in winter, the ice can withstand the weight of trucks. Rivers flowing into the lake: Hay, Slave, Snowdrift, etc. The Mackenzie River flows out of the lake. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.

No. 9. Lake Nyasa - 30,044 square kilometers. East Africa.

Lake Nyasa (Malawi) is the ninth largest lake in the world. Lake Nyasa fills a crack in the earth's crust in the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, located between Mozambique and Tanzania. The length of the lake is 560 km, the depth is 706 m. Nyasa contains 7% of the world's reserves of liquid fresh water.

Nyasa is known for its rich ecosystem, many of the species found in the lake are endemic. The origin of the lake is tectonic.

No. 8. Big Bear Lake - 31,080 square kilometers. Canada.

Big Bear Lake is located 200 km south of arctic circle within Canada. The lake ranks eighth in area in the world and fourth in North America. The dimensions of the lake: length - 320 km, width - 175 km, maximum depth - 446 m.

The lake has not much good story. Uranium was found here. It was from here that uranium was mined for the manufacture of bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The lake is almost always covered with ice, the ice rarely melts before the end of July. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.

No. 7. Lake Baikal - 31,500 square kilometers. Eastern Siberia.

Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, the largest water reservoir, which contains 20% of the world's liquid fresh water. Baikal is also considered one of the cleanest lakes in the world.

The lake ranks seventh in terms of area in the world and first in terms of volume. The dimensions of the lake are: length - 636 km, width - 80 km, maximum depth - 1642 m, volume - 23,600 km3.
The origin of the lake is tectonic, the age is more than 25 million years. The fauna of Lake Baikal is one of the most unique in the world, many species are endemic.

No. 6. Lake Tanganyika - 32,893 square kilometers. Central Africa.

Lake Tanganyika is one of the deepest lakes in the world, along with Lake Baikal. The lake lies between 4 countries - the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi.

The dimensions of the lake are: length - 676 ​​km, width - 72 km, maximum depth - 1470 m, volume - 18,900 km3. The origin of the lake is tectonic.

Tanganyika lies in the deepest tectonic basin in Africa and enters the basin of the Congo River, one of the largest rivers in the world.

No. 5. Lake Michigan - 58,016 square kilometers. North America.

Lake Michigan is one of the Great Lakes. This lake is the largest of the lakes located entirely within the United States. Michigan is the fifth largest in the world and the third among the Great Lakes. The volume of the lake is 4918 m3, length - 494 km, width - 190 km, maximum depth - 281 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.

No. 4. Lake Huron - 59,596 square kilometers North America.

Lake Huron is one of the Great Lakes. This lake is located on the territory of two countries: the USA and Canada. Huron is the fourth largest lake in the world. The volume of the lake is 3538 m3, length - 331 km, width - 295 km, maximum depth - 229 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.

No. 3. Lake Victoria - 69,485 square kilometers. East Africa.

Lake Victoria is located in Tanzania, Kenya. After the construction of the Owen Falls Dam in 1954, the lake was turned into a reservoir. There are many islands on the lake. Fishing is developed on the lake and there are many ports on the territory of the three countries. On the island of Rubondo (Tanzania), a national park has been formed.

Victoria is the third largest lake in the world. The volume of the lake is 2760 m3, the length is 320 km, the width is 274 km, the maximum depth is 80 m. The origin of the lake is tectonic.

The lake was discovered and named after Queen Victoria by British traveler John Henning Speke in 1858.

No. 2. Lake Superior - 82,414 square kilometers. North America.

Lake Superior is the second largest in the world and the largest among the Great Lakes, located on the border of the United States and Canada. The volume of the lake is 12,000 m3, length - 563 km, width - 257 km, maximum depth - 406 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.

Etymology of the name. In the Ojibwe language, the lake is called Gichigami, which means "big water".

No. 1. Caspian Sea - 371,000 square kilometers. Europe Asia.

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth and is classified as the largest lake or sea due to its size. Located at the junction of Europe and Asia. Volume - 78,200 m3, length - 1200 km, width - 435 km, maximum depth - 1025 m. The coastline of the Caspian Sea is approximately 6500 kilometers long.

130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, the largest of them are the Volga, Terek, Sulak, Ural, Kura, Artek, etc. The Caspian Sea washes the shores of Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Russia, Azerbaijan.
The origin of the lake is oceanic.

Caspian Sea- Lake, the largest in the world in terms of area and volume of water. Its waters wash the shores of five states, including the south of Russia. . The salinity of most of the sea-lake is about three times less than the ocean, in the northern part (the coast of Russia), the water in the lake is almost fresh. In this part of it, the lake is rich in fish, especially sturgeon: a total of 101 species of fish, as well as many freshwater fish - like vobla, carp, pike perch. The lake is the breadwinner!

The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is estimated at about 6500 - 6700 kilometers, with islands - up to 7000 kilometers.

130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, nine of them have a mouth in the form of a delta. The largest rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea: Volga, Terek (Russia), Ural, Emba (Kazakhstan), Kura (Azerbaijan), Samur (Russian border with Azerbaijan), Atrek (Turkmenistan)

The most important hazards for the Caspian Sea are associated with water pollution as a result of oil production and transportation on the continental shelf, the flow of pollutants from the Volga and other rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, the vital activity of coastal cities, as well as the flooding of individual facilities due to the rise in the level of the Caspian Sea .

famous lake Baikal- the largest freshwater lake in Eurasia. The deepest lake in the world is 1642 meters deep.

The water reserves in Baikal are simply gigantic - 23,615.39 km³ (about 19% of the world's fresh lake water reserves - all fresh lakes in the world contain 123 thousand km³ of water). In terms of water reserves, Baikal is second only to the Caspian Sea.

336 rivers and streams flow into Baikal

In winter, the surface of Lake Baikal freezes almost completely, there is only a small section 15-20 km long, located at the source of the Angara.

2630 species and varieties of plants and animals live in Lake Baikal

Ladoga and Lake Onega are the largest in Europe.

Large rivers carry their waters into Lake Ladoga: Svir, Vuoksa and Volkhov, several dozen medium-sized rivers and more than a hundred small ones. Only one flows out of the lake - the Neva.

On Lake Ladoga - an abundance of islands, the number of which exceeds 650

Lake Onega is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in Europe. Its area is about 10,000 square kilometers, length up to 248 kilometers, width up to 80 kilometers. The average depth of the lake is 30 meters.

The lake is famous for its huge number of islands, especially in the northern part. Their total number reaches 1369

Lake Elton

Lake Elton is one of the most interesting natural objects in the territory Volgograd region. Salt lake of huge size, comparable only to Israel dead sea, spread out in the middle of the Pallasovskaya steppe.

Lake Elton is the largest and richest of all known salt lakes in the world. The thickness of the salt layer has not yet been precisely determined. But the most important thing in Elton is its healing properties. Once upon a time there was even a Museum of Abandoned Crutches: people who came here on crutches returned home after a month or two, leaving their crutches in a local sanatorium

It has long been noticed that by the end of summer the surface of the lake turns into a mysterious purple-golden color.

Lotus lake

In Russia, lotuses grow in only two places - in Astrakhan region and in the Far East. Lotus Lake (or Goose) is a unique body of water covered with a carpet of rare pink flowers all summer long. This lake is located on one of the most picturesque islands Gulf of Peter the Great

A wonderful legend is told about the lake. As if earlier in its place there was a valley where the village was located. There was a well in the middle of the village. One day, water began to flow from this well, which flooded the village. It is believed that the waters of Lake Baikal broke through, with which Gusinoe is connected by a huge underground channel. They say that even the wreckage of ships sunken in Baikal is found here. And endemic omul is also found in Lotus Lake.

beautiful and amazing lakes, is not it?

The lakes of Russia are one of the national treasures of our Motherland. They can be large and small, freshwater and salty, deep and shallow. Let's figure out what the largest lakes in Russia and why!

1

The Caspian Sea is

Not only in Russia, but throughout the world. It is located on the border of Asia and Europe and washes the shores of 5 countries (Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan). The area of ​​the Caspian Sea is approximately 371,000 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of 1025 meters. The waters of this lake are salty. According to one theory, the Caspian Sea got its name due to the ancient tribes - the Caspians, who lived in the southwest of the coast.

2

This is the deepest (about 1640 meters) lake of our planet, located in Eastern Siberia. The area of ​​Baikal is more than 31,700 square kilometers and it is the largest reservoir of fresh water (90% of Russia's fresh water reserves). It is also worth noting that the waters of this lake are unusually clean and transparent, and in ancient times they were considered healing.

3

Lake Ladoga lies on the territory of the Leningrad region and Karelia. Its area is more than 17.6 thousand square kilometers, and the greatest depth is 230 meters, it is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe. 35 rivers flow into Lake Ladoga, and the Neva originates. It is home to about 60 species of fish, half of which are of industrial importance.

4

This lake is located on the territory of Karelia, Vologda and Leningrad regions. The area of ​​Lake Onega is about 9,700 square kilometers, with the greatest depth being 127 meters. "Onego-father" - this is how the people call this lake, famous for its clean water and many historical monuments located on its banks.

Taimyr Lake is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory on the Taimyr Peninsula and is the northernmost lake in the world. Most of the year, this lake is covered with ice. Due to fluctuations in the water level, the area of ​​this lake can vary, and reach 4,560 square kilometers, and the maximum depth can reach 26 meters. The flora of Taimyr is represented by arctic fish species.

6

This lake is located in the Far East of Russia and borders on China. The greatest depth of Lake Khanka is about 11 meters, and the area is 4,070 square kilometers. Due to its location, it attracts a large number of tourists who can get acquainted with the culture and customs of the two countries at once. About 75 species of fish live in the waters of this lake, and even some of them are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

7

Vats - salt Lake located in the Novosibirsk region. The area of ​​the lake, according to various sources, varies from 1400 to 2000 square kilometers, and its greatest depth is 7 meters. There have been legends about this lake for a long time, one of which says that a huge snake lives in it, devouring people and cattle. scientific evidence and of course there is no information about this, maybe it's just a legend created to attract tourists.

8

This lake is located in the Vologda region. The area of ​​this lake can fluctuate, mainly due to low banks, and is about 1,284 square kilometers. Average depth White Lake- is about 5-7 meters, but due to underwater holes - it can reach up to 10-12 meters. This lake is home to about 29 species of fish, making it a "paradise" for fishermen.

9

Topozero is located in the north of Karelia, in the Loukhsky district. The lake has a winding coastline, and its area is 986 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of up to 56 meters. Topozero is a favorite place for kayakers, and especially fishermen.

10

This lake is located in the Novgorod region of Russia. The area of ​​Lake Ilmen is 982 square kilometers, but depending on the water level, it may vary. Its maximum depth can reach up to 10 meters. Many legends are associated with the name of this lake, among which there is a myth about the Scythian princes Rus and Slovene, who named this lake in honor of their sister, Ilmera.

This is not the whole list of lakes located on the vast territory of our Motherland.

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

The top 10 included the most big lakes Russia by occupied area.

Area 1.29 thousand square meters. km

Opens the rating of the largest lakes in Russia and covers an area of ​​1.29 thousand square meters. km, but due to low banks, the area may fluctuate throughout the year. The volume of water mass increased sharply in 1964 and this is due to the construction of the Sheksna reservoir. A huge natural pit is filled with water with the help of seventeen large rivers. The total number of rivers and streams flowing into the lake is about 60. The lake belongs to the Caspian Sea, since the only river flowing from it flows into the Volga.

Area 2 thousand square meters. km

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

Area 3.3 thousand square meters. km

It is one of the ten largest lakes in Russia with an area of ​​3.3 thousand square meters. km. The length of the reservoir is 85 kilometers, and the width is 80 km. Part of the lake is located on the territory of Mongolia, where Ubu-Nur is considered the largest body of water. About 29 species of fish live here, of which only one is used by humans as food - the Altai osman.

Area 3.5 thousand square meters. km

It is located on the seventh position among the largest reservoirs in Russia. Its total area is about 3.5 thousand square meters. km. 30 water arteries flow into the lake, and the only river Narva flows out. The reservoir is located on the borders of Russia and Estonia. On the territory of Lake Peipus-Pskovskoye there are 29 islands with an occupied territory of about 26 sq. km. In the coastal zone there is an ornithological reserve "Pskov-Chudskaya lakeside lowland", which is the most valuable reserve of rare species of plants and animals in the Baltic region.

Area 4 thousand square meters. km

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

Area 4.6 thousand square meters. km

It ranks fifth among the largest lakes in Russia in terms of area. The largest reservoir of the Krasnoyarsk Territory has an area equal to 4.6 thousand square meters. km. Its feature is that for 9 months the lake is under ice. The local representatives of the flora include arctic fish species, including char, whitefish, muksun and others. Local islands serve as a nesting place for migratory birds - red-breasted geese and geese. The Western, Northern, Upper Taimyr, Baikura rivers flow into Taimyr, and the Lower Taimyr flows out.

Area 9.6 thousand square meters. km

The fourth place in the ranking is occupied with an area of ​​9.6 thousand square meters. km. It is 245 km long and 91 km wide. The reservoir is located on the territory of Karelia, as well as the Vologda and Leningrad regions. About 50 rivers flow into it, and the only river flows out - the Svir. Within Lake Onega, there are about 1650 islands with a total occupied territory of 224 kilometers. The most famous is the island of Kizhi, where the museum-reserve of the same name is located. The inhabitants of the reservoir are 47 species of fish, among which there are salmon, trout, sterlet, pike perch, eel and others. Due to the habitat of valuable species of fish, fishing is developed here.

Ladoga lake Area 18 thousand square meters. km

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

Area 31.7 thousand square meters. km

It occupies the second line in the ranking of the largest lakes in Russia. Is the most deep lake in the world and the largest natural reservoir of fresh water, which contains about 19% of all world reserves. Its area is 31.7 thousand square meters. km, and the depth is 1642 m. Baikal stretches for 636 km in length and 80 km in width. There are 27 peninsulas and islands on its territory, the largest of them is the Svyatoi Nos peninsula. According to some reports, about 500 rivers and streams flow into it. The largest rivers flowing into Baikal include the Selenga, Upper Angara, Turka, Tyya, etc. The only river that flows out of the lake is the Angara. The water in Baikal is very transparent: at a depth of up to 40 meters, the flora and fauna of the reservoir is visible. Very rich here animal world, represented by 2600 species, among which about a thousand are endemic.

Area 371 thousand square meters. km

The name of this lake already speaks of its incredible size. The largest lake in Russia has an area equal to 371 thousand square meters. km. with a maximum depth in the South Caspian depression of more than a thousand meters. Its length is 1.2 thousand km, and its width is about 500 kilometers. It is also the largest enclosed body of water in the world, and is equated to the sea because of its size. The lake supposedly got its name in honor of the tribes of the Caspians who lived on the coast in ancient times. The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of the continents of Europe and Asia. About 130 rivers flow into it, among them such large water arteries as the Volga, Sulak, Samur, Ural, etc. The sea washes the shores of 5 states at once: Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The flora and fauna of the salt reservoir is very rich and has about 2 thousand representatives of the animal world and more than 700 plant species.