Lakes are natural objects that attract attention with their beauty and the surrounding nature. Lakes on Earth are very diverse, but there are those that surprise with their size and stand out from others.
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is considered the largest lake on the planet. They began to call it the sea because of the oceanic crust covering the bed and its solid size. However, the Caspian Sea is still a lake, but not ordinary, but unique. About 130 rivers flow into it, the area reaches 371,000 square kilometers, and five countries are washed by its waters. The fauna in the Caspian Sea is diverse:
- vertebrates;
- sturgeon;
- freshwater;
- invertebrates, etc.
The Caspian Sea is called the record holder not only because of this. According to scientists, half of the world's lake water reserves are concentrated in the sea.
Upper lake
Waves of ten meters high, strong storms and a decent size have made the Upper Lake popular among tourists. The reservoir covers two countries at once. On one side of the lake is the northern part of Canada, and on the other is the western part of the United States. Also, the lake was awarded the title of the largest freshwater basin in the world, which attracts even more people to it.
Scientists have found that the young lake was formed 10,000 years ago as a result of the melting of glaciers. Since about 200 rivers flow into the reservoir, which is not so many, the water in it is always cold and crystal clear. The upper lake has its own special ecosystem. Various types of fish are found in the water, and rabbits, foxes, coyotes and other representatives of the fauna live on the banks.
Victoria
A majestic lake named after the Queen of England. The lake was discovered and named in 1858 by explorer John Henning Speke. Victoria is home to the largest waterfall on the planet, and the reservoir itself is considered the largest in Africa. Fishing is the main occupation of local residents, as the lake is home to many different fish.
At the moment, the ecosystem of the lake is under threat. Due to the fact that precipitation, which is vital for feeding the reservoir, is becoming less, there is a danger of a decrease in the amount of fresh water. The situation is aggravated even more by the constant fishing, pollution of the lake waters with wastes from the production of nearby factories and deforestation. As a result, about 30 million people could lose access to fresh water in the future.
Huron
A lake with a glacial-tectonic origin, which occupies the fourth largest area on the planet. Huron belongs to the Great Lakes, like the Upper Lake, but in size Huron is much inferior to him. Numerous streams and other lakes serve as food for the reservoir. There are many islands on the territory of Huron, the largest of which is Manitoulin.
The ecological situation on the lake is deplorable. The reason is the presence of factories and plants near the lake that dump chemicals into the lake. This has caused the extinction of some species of fish, such as lake trout.
Michigan
Collisions of tectonic plates and melting glaciers formed Lake Michigan - one of the Great Lakes. From the language of the ancient tribes living on the shores of the reservoir, the name of the lake is translated as "big water". For a third of the year, the surface of the lake is covered with ice, but this does not reduce the influx of tourists. After all, the Museum of Shipping and the famous Old Mission lighthouse are open to the public all year round. Many legends about the "Michigan Triangle" are associated with the lake, in which, according to rumors, not only ships, but also planes disappear.
Michigan's largest island is Beaver. The flora and fauna of the lake is very diverse and protected. The ecological state of Michigan is closely monitored, and now the ecosystem of the reservoir is not threatened.
Tanganyika
Rarely does a lake boast a depth of more than a thousand meters, but not in the case of Lake Tanganyika. The reservoir is the second deepest in the world. Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia: all these countries share the Tanganyika water area among themselves. Despite the fact that the water in the lake tastes slightly salty, it is still considered fresh.
The most common animals in the lake are hippos and crocodiles. Various agricultural crops are grown on the shores, and local residents are engaged in fishing.
Tanganyika was formed about 12 million years ago, therefore it is considered a fairly ancient lake. There are also two national parks on its territory.
