It’s so big that it crosses two different continents
The lake is so big it is the size of Japan(Image: ekipaj/Getty)
The world’s biggest lake is so large that it is the same size as Japan. There are more than 304 million lakes worldwide, filled with slowly moving or standing water.
Many of the largest in the world can even be classed as inland seas. However, the lakes are still landlocked and connected to the oceans via rivers or narrow channels.
The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world, with a surface area of 386,400 sq km (149,200 sq mi). It sits across both Europe and Asia.
The huge lake is bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Its surface is about 27 metres below sea level.
In comparison, the Caspian Sea is almost five times as large as Lake Superior, which lies on the border of Canada and the US and covers 82,000 sq km (31,660 sq mi).
The Caspian Sea is so large that it accounts for up to 44% of the world’s lake waters.
The Caspian Sea is believed to be around 30 million years old and became landlocked about 5.5 million years ago. Europe’s longest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea and is the main freshwater source.
Due to this flow, the Caspian Sea’s water is almost fresh. Over 130 rivers go into the Caspian Sea, including the Ural River and the Kura River.
There are several small islands in the lake, with most of them in the North. Some islands are near the coasts, but none are found in the deeper parts.
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the largest city by the Caspian Sea, with others also including Astara in Iran, Atyrau in Kazakhstan and Derbent in Russia.
The lake is home to a wide range of species, and it is particularly known for its caviar and oil.
Sadly, pollution from the oil industry and dams on rivers that drain into the lake have harmed its ecosystem.
Due to global warming, it has been reported that the depth of the sea will decrease by nine to 18 meters.
About 850 animal and more than 500 plant species live in the Caspian, many of which are endemic. Six critically endangered species of sturgeon live in its waters, as well as the unique Caspian seal and beluga.