Major Lakes of Asia

Asia is home to a wide variety of large lakes that highlight the beauty and ecological diversity of the area. These lakes, which range in age and depth from Russia's ancient and deep Lake Baikal to the vast Caspian Sea, have intriguing features. Among the well-known freshwater lakes are Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan, Lake Khanka on the China-Russia border, and Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan. The rich lake ecosystem of Asia is also supported by Qinghai Lake, Uvs Lake, Lake Urmia, Van Lake, and Poyang Lake.

Features of Major Lakes of Asia

Here are the descriptions of major lakes of Asia −

Lake Baikal

The 3.15 million hectares Lake Baikal in southeast Siberia is the oldest (25 million years old) and deepest (1,700 m) lake in the world. 20% of the world's total freshwater reserves are found there. It is referred to as the "Galapagos of Russia," and due to its age and isolation, it has one of the most diverse and strange freshwater faunas in the entire world, which is extremely valuable to evolutionary science. Numerous of the thousands of plant and animal species that call Lake Baikal home are indigenous to the area.

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea, which is frequently referred to as the largest lake or a true sea, is the largest inland body of water in the entire planet. The endorheic basin, which is located between Europe and Asia, is bordered by the Caucasus Mountains to the east, the Iranian Plateau to the north, the rich plains of Southern Russia to the south, and the wide steppe of Central Asia to the west. It has a 371,000 km² area under its surface. Its borders are Turkmenistan to the southeast, Iran to the south, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Kazakhstan to the northeast, and Russia to the northwest.

Lake Balkhash

One of the largest lakes in Asia and the fifteenth largest lake in the world, Lake Balkhash is located in southeast Kazakhstan. It is situated in the endorheic (closed) Balkhash-Alakol Basin, which is in the eastern region of Central Asia. Seven rivers drain the basin, the main one being the Ili, which supplies the majority of riparian inflow. Other rivers, including the Karatal, provide surface and subsurface flow. The Ili receives precipitation from the mountains of China's Xinjiang province, primarily in the form of vernal snowmelt. Currently, the lake spans an area of around 16,400 km² (6,300 sq. mi).

Lake Khanka

On the border between Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, and Primorsky Krai, Russia, is Lake Khanka, a freshwater lake. The name Khankai-Omo, which means "Sea of bird feathers," comes from the lake's old age and abundance of fish and bird species. The lake's northernmost portion is located in Chinese territory. The lake has a northern extension and is shaped like a pear. Depending on the weather, the water's surface area varies greatly. A minimum extension of 3,940 km² (1,520 sq. mi) and a maximum extension of 5,010 km² (1,930 sq. mi) are both possible. The lake is around 90 km (56 mi) long and up to 67 km (42 mi) wide.

Issyk Kul

In the Northern Tian Shan mountains of eastern Kyrgyzstan, there is an endorheic lake called Issyk-Kul. It is the second-largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea, the tenth-largest lake in the world by volume, and the seventh-deepest lake in the world. Its name, Issyk-Kul, translates to "warm lake" in the Kyrgyz language. Despite being at a height elevation of 1,607 meters (5,272 feet) and being prone to extreme cold throughout the winter, the saline of the lake prevents it from freezing very often. A Ramsar site with great biodiversity on a worldwide scale, the lake is a part of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve. Issyk-Kul Lake has an area of 6,236 square kilometres (2,408 sq. mi), is 182 kilometres (113 km) long, and can be up to 60 kilometres (37 mi) wide.

Qinghai Lake

The largest lake in China is called Qinghai Lake or Ch'inghai Lake, among other names. Qinghai Lake is a type of alkaline Salt Lake that is situated in the Qinghai Province, which it gave its name to. The lake's size has changed over time, growing since 2004 after declining for much of the 20th century. In 2008, it had a 4,317 km² surface area, an average depth of 21 m, and a maximum depth of 25.5 m. At 3,205 meters above sea level, Qinghai Lake is located on the Tibetan Plateau about 100 kilometres to the west of Xining. In north-eastern Qinghai in Northwest China, it is situated between Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Uvs Lake

A severely salinized lake called Uvs Lake is located in the Uvs Nuur Basin, which is mostly in Mongolia with a tiny portion in Russia. With a surface area of 3,350 km² and an elevation of 759 m above sea level, it is the largest lake in Mongolia by area. The Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation is where the lake's northeastern tip is located. Ulaangom is the largest village next to the lake. This small, extremely salty body of water is all that's left of a much larger, saltier sea that formerly spanned a far wider area.

Lake Urmia

Iran is home to Lake Urmia, an endorheic Salt Lake. The lake is west of the southern Caspian Sea and situated between the Iranian provinces of East and West Azerbaijan. It had a surface size of roughly 5,200 km² (2,000 sq. mi), a length of 140 km (87 mi), a width of 55 km (34 mi), and a maximum depth of 16 m (52 ft), making it the sixth-biggest saltwater lake on Earth at its peak. The Iranian Department of Environment manages Lake Urmia as a national park, together with its around 102 (former) islands.

Van Lake

Turkey's largest lake is Lake Van. It is located in the Armenian highlands of Turkey's Van and Bitlis provinces. It is a saline soda lake that is supplied with water by numerous little streams that flow down from the mountains in the area. It contains 38% of the nation's surface water (including rivers), making it one of the few endorheic lakes in the world with a surface area bigger than 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq. mi). Its original exit was blocked in the prehistoric era by a volcanic outburst. It is 1,640 meters (5,380 feet) above sea level.

Poyang Lake

The largest freshwater lake in China is Poyang Lake, which is situated in Jiujiang. The Gan, Xin, and Xiu rivers, which flow into the Yangtze through a canal, feed the lake. Poyang Lake's area varies significantly throughout the rainy and dry seasons, however lately the lake's total size has been shrinking. The lake's typical area is 3,500 square kilometres (1,400 square miles) per year. A popular location for birdwatching, the lake serves as a habitat for 500,000 migrating birds.

List Of Major Lakes of Asia

Here's a table of major lakes in Asia, their locations, and their areas in square kilometers (km²) −

Lake	Location	Area (km²)
Baikal	Russia	31,720
Caspian Sea	Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan	371,000
Balkhash	Kazakhstan	17,000
Khanka	China, Russia	4,190
Issyk Kul	Kyrgyzstan	6,236
Qinghai Lake	China	4,186
Uvs Lake	Mongolia, Russia	3,350
Urmia	Iran	5,200
Van Lake	Turkey	3,755
Poyang Lake	China	4,400

Conclusion

Asia's largest lakes offer a wide variety of features and traits. The oldest and deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal, is notable for having a distinctive freshwater flora. Although it is actually a lake, the Caspian Sea is the biggest inland body of water on the planet. Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan, Lake Khanka on the China-Russia border, and Lake Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan are a few further famous lakes. The rich aquatic landscape of Asia is also influenced by the Qinghai Lake in China, Uvs Lake in Mongolia-Russia, Lake Urmia in Iran, Van Lake in Turkey, and Poyang Lake in China.

Frequently Asked Question

Is the Caspian Sea a lake or a sea?

The Caspian Sea is technically a lake, but due to its large size and characteristics, it is often referred to as a sea.

Which is the deepest lake in the world?

Lake Baikal in Russia is the deepest lake in the world, reaching a depth of 1,700 meters.

Where is Lake Balkhash located?

Lake Balkhash is located in southeast Kazakhstan.

Which is the largest lake in China?

Qinghai Lake, also known as Ch'inghai Lake, is the largest lake in China.

Where is Lake Urmia located?

Lake Urmia is located in Iran, west of the southern Caspian Sea, between the Iranian provinces of East and West Azerbaijan.

Which lake is the largest freshwater lake in China?

Poyang Lake, located in Jiujiang, is the largest freshwater lake in China and serves as a habitat for numerous migrating birds.