Geography

Lake Enriquillo — Endorheic salt lake in the Dominican Republic Lake Enriquillo Endorheic hypersaline lake in southwestern Dominican Republic, about 265 km² and 44 m below sea level; noted for islands, flamingos, American crocodiles, and protection within a na…

Lake Erie — Geographic, Ecological and Historical Overview Lake Erie Lake Erie is the shallowest Great Lake, forming part of the US–Canada border. This article summarizes its geography, hydrology, history, ecology, economic uses and conservation cha…

Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre) Lake Eyre Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre) is Australia’s lowest natural point and an intermittent salt lake in northern South Australia that becomes the continent’s largest lake when it fi…

Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) Lake Garda Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, in the north of the country across Veneto, Lombardy and Trentino. It is a major tourist, cultural and natural area with varied shores and a mild…

Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) — geography, islands, history and human use Lake Geneva Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is a large crescent-shaped lake on the France–Switzerland border. This article summarizes its physical features, tributaries, islands, towns, geological his…

Lake George (Adirondack Mountains, New York) Lake George Freshwater lake in the Adirondacks of New York, formed by glaciers, noted for recreation, scenic ridges, colonial history and long-standing tourism centered on Lake George Village.

Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee) — Swiss lake in Canton Aargau Lake Hallwil Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee) is an elongated lake in the Seetal valley of Canton Aargau, Switzerland, known for its scenic shores, recreational use, Hallwyl Castle, and a maximum de…

Lake Hindmarsh (Victoria, Australia) Lake Hindmarsh Largest natural freshwater lake in Victoria. A shallow, often ephemeral lake in the Wimmera region that supports waterbirds, seasonal fishing and recreation when it fills; linked t…

Lake Huron: geography, history, ecology, and human use Lake Huron Overview of Lake Huron — one of the Great Lakes — covering its location, physical characteristics, history, ecology, commerce, and notable events such as the 1996 storm.

Lake Karachay: a contaminated reservoir near the Mayak nuclear complex Lake Karachay Lake Karachay is a small lake in Russia's southern Ural region that was used to dispose of radioactive waste from the Mayak nuclear complex; it remains one of the most contaminated…

Lake Kari (Kari Lich) — high‑altitude lake on Mount Aragats, Armenia Lake Kari Lake Kari is a small alpine, snow- and ice-fed lake on the slopes of Mount Aragats in Armenia. Known for its high elevation, glacial origin, seasonal ice cover and popularity with…

Lake Ladoga: Europe's Largest Freshwater Lake Lake Ladoga Lake Ladoga is the largest lake in Europe, located in northwestern Russia near Saint Petersburg. It is notable for its size, islands, history, ecology and role in regional transpor…

Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) — central Swiss lake and scenic region Lake Lucerne Lake Lucerne (German: Vierwaldstättersee) is a large, irregular lake in central Switzerland, famed for its fjord-like arms, mountain scenery, historic sites, and a year-round netwo…

Lake Lugano — border lake between Switzerland and Italy Lake Lugano Lake Lugano is a glacial subalpine lake on the Swiss–Italian border, noted for its scenic shorelines, mild microclimate, ferry services and mix of Swiss and Italian towns, includin…

Lake Maggiore — a large prealpine lake on the Italy–Switzerland border Lake Maggiore Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore or Lago Verbano) is a scenic cross‑border lake spanning Italy and Switzerland, renowned for mild microclimate, historic villas, the Borromean Islands a…

Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa / Lake Niassa) Lake Malawi Freshwater rift lake in southeastern Africa shared by Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania; noted for great depth, endemic fish diversity, and importance for fisheries, transport and to…

Lake Manasarovar (Mapham Yutso): Sacred high‑altitude lake of Tibet Lake Manasarovar Lake Manasarovar is a high‑altitude freshwater lake on the Tibetan Plateau, sacred to Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Bon traditions, noted for its proximity to Mount Kailash and links w…

Lake Maracaibo — Venezuela’s brackish bay and estuarine basin Lake Maracaibo Large brackish tidal bay in northwestern Venezuela, connected to the Caribbean Sea; notable for its size, inflowing rivers (including the Catatumbo), rich ecology, oil industry and…

Lake Marion (South Carolina): history, features, and recreation Lake Marion (South Carolina) Lake Marion is South Carolina's largest lake, an inland sea formed by damming the Santee River in the 1940s. It supports hydroelectric power, navigation, fisheries and year-round r…

Lake Michigan: geography, history, ecology, and human uses Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is a large freshwater lake in North America, bordering four U.S. states. This article covers its physical features, history, ecology, uses, and notable facts.

Lake Morat (Murtensee) — scenic lake on the Fribourg–Vaud border Lake Morat Lake Morat (Murtensee) is a small Swiss lake on the border of the cantons of Fribourg and Vaud, noted for its bilingual towns, recreational use, and role in regional water manageme…

Lake Mweru — border lake between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia Lake Mweru Lake Mweru is a large freshwater lake on the DRC–Zambia border, fed by the Luapula and drained by the Luvua; it supports fisheries, wetlands and cross-border communities and has a…

Lake Neuchâtel: Switzerland’s largest entirely domestic lake Lake Neuchâtel Freshwater lake in western Switzerland spanning several cantons; known for recreation, viticulture, watchmaking towns, and natural habitats shaped by glacial history.

Lake Neusiedl (Neusiedler See / Fertő): a shallow steppe lake on the Austria–Hungary border Lake Neusiedl Lake Neusiedl is a large, shallow steppe lake shared by Austria and Hungary, noted for its reed belts, birdlife, recreational use and cross-border UNESCO-protected wetlands.

Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca): geography, islands, ecology and history Lake Nicaragua Lake Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in Central America, lies in southern Nicaragua. Noted for its islands (including Ometepe), volcanic features, biodiversity and historic…

Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota A sparsely populated county in northern Minnesota named for the large Lake of the Woods; county seat Baudette. Known for fishing, lakeshore geography and the Northwest Angle border…

Lake Onega: geography, history, and cultural significance Lake Onega Lake Onega (Onego) in northwestern Russia is Europe's second-largest lake. This article summarizes its geography, islands, ecology, human use, and notable cultural sites including…

Lake Ontario: Geography, Natural Features, and Human Significance Lake Ontario Lake Ontario is the easternmost Great Lake, bordering Canada and the United States. This article covers its physical characteristics, drainage, ecology, history, and role in transp…

Lake Pontchartrain — large brackish lake near New Orleans Lake Pontchartrain Lake Pontchartrain is a shallow, brackish lake in southeastern Louisiana, notable for its size, ecology, shipping channels and role in regional history, storms and coastal restorat…

Lake Powell — Glen Canyon reservoir on the Colorado River Lake Powell Lake Powell is a large reservoir on the Colorado River primarily in Utah with a smaller portion in Arizona. Created by Glen Canyon Dam, it stores water, generates power and support…

Lake Rotorua: geology, ecology, and cultural significance Lake Rotorua Lake Rotorua is a large, shallow volcanic lake in New Zealand’s North Island. This article describes its origin, physical characteristics, human uses, ecological issues and notable…

Lake Sarnen (Sarnersee): geography, uses and local significance Lake Sarnen Lake Sarnen (Sarnersee) is an alpine lake in the canton of Obwalden, Switzerland. Fed and drained by the Sarner Aa, it lies between Lungern and Lake Lucerne near the towns of Sarne…

Sarysu: Azerbaijan's largest natural lake in the Kur-Araz Lowland Lake Sarysu Sarysu, Azerbaijan's largest natural lake, sits in the Kur-Araz Lowland on the Imishli–Sabirabad border. A shallow wetland supporting birdlife and local water uses, important for r…

Lake Sempach (Sempachersee) — lake in Canton Lucerne, Switzerland Lake Sempach Lake Sempach (Sempachersee) is a 14.5 km² lake in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Noted for its clear waters, small island Gamma Insel, nearby towns Sursee and Sempach, and rec…

Lake Sevan — Armenia's high‑altitude freshwater lake Lake Sevan Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus, a high‑altitude freshwater basin of major ecological, cultural and economic importance, shaped by natural processes and…

Lake St. Clair — geography, history and significance Lake St. Clair Shallow freshwater lake between Ontario and Michigan, part of the Great Lakes chain. Connects Lake Huron and Lake Erie, supports fisheries, boating and cross-border ecosystems, and…

Lake Superior: North America's largest freshwater lake Lake Superior Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by surface area, straddling Canada and the United States; this article covers its geography, ecology, human use, and cultural and histo…

Lake Tahoe — Alpine freshwater lake on the California–Nevada border Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a large, deep alpine freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada on the California–Nevada border, noted for its elevation, clarity, recreation, and conservation challenges.

Lake Tanganyika A large, ancient freshwater lake in the East African Rift, shared by four countries; noted for great depth, high endemism and importance for fisheries and regional transport.

Lake Torrens National Park Protected area surrounding Lake Torrens in South Australia — a vast, usually dry salt lake of geological and ecological significance that floods only rarely, attracting mass bird b…

Lake Towada (Towada-ko) — crater lake on Honshū, Japan Lake Towada Lake Towada is a large volcanic crater lake on the border of Aomori and Akita prefectures, noted for its deep blue water, scenic Oirase outflow and location inside Towada‑Hachimant…

Lake Turkana: geology, ecology, archaeology and conservation Lake Turkana Lake Turkana is a large, alkaline desert lake in northwest Kenya and southern Ethiopia, notable for its unique ecology, volcanic islands and world-class hominid fossil sites protec…

Lake Ülemiste (Ülemiste järv) Lake Ülemiste Lake Ülemiste is the main freshwater reservoir adjacent to Tallinn, Estonia, supplying the city with drinking water and known for its ecology, infrastructure links and the folk leg…

Lake Urmia: salt lake of northwest Iran, ecology, history, and recovery efforts Lake Urmia Endorheic salt lake in northwestern Iran between East and West Azerbaijan provinces; notable for high salinity, unique wildlife, dramatic shrinkage, and international conservation…

Lake Van: Turkey's largest soda lake and its cultural landscape Lake Van Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, an alkaline, high-altitude body of water in eastern Anatolia noted for its islands, historic sites and unique ecology.

Lake Victoria — Africa's largest lake and the source of the White Nile Lake Victoria Lake Victoria, shared by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, is Africa's largest lake by surface area. This article summarizes its geography, ecology, human uses, history and current envir…

Lake View Terrace, Los Angeles — neighborhood overview and equestrian character Lake View Terrace, Los Angeles Lake View Terrace is a northeastern San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles known for its equestrian zoning, suburban-rural feel, Hansen Dam recreation area, and foothill s…

Lake Vostok — Antarctica's largest subglacial lake Lake Vostok Lake Vostok is the largest of Antarctica's subglacial lakes, buried beneath kilometers of ice. It is of major interest for glaciology, microbiology and astrobiology and is difficul…