What are major lakes?

* Lake Baikal, Russia

* Surface area: 31,722 km² (12,248 sq mi)

* Maximum depth: 1,642 m (5,387 ft)

* Volume: 23,615 km³ (5,670 cu mi)

* Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. It is located in southern Siberia and is surrounded by the mountains of the Baikal Rift Zone. The lake is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life, including the world's only freshwater seal, the Baikal seal.

* Lake Superior, United States and Canada

* Surface area: 82,100 km² (31,700 sq mi)

* Maximum depth: 406 m (1,332 ft)

* Volume: 12,232 km³ (2,935 cu mi)

* Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is located on the border between the United States and Canada and is surrounded by the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, salmon, and whitefish.

* Lake Victoria, Africa

* Surface area: 68,800 km² (26,600 sq mi)

* Maximum depth: 84 m (276 ft)

* Volume: 2,760 km³ (660 cu mi)

* Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is located in East Africa and is shared by the countries of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. The lake is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life, including the Nile perch, which is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.

* Lake Huron, United States and Canada

* Surface area: 59,600 km² (23,000 sq mi)

* Maximum depth: 229 m (751 ft)

* Volume: 3,538 km³ (850 cu mi)

* Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes and the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is located on the border between the United States and Canada and is surrounded by the states of Michigan and Ontario. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, salmon, and whitefish.

* Lake Michigan, United States

* Surface area: 58,000 km² (22,400 sq mi)

* Maximum depth: 281 m (922 ft)

* Volume: 4,918 km³ (1,180 cu mi)

* Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes and the fifth largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is located entirely within the United States and is surrounded by the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, salmon, and whitefish.