On the territory of our country more than 2 million lakes. Some of them are striking in their size and depth. So, Baikal contains about 85% of fresh water in Russia, which makes up about 22% of all world fresh water reserves. The numbers are impressive.
But most Russian waters are miniature. The smallest lakes in Russia can be found almost everywhere, but especially there are a lot of them in the Republic of Karelia. About 27 thousand rivers and 60 thousand lakes are located in it, an area of about 2 thousand km³ (if we consider swamps) is occupied by high-quality fresh water.
List
- 10. Nerpichye lake, 237 km²
- 9. Vivi, 229 km²
- 8. Kovdozero, 224 km²
- 7. Keret, 223 km²
- 6. Teletskoye lake, 223 km²
- 5. Seliger, 222 km²
- 4. Nyuk, 214 km²
- 3. Lovozero, 209 km²
- 2. Big Sea Lake, 205 km²
- 1. Janisjärvi, 175 km²
10. Nerpichye Lake, 237 km²
Located in the Republic of Sakha. It is considered the largest lake in the Kamchatka Territory. Nerpich Lake - brackish, lagoon type, was once a sea gulf, while due to the raising of the coast it was not separated from the sea. Its maximum depth is 12 m, but on average it does not exceed 3.4 m.
The shores of the lake are very boggy. The Ozernaya River flows from it, and about 17 small streams and rivers flow into it. The Nerpich Lake is a system of lakes connected by a wide strait, and its bay is called a lake Cultural. The name comes from the word "Kultut" what translates as "lagoon".
The lake is rich in diverse fish, some species of which live here permanently, while others swim through it along the way to the rivers from the sea. A favorite pastime of the local population is fishing.
9. Vivi, 229 km²
In the Krasnoyarsk Territory is located vivi lake. It is freshwater, elongated. Larch forests grow near the shores. It got its name thanks to the Vivi River flowing from it, which the Evenki so called. It means "Frantic" because it is too changeable: it either dries out, or it shows its temper, rushing through rapids and rifts.
Until now, this lake has not been fully studied, it is not known what its maximum depth is. 133 rivers flow into it. It is noteworthy in that one of its shores is the geographical center of Russia. First, the calculations were made by Doctor of Technical Sciences Petr Bakut, and then Lake Vivi became the official center of our country.
Nobody lives on its shores, only sometimes tourists or fishermen come here. The lake is unique in the number of fish; even 50 kilograms of taimen can be caught here.
8. Kovdozero, 224 km²
Located in the Murmansk region, on the Kovda River, in the north of Karelia. Once it was 56 m deep, but in 1995 they built a hydroelectric power station, because of which the water level rose by 6 m.
7 months a year it is covered with ice, because it freezes around November and thaws in May. The coast is rocky, indented, it has many bays and bays. Nearby are picturesque hills covered with coniferous forest. There are thickets of lingonberries, blueberries, a lot of cranberries in the swamp. A rich region, in the lake itself there are about two dozen different fish.
The best time to visit the lake is from June to mid-August, until the storm period begins. Locals on Kovdozero almost never exist, so this is an ideal place for those who would like to relax by the lake with clean water and air, in complete solitude.
7. Keret, 223 km²
Located in the Republic of Karelia. From it flows a river with the same name Keret and connects it with the White Sea. There are 140 islands on the lake, the largest of which are called Vischani. It stretches for 10 km. The coast is with numerous bays.
The northern part of the lake with low, swampy or sandy shores, the bottom is covered with silt, in places sandy-rocky. On the shore you can see thickets of reeds, which grows over long distances up to 100 m from the shore.
Keret Lake It has an unusual shape: it stretches for 44 km, and its width is no more than 14 km. We can say that it consists of several lakes connected by straits. Its maximum depth is 26 m, but the average is small - only 4.5 m. The bottom is uneven, there are differences in depths. It is home to many species of fish.
6. Teletskoye lake, 223 km²
In the Altai Republic is located Lake Teletskoye, which is also called "Altyn Kol"Which means"Golden Lake».
There was an old legend according to which one Altai, desperate, threw a piece of gold into the water, and therefore they began to call the reservoir itself golden. He decided to take such a step because in a hungry year he could not buy food for his family, no one wanted to exchange food for gold, although the piece was huge. The Altai climbed the mountain, first threw the gold, and then jumped himself, cursing everything in the world.
They call him Teletsk because teles lived here. The maximum depth is 325 m and the average is 174 m. About 70 rivers flow into the lake, but the Chulymshan River gives it about 70% of the water. The banks are steep and steep, with gorges and picturesque bays. In spring and autumn, a strong wind blows here. Coniferous forests grow on the banks, 14 species of fish live in the waters of Lake Teletskoye.
5. Seliger, 222 km²
Located in the Tver and Novgorod regions. His name is also Ostashkovsky, because nearby is a city with the same name. There are more than 160 islands on this lake, the largest of which is Khachin. It has about 110 tributaries. We can say that Seliger - not one lake, but a chain of lakes connected by narrow channels, which stretches over a huge distance.
The banks are rugged, very picturesque, with beautiful capes, deep bays. The lake has very clear water. Experts are still arguing over the origin of the name. According to one version, it translates as "high located", On the other - "Blackfin".
About 30 species of fish live in Seliger, and many mammals and birds live on the shores. Sedges and reeds grow on sandbanks, reeds and cattail, and white water lilies grow in the backwaters.
4. Nyuk, 214 km²
Located in the Republic of Karelia. It has a complex shape, it has many bays. You can distinguish the central part of the lake and four branches, similar to the blades. Translated from Karelian, its name means "Swan."
There are 126 islands on the lake. Shores near Nyuk rocky, high, but there are also marshy, low, with sandy beaches. From the end of October to the end of April it is covered with ice. It is quite deep: the maximum depth is 40 m, but the average does not exceed 8.6 m. Many species of fish live in it.
There are no settlements on the banks of Nyuk, so lovers of rest with tents often gather here. There are many berries in the surrounding forests.
3. Lovozero, 209 km²
This is one of the smallest lakes located in the Murmansk region, in the center of the Kola Peninsula. It is believed that the name came from the Sami language and can be translated as “The settlement of the strong by the lake».
The shores of the lake are heavily indented, there are many bays, capes, they are all covered with coniferous forests. Ice on Lovozero appears in October and does not melt until June. On the shore is the Sami village of the same name, the center of the cultural life of these indigenous peoples of the peninsula.
2. Big Sea Lake, 205 km²
Its location is the Republic of Sakha. Despite the name, differs in modest sizes. The shape resembles an oval stretched from north to south. On the shores you can see the vegetation characteristic of the tundra: lichens, small shrubs, light forests.
Big Sea Lake it is covered with ice in early October and thaws only at the end of June. There are no settlements near it.
1. Janisjärvi, 175 km²
A tiny lake appeared in the Republic of Karelia. If you translate its name, you get "Hare Lake ". Despite its size, it is oval in shape and has about 43 islands, most of which are located near the coast.
The coast Yanisyarvi covered with coniferous forest, they are rocky and elevated. About 20 small rivers flow into the lake. Reeds grow in the bays, in the lake itself there are a lot of different fish. It is covered with ice in November, thaws in May. Yanisyarvi formed in the place where the meteorite once fell.