Where we always second guess!
The second-biggest lake in the world in terms of surface area is Lake Superior, which is located on the border between Canada and the United States. It covers an area of 31,820 sq mi (82,414 sq km). Aside from being the second-biggest in terms of area, it is the biggest freshwater lake in the world by area. It is also the world’s third largest in terms of water volume.
One of the Great Lakes of North America (the others being Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Ontario), it was originally formed by glacial action at the end of the last ice age between 10,000 and 11,000 years ago. The actual shaping of the lake took place gradually over the past 2.5 million years.
What is considered the biggest lake in the world by area is the Caspian Sea. Despite its name, it is considered a salt-water “oceanic” lake since it is landlocked, has no outflows, and is fed by rivers. It covers an area of 143,244 sq mi (371,000 sq km).
| Surface Area | 31,820 sq mi (82,414 sq km) |
| Volume | 3-quadrillion gallons |
| Average Depth | 483 ft (147 m) |
| Shoreline Length | 1,826 mi (2,938 km) |
| Primary Inflow Sources (rivers) | Nipigon, St. Louis, Pigeon, Kaministikwia, Pic, White, Michipicoten, Sturgeon, Tahquamenon |
| Primary Outflow | St. Mary's River into Lake Huron |
| Average Surface Elevation | About 602 ft (183 m) |
Back to SilverMedals Referencepedia...
Several cities in the U.S. had a dark smoggy cloud come over them last week as the American Lung Association (ALA) released its annual State of the Air report. The sobering and slightly depressing report uses data on particulate matter — otherwise known as “soot” — and ground-level ozone — otherwise known as “smog” — that was collected between 2015…read more
The legal sale of recreational marijuana began today (10/17/18) in Canada, the second country to do so. More than just decriminalizing its use, or limiting its use or sale to specific places, people can now buy, cultivate, and use marijuana to their heart’s content (if their hearts are content with whatever limits their provinces may impose, that is). None of…read more
The armistice1 that ended the fighting in World War I was signed by representatives from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, at 5AM on 11/11/1918, in a railroad carriage in Compiègne, France, but the agreement didn’t go into effect for another six hours. WWI would end at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, which was fine for those who…read more
You’d think it would be easy to establish which is the world’s second-biggest lake island — a lake island being an island on a lake. For the most part, you can look at a map, figure out which bodies of water are the lakes, then look for the islands in them. Simple right? For the biggest lake island, it’s super…read more
Thomas William Burgess got up on the morning of September 5, 1911, ready to make history. Having already tried and failed 15 times before, he knew what he was up against. He wanted to become the second person to swim across the English Channel, and the first to do so since 1875 when Captain Matthew Webb breast-stroked his way across the…read more
