Top 10 lakes facts

In Venezuela. Catatumbo lightning is an atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela. It occurs only over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo. The phenomenon is characterized by almost continuous lightning and occurs during 260 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour. It has been known for centuries as the Lighthouse of Maracaibo, since it is visible for miles around Lake Maracaibo

Trinidad. The Pitch Lake is one of the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world, estimated to contain 10 million tons. It is located in La Brea in southwest Trinidad, within the Siparia Regional Corporation. The lake covers about 100 acres and is reported to be 250 feet deep. Pitch Lake is a popular tourist attraction, that includes a small museum, from where official tour guides can show you the lake.

In Antarctica. With a salinity level of over 40%, Don Juan Pond is the saltiest of the Antarctic lakes. This salinity allows the pond to remain liquid even at temperatures as low as −50 °C (−58 °F) due to the interference of salts with the bonding of water molecules. Don Juan Pond was discovered in 1961 by George H. Meyer.

Great Lakes freighters. Since the freshwater lakes are less corrosive to ship than the salt water of the oceans, many of the Lakers remain in service for long periods and the fleet has a much higher average age than the ocean-going fleet. The St. Mary's Challenger, built in 1906, is currently the oldest boat on active duty on the Lakes.

In Israel. The Dead Sea is one of the world's saltiest lakes. Its water has a density of 1.240 kg/l, which makes swimming similar to floating. For comparison, fresh water has 1.0 kg/l and average seawater has 1.025 kg/l.

At the bottom of the lake, sedimentation. At the bottom of some lakes the sediments stay very well preserved. Lamina lucida and lamina densa are created during the one year cycle. This fact can be used as lake's age estimation.

Tanganyika. The length of the lake is 673 km (418 miles). It is also the 2nd deepest freshwater lake in the world, 2nd oldest and the 2nd largest by volume.

Vänern. With a surface area of 5,655 km2, Vänern is also the largest lake in the European Union and the third-largest lake entirely in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia.

was flooded with lava. Green Lake with a surface area of 0.8 hectares and a maximum depth of 6 metres, it was the largest natural freshwater lake in the Hawaiian Islands. On June 2, 2018, the lake was destroyed when lava flows from Kīlauea's lower Puna eruption boiled it away and completely filled the entire basin

75m. The gradient between The Great Lakes is generally very shallow. However, the descent between Erie and Ontario is greater than between any of the others, and includes the spectacular Niagara Falls, 51m high.