What is the world's deepest lake by maximum depth?

The world’s deepest lake by maximum depth is Lake Baikal.

Lake Baikal, in southern Siberia, reaches a maximum depth of about 1,642 metres (5,387 feet). It is also the world’s oldest existing freshwater lake, estimated to be roughly 25 million years old, and contains about one-fifth of the planet’s unfrozen surface freshwater.

Baikal’s great depth reflects its location in an active continental rift zone, where Earth’s crust is pulling apart. The lake is long and narrow, bordered by mountains, and freezes extensively during Siberia’s winter. Its clear, cold water supports unusual wildlife, including the endemic Baikal seal.

The Caspian Sea is larger by surface area but is classified as the world’s largest inland body of water, not the deepest lake. Lake Tanganyika is the second-deepest lake, while North America’s Lake Superior is much shallower.