Which Great Lake contains the greatest volume of freshwater?

Lake Superior contains the greatest volume of freshwater of the five Great Lakes.

It holds about 12,100 cubic kilometres of water, making it the largest freshwater lake in the world by volume. Its enormous volume results from its broad surface and exceptional depth, with a maximum depth of about 406 metres.

Lake Superior is not the largest Great Lake by every measurement. Lake Michigan–Huron has a slightly larger combined surface area when treated as one hydrological system, while Superior is the largest by volume and surface area among the individual lakes. This distinction explains why different sources may use different “largest” descriptions.

The lake drains through the St. Marys River into Lake Huron. Its name reflects its position above the other Great Lakes in the historic French naming system, rather than a claim about all of its physical dimensions.