Which lake is the world’s deepest natural freshwater lake?

The world’s deepest natural freshwater lake is Lake Baikal.

Lake Baikal lies in southern Siberia, Russia, and reaches a maximum depth of 1,642 metres. It formed in an ancient continental rift zone, where the Earth’s crust is slowly pulling apart. The lake is also among the world’s oldest, estimated at about 25 million years.

Baikal contains approximately 20% of the planet’s unfrozen surface fresh water. Its long, narrow basin stretches for about 636 kilometres and includes more than 300 rivers flowing into it, while the Angara River is its main outlet.

Lake Tanganyika is the second-deepest lake, and Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by surface area. Baikal is notable for its high number of endemic species, including the Baikal seal, the only seal species found exclusively in freshwater.