Which lake is the world’s largest enclosed inland body of water?

The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest enclosed inland body of water, with a surface area of about 371,000 square kilometres.

Despite its name, the Caspian is generally classified as the largest lake because it has no natural connection to the global ocean. It is enclosed between Europe and Asia and is bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan.

The Caspian contains saltwater and has significant regional variations in salinity. Its northern section is shallow, while the southern basin is much deeper. The basin is also famous for sturgeon, whose roe is used to produce caviar.

The Caspian’s level has changed repeatedly over geological and historical time. Modern disputes about its legal status were addressed by a 2018 convention among the five coastal states, though the water body’s lake-versus-sea terminology remains a common source of confusion.