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How Big Are the Great Lakes and the Caspian Sea Compared to Countries?
The five Great Lakes cover about 244,000 km² of water, roughly the area of the United Kingdom (about 244,000 km²). The Caspian Sea is bigger still, at about 371,000 km², which is more than Germany (about 358,000 km²). Both are easiest to judge when moved onto a country at true size.
The five Great Lakes next to the United Kingdom.
The numbers
| Water body | Area (about) | Similar to |
|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes, all five | 244,000 km² | United Kingdom (244,000 km²) |
| Lake Superior | 82,000 km² | Austria (84,000 km²) |
| Caspian Sea | 371,000 km² | Germany (358,000 km²) |
Lake Superior alone is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. The Caspian is the largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth, and it is salty. Whether it is a lake or a sea depends on the definition, and it borders five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. The figures are approximate and vary with water levels and sources. The Great Lakes figure is the water surface of all five lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario).
The Caspian Sea in place, with Germany moved beside it at the same latitude.
Why normal maps get this wrong
Big lakes are drawn with the same stretch as land. The Great Lakes lie between about 41°N and 49°N and are stretched by a factor of about 1.3 to 1.5 in length and width, so they look roughly twice as big in area as they are. The Caspian lies between 36°N and 47°N, stretched somewhat less. A lake that dominates a regional map therefore shrinks when you move it to another place at true size.
Try it yourself
- Search for each of the five lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario) and drag them together.
- Add a country such as the United Kingdom or Germany.
- Drag the water body over the country. Use Tools → Stats to compare totals.