Largest Lakes in Asia (by Surface Area)
Overview
Which is the largest lake in Asia by surface area?
The largest lake by surface area in Asia is Caspian Sea with an area of 371,000 km2. At second and third, are Lake Baikal which spans 31,500 km2 and Balkhash at 16,400 km2.The surface areas of the major lakes in Asia range from 80 km2 to 371,000 km2, with the average area at around 19,661.5 km2.
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Deepest Lakes. The deepest lake in Asia is Lake Baikal with a maximum depth of 1,637 meters.The depths of the major lakes in Asia range from 5 meters to 1,637 meters, with lakes reaching as deep as 312.9 meters on average.
Lakes with the largest volumes. The largest lake in Asia by volume is Caspian Sea with a volume of 78,200 km3.The water volumes of the major lakes in Asia range from 0.22 km3 to 78,200 km3, with lakes holding up to 5,863.8 km3 of water on average.
Here are Asia's largest lakes by surface area.

Caspian Sea is the largest lake by surface area in the world at 371,000 km2.
Despite its name, the Caspian Sea is often regarded as the world's largest lake. It is an endorheic basin, a basin without outflows, bordered by both Europe and Asia. Its salinity is also a third the salinity of most seawater. At 1,025 meters deep, the Caspian Sea is also the world's third deepest lake.
Containing up to 78,200 km3 of water, Caspian Sea has a maximum depth of 1,025 meters and spans a surface area of 371,000 km2.
It spans 1,199 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in Asia: Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbajian, Iran.
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world at 1,637 meters.
Reaching as deep as 1,637 meters, Lake Baikal holds up to 23,600 km3 of water and covers a surface area of 31,500 km2.
It spans 636 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in Asia: Russia.
Located in Siberia, it is also considered the world's oldest lake, dating to some 25-30 million years back. As a freshwater lake, Lake Baikal also make up 22–23% of the world's fresh surface water.
Compare Lake Baikal with Matano from Indonesia.
Compare Lake Baikal with Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbajian, Iran.
Balkhash is the 3rd largest lake by surface area in Asia at 16,400 km2.
Containing up to 106 km3 of water, Balkhash has a maximum depth of 26 meters and spans a surface area of 16,400 km2.
It spans 605 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in Asia: Kazakhstan.
Issyk-Kul is the 3rd deepest lake in Asia at 668 meters.
Issyk-Kul is a lake that holds up to 1,738 km3 of water, reaching a maximum depth of 668 meters. The lake also covers 6,200 km2 in surface area.
It spans 182 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in Asia: Kyrgyzstan.
Qinghai Lake is the largest lake by surface area in China at 4,489 km2.
Qinghai Lake spans a surface area of 4,489 km2.
Countries along its shoreline in Asia: China.
Khanka is the 2nd largest lake by surface area in China at 4,190 km2.
Spanning a surface area of 4,190 km2, Khanka contains up to 18.30 km3 of water and reaches a maximum depth of 10.6 meters.
It spans 90 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in Asia: China.
Datasets on Lakes
World — Deepest lakes | Largest lakes by water volume | Largest lakes by surface area
Largest Lakes by Region — Europe | North America | South America | Asia | Africa
Deepest Lakes by Region — Europe | North America | South America | Asia | Africa
Largest Lakes by Countries — Canada | USA | China | Russia | UK | Italy | Switzerland | Scandinavia | Argentina | Australia