RAS question
Lake Baikal in Russia is the world's:
Correct answer: (B) Deepest lake and largest freshwater lake by volume.
Lake Baikal in Russia is the world's deepest lake and the largest freshwater lake by volume.
Explanation
Lake Baikal in Siberia is not just a large freshwater lake; its key RAS value lies in the paired global records of depth and freshwater volume. NASA Earth Observatory identifies it as the world's oldest and deepest freshwater lake and also as the largest freshwater lake by volume, holding as much fresh water as the North American Great Lakes combined. Baikal reaches about 1,642 metres, contains about 20% of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water, and is about 25-30 million years old. Its UNESCO World Heritage status, endemic biodiversity, Baikal seal and the Trans-Siberian Railway along the southern shore are supporting identifiers, while depth plus freshwater volume remain its decisive global records.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Baikal is a freshwater lake known for depth and volume, while the Dead Sea is associated with extreme salinity.
- (C) Baikal holds global records for depth and freshwater volume, while Titicaca is associated with the highest navigable lake record.
- (D) Baikal is the largest freshwater lake by volume, not the largest lake by surface area; the Caspian Sea holds the surface-area record.
Concept
World hydrology superlatives separate depth, volume, salinity, altitude and surface area into different rankings. RAS often tests close-looking lake records because they are easy to confuse.