Which is the largest lake in South America?

Lake Maracaibo is a large brackish tidal bay (or tidal estuary) in Venezuela. It is an "inlet of the Caribbean Sea". It is often called a lake rather than a bay or lagoon. It is 13,210 km2 (5,100 sq miles)

The lake has a size of about 160 kilometres (99 mi) by 110 kilometres (68 mi). 135 rivers flow into the lake. The biggest of them is Catatumbo River, which is 500km long. Others include Escalante River and Chama River.

In the northern part of the lake, there is brackish water. The southern part of the lake is freshwater. There are many islands in the lake.

This brackish body of water is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela and the Caribbean Sea by a 34 mile (55 km) long strait on its northern edge. That strait was finally spanned in 1962 when the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge was completed. That structure (5 mi, 8 km long), is one of the longest bridges in the world, and crossed by an average of 37,000 vehicles each day.

The basin surrounding Lake Maracaibo is one of the major oil-producing areas of the world. Venezuelan crude oil is subsequently shipped through the port city of Maracaibo to dozens of oil-starved nations.

Lake Titicaca (8,372 km2 - 3,215 sq miles) is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest of the world's large lakes

More Info: simple.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

17 Comments

Pat Askew

According tot he World Atlas: Lake Titicaca is the LARGEST LAKE IN SOUTH AMERICA BY SURFACE AREA AND VOLUME. It covers an area of 3,232 sq mi and holds an average of 214 cu mi of water. It is the world’s "highest navigable lake” at an altitude of 12,507 ft. Titicaca is located within the boundaries of two countries; the western part lies in Puno Region of Peru while the eastern part is located in the Bolivian La Paz Department. The lake consists of two basins connected by the Strait of Tiquina. Five major rivers and more than 20 streams feed Titicaca; the Río Desaguadero is the only outlet. There are 41 islands on the lake most of which are inhabited. Lake Maracaibo, Spanish Lago de Maracaibo, LARGE INLET OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA, lying in the Maracaibo Basin of northwestern Venezuela. Some sources consider the water body to be the largest natural lake in South America, covering an area of about 5,130 square miles (13,280 square km), extending southward for 130 miles (210 km) from the Gulf of Venezuela and reaching a width of 75 miles (121 km). Other sources note, however, that LAKE MARACAIBO IS MORE PROPERLY TERMED AND INLET BECAUSE MUCH OF THE WATER IT RECEIVES IS BROUGHT IN BY THE TIDE FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

E11-Hitman

By volume of water and by surface area, Lake Titicaca is the largest true lake in South America. Lake Maracaibo has a larger surface area, but it is a tidal bay, not a true lake. Lake Maracaibo is actually not 'officially' classified as a lake since it is connected to the Caribbean Sea.

Skip Hayden

Poor answer. While Maricsibo is called a lake, it is NOT. It is a BAY

Vimala Padmaraj

QUIZCLUB - I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CALL THE INCORRECT OPTION AS THE RIGHT ONE. I AM KNOCKING MY HEAD ON THE WALL!!!

Denise Currie

Wrong answer, I have disliked and reported

wok

Lake Titicaca (8,372 km2 - 3,215 sq miles) is the largest freshwater LAKE in South America

Marilyn Mumper Fisher

Lake Maracaibo is a large brackish tidal bay (or tidal estuary) in Venezuela. It is not a true lake! Correct answer - Lake Titicaca, the "true lake" in SA. Calling a tidal bay a lake does not make it so.

Rajnish Gautam

confused question and can easily be referred to variety of correct answers. Lake Maracaibo , according to maximum references, can be termed as a large inlet or a tidal bay not the largest lake. Totally agreed with Pat Askew, E-11 Hitman and other good reviewers.

Carl Wischner

Terribly written question. Only written as a trick question. Should have been made to be written as a more clear question.

Marian Spitzig

This is an inlet of the Caribbean Sea, not a lake

Special Patrol Group

Lake Titicaca is a large freshwater lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It is often called the highest navigable lake in the world. By both the volume of water and surface area, Titicaca is the largest lake in South America.