Canada Has More Lakes Than the Rest of the World Combined

The sheer number of freshwater bodies in Canada is a defining feature of its landscape, with some estimates suggesting the country is home to over 2 million lakes, covering almost 9% of its surface area. This incredible abundance of water is a direct legacy of the last ice age, which ended around 10,000 years ago. As massive glaciers scraped across the land, they carved out deep depressions in the earth. When the climate warmed and the glaciers melted, these basins filled with water, creating the vast network (Review) of lakes seen today.

This geological history is particularly evident in the Canadian Shield, a massive expanse of ancient, hard rock that is resistant to erosion. Because the rock could not absorb the immense volume of glacial meltwater, the water simply pooled in the countless carved-out depressions. While the claim that Canada has more lakes than every other country combined is a point of debate, it is undisputed that Canada has more lakes than any other single nation.

Among its millions of lakes are some of the largest in the world. The Great (Review) Lakes, which straddle the Canada-U.S. border, are a series of interconnected freshwater seas that alone contain about 18% of the world's fresh surface water. Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, is the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area. Further north, Great Bear Lake is the largest lake located entirely within Canada's borders. This vast collection of lakes is not only a stunning natural feature but also a critical freshwater resource for both Canada and the world.