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ICSE Class 6 Geography★ 20–25 marks · ICSE Class 6 Geography (Term 1)

Maps, Globes, Landforms & Water Bodies (Physical Geography)

How do we REPRESENT the round Earth on flat paper? What shapes has nature carved onto the planet's surface? And where is the world's WATER — oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes? ICSE Class 6 Geography.

⏱ 16 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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Key points, glossary and the questions most likely to show up.

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Distinguish a globe from a map: when each is more useful
2Name the five essential elements of a map: title, direction, scale, symbols, legend
3Classify maps as physical, political, or thematic and give one example of each
4Name the five important latitudes and their exact degrees
5Distinguish the three types of mountains by formation: fold, block, volcanic
6Name and locate the world's five oceans in order of size
7Distinguish between sea, river, lake, and gulf
8State the superlatives for world lakes: largest (Caspian), saltiest (Dead Sea), deepest (Baikal)

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Why this chapter matters

Maps, Landforms, and Water Bodies is the foundation of all physical geography in ICSE. The five essential map elements are tested every year. The three mountain types (fold/block/volcanic) with examples are a reliable 3-mark question. Water body superlatives — Pacific = largest and deepest ocean, Caspian = largest lake, Dead Sea = saltiest, Baikal = deepest lake — appear in MCQs every year. The five important latitudes with degrees (Equator, Tropics, Arctic/Antarctic Circles) are tested in short answers. This chapter's map-reading skills underpin ALL subsequent ICSE Geography: every regional and economic geography chapter requires locating features on a map.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 5 Geography: Continents, oceans, basic directions

ICSE Class 6 builds on basic map awareness from Class 5; latitude and longitude are introduced formally here

Maps, Globes, Landforms & Water Bodies

1. Representing the Earth — Maps and Globes

Globe vs. Map

	Globe	Map
Shape	SPHERICAL (like the Earth)	FLAT representation
Accuracy	Accurate shape, size, distance	Some DISTORTION
Portability	Hard to carry	EASY to carry, fold, store

Maps — The Basics

A MAP is a drawing of the Earth's surface (or part of it) on a flat surface, using a SCALE.

Essential Elements of a Map:

Title: What the map shows
Directions: NORTH is usually at the top. Compass rose or arrow showing N.
Scale: The RATIO between distance on map and actual distance on ground
Symbols/Key (Legend) : Explains what the symbols mean

Types of Maps

Type	What It Shows
Physical	Mountains, rivers, plains, deserts
Political	Countries, states, cities, boundaries
Thematic	One theme — rainfall, population, crops

Directions

Cardinal: North, South, East, West
Intermediate: NE, NW, SE, SW

Grid — Latitudes and Longitudes

Latitudes (Parallels): Horizontal lines. EQUATOR = 0°. Poles = 90°N and 90°S.
Longitudes (Meridians): Vertical lines from pole to pole. PRIME MERIDIAN (Greenwich) = 0°.
Together, they form a GRID — every point on Earth has a UNIQUE latitude and longitude.

Important Latitudes

Latitude	Name
0°	Equator
23½°N	Tropic of Cancer (passes through India)
23½°S	Tropic of Capricorn
66½°N	Arctic Circle
66½°S	Antarctic Circle

2. Landforms of the Earth

The Earth's surface is NOT flat. It has varied RELIEF — shaped by INTERNAL forces (volcanism, plate movements) and EXTERNAL forces (wind, water, ice).

Major Landforms

Landform	Characteristics	Examples
Mountains	High elevation (>600 m). Steep slopes. Often in RANGES.	Himalayas (young fold), Andes, Rockies, Alps
Plateaus	Elevated FLAT-TOPPED land. 'Table land.'	Deccan Plateau (India), Tibetan Plateau
Plains	FLAT or gently rolling. Low elevation. Fertile. Densely populated.	Indo-Gangetic Plain, North China Plain

Types of Mountains

Type	How Formed	Example
Fold Mountains	Earth's plates COLLIDE → crust FOLDS	Himalayas, Alps, Andes
Block Mountains	Faulting: blocks of land lifted or lowered	Vosges (France), Black Forest (Germany)
Volcanic Mountains	Magma erupts and COOLS	Mt Fuji (Japan), Mt Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

3. Water Bodies

Oceans (Largest Water Bodies)

Earth has FIVE oceans (in order of size):

Pacific (LARGEST and DEEPEST)
Atlantic
Indian (only ocean named after a country)
Southern (Antarctic)
Arctic (SMALLEST and shallowest)

Seas

Smaller than oceans. Partially enclosed by land. Examples: Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea.

Rivers

Freshwater flowing in a DEFINED CHANNEL from a SOURCE (mountains, springs) to a MOUTH (sea, lake, or another river).

Perennial rivers: Flow ALL YEAR. Fed by glaciers and rain. Examples: Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra.
Seasonal rivers: Flow only during RAINY SEASON. Examples: most Peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna).

Lakes

Bodies of WATER surrounded by LAND.

Freshwater: Wular (India), Baikal (Russia — DEEPEST in the world), Great Lakes (N America)
Saltwater: Dead Sea (SALTIEST — no life can survive). Caspian Sea (LARGEST lake in the world).

Importance of Water Bodies

DRINKING and IRRIGATION. TRANSPORT and TRADE. FISHERIES. Climate MODERATION. RECREATION.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Globe vs Map — key difference

Globe = 3D model of Earth, accurate shape, cannot show detail · Map = 2D flat representation, portable, can show detail of small areas

Globe is accurate for shape but impractical for carrying. Maps distort shape but are practical.

Five essential map elements

Title · Direction (compass rose/north arrow) · Scale (ratio of map distance to real distance) · Symbols · Legend (key explaining symbols)

Mnemonic: 'TDSSL' or 'Tigers Don't Scare Small Lions.'

Three types of maps

Physical map (natural features: mountains, rivers) · Political map (human boundaries: countries, cities) · Thematic map (one specific variable: rainfall, population, languages)

Exam: 'Which type would show average rainfall?' → Thematic map.

Five important latitudes

Equator (0°) · Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) · Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S) · Arctic Circle (66½°N) · Antarctic Circle (66½°S)

Between the two Tropics = tropics zone (hot). Between Tropic and Arctic/Antarctic Circle = temperate zone. Beyond Arctic/Antarctic Circle = polar zone.

Latitude vs Longitude

Latitude = horizontal lines, measure N or S of Equator · Longitude = vertical lines, measure E or W of Prime Meridian (0°)

Latitude = 'flat' (horizontal). Longitude = 'long' (vertical, pole to pole).

Fold mountains

Formed when tectonic plates COLLIDE, pushing rock upward into folds · Examples: Himalayas (India/Nepal), Andes (S America), Alps (Europe), Rockies (N America)

Fold mountains are the world's HIGHEST and LONGEST ranges. Young fold mountains are still growing.

Block mountains

Formed when a block of land is lifted between FAULTS (cracks) in Earth's crust · Examples: Vosges (France), Black Forest (Germany), Vindhyas (India)

The valley between two block mountains is called a RIFT VALLEY (e.g. Rhine Rift Valley).

Volcanic mountains

Formed by MAGMA (lava) erupting and solidifying into a cone shape · Examples: Mt Fuji (Japan), Mt Vesuvius (Italy), Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa)

Some volcanic mountains are still active (Vesuvius); others are dormant or extinct.

Five oceans — size order

Pacific (largest + deepest) · Atlantic · Indian (named after a country) · Southern (Antarctic) · Arctic (smallest + coldest)

Pacific Ocean covers more than all land areas combined. Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country.

Lake superlatives

Largest lake: Caspian Sea (Central Asia) · Saltiest: Dead Sea (Israel/Jordan) · Deepest: Lake Baikal (Russia)

Caspian Sea is called a 'sea' but is actually a lake (surrounded by land on all sides). Dead Sea = ~10× saltier than ocean; so salty humans float effortlessly.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying the Pacific Ocean is the largest but not the deepest

✓ Pacific Ocean is BOTH the largest AND the deepest ocean. Deepest point = Mariana Trench (~11,000 m). Both superlatives belong to the Pacific.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing latitude and longitude directions

✓ Latitude lines run HORIZONTALLY (like rungs of a ladder) and measure N–S position. Longitude lines run VERTICALLY (from pole to pole) and measure E–W position. Latitude = flat = horizontal. Longitude = long = vertical.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying the Himalayas are fold mountains formed by one plate

✓ Fold mountains form when TWO plates collide. The Himalayas formed when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. It takes two plates pushing against each other to fold rock upward.

WATCH OUT

✗ Calling the Caspian Sea an ocean or sea

✓ Despite being called a 'sea,' the Caspian is actually the world's LARGEST LAKE — it is completely surrounded by land (Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan). True seas are connected to oceans.

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· map-elements

A student draws a map of her school without a title, scale, or legend. Why are these three elements essential? What problem does each missing element cause?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Missing TITLE: Without a title, the reader cannot tell WHAT the map shows. A map of the school could be confused with a map of another place. The title tells you the subject and location.

Step 2 — Missing SCALE: Without a scale, the reader cannot calculate REAL DISTANCES. You can see that two classrooms are 2 cm apart on the map but have no idea if that is 20 metres or 200 metres in real life.

Step 3 — Missing LEGEND: Without a legend, the symbols used (circles, squares, lines) are unexplained. The reader cannot tell what the library, playground, or toilets look like on the map.

✦ Answer: Title = tells you WHAT the map shows. Scale = allows you to calculate REAL DISTANCES. Legend = explains what the SYMBOLS mean. All three are essential for a map to be useful.

Q2EASY· latitudes

Name the five important lines of latitude with their degrees. Which climate zone does each mark the boundary of?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Equator (0°): The central reference line. Marks the boundary between Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The region around the Equator is the TROPICAL zone — hottest, receives direct sunlight year-round.

Step 2 — Tropic of Cancer (23½°N): Northern hemisphere. Marks the northernmost latitude where the Sun is directly overhead (on June 21 — Summer Solstice).

Step 3 — Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S): Southern hemisphere. Marks the southernmost latitude where the Sun is directly overhead (on December 21).

Step 4 — Arctic Circle (66½°N): Northern hemisphere. Marks the boundary of the POLAR zone in the north. Above this line: midnight sun in summer, polar night in winter.

Step 5 — Antarctic Circle (66½°S): Southern hemisphere. Same polar boundary in the south — the frozen continent of Antarctica lies within it.

✦ Answer: Equator (0°) · Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) · Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S) · Arctic Circle (66½°N) · Antarctic Circle (66½°S). Between the two Tropics = Tropical zone. Between Tropic and Arctic/Antarctic Circle = Temperate zone. Beyond Arctic/Antarctic Circle = Polar zone.

Q3EASY· mountain-types

Compare fold, block, and volcanic mountains. How is each type formed? Give one example of each.

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — FOLD mountains: Formed when two tectonic plates COLLIDE, compressing rock layers that fold upward like a crumpled tablecloth. These are the world's highest ranges. Example: HIMALAYAS (India/Nepal, formed by Indian Plate colliding with Eurasian Plate).

Step 2 — BLOCK mountains: Formed when a block of the Earth's crust is pushed UP between two FAULT LINES (cracks), while surrounding land drops to form rift valleys. Example: VOSGES (France) and BLACK FOREST (Germany).

Step 3 — VOLCANIC mountains: Formed when MAGMA (molten rock) erupts through the Earth's crust and solidifies into a cone-shaped mountain. Example: MT FUJI (Japan) — a classic symmetrical volcanic cone.

✦ Answer: Fold = plates collide (Himalayas). Block = land raised between faults (Vosges). Volcanic = magma erupts and solidifies (Mt Fuji).

Q4EASY· ocean-facts

Name the five oceans in order from largest to smallest. State TWO superlatives about the Pacific Ocean.

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Five oceans in order of size: (1) PACIFIC (largest) · (2) ATLANTIC · (3) INDIAN · (4) SOUTHERN (Antarctic) · (5) ARCTIC (smallest).

Step 2 — Pacific superlative 1: LARGEST ocean — covers more than 30% of Earth's surface. Larger than all land areas on Earth combined.

Step 3 — Pacific superlative 2: DEEPEST ocean — contains the Mariana Trench (approximately 11,000 metres deep), the deepest known point on Earth's surface.

✦ Answer: Pacific > Atlantic > Indian > Southern > Arctic. Pacific = LARGEST and DEEPEST ocean (Mariana Trench, ~11,000 m).

Q5EASY· lake-superlatives

State: (a) the world's largest lake, (b) the world's saltiest lake, (c) the world's deepest lake. For (b), explain why it is called a 'sea' despite being a lake.

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — LARGEST lake: The CASPIAN SEA (Central Asia, bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan). Area: ~371,000 sq km.

Step 2 — SALTIEST lake: The DEAD SEA (on the border of Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank). It is approximately 10 times saltier than the ocean. So salty that almost no life can survive in it — hence 'Dead Sea.' Humans float effortlessly in it.

Step 3 — DEEPEST lake: Lake BAIKAL (Siberia, Russia). Depth: ~1,642 metres. Contains about 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh surface water.

Step 4 — Why Caspian is called a 'sea' despite being a lake: Historically, explorers called it a 'sea' because it is so large and salty. However, it is completely surrounded by land (no connection to any ocean), which is the definition of a lake. Its name stuck despite the geographical error.

✦ Answer: Largest lake = Caspian Sea. Saltiest lake = Dead Sea (~10× saltier than ocean). Deepest lake = Lake Baikal (Russia, ~1,642 m). Caspian is called a 'sea' for historical reasons, but it is geographically a lake (surrounded by land on all sides).

Q6MEDIUM· map-types

For each scenario, state which type of map (physical, political, or thematic) would be most useful and explain why: (a) A hiker planning a route through hills and rivers. (b) A diplomat studying international boundaries. (c) A scientist studying regions with high rainfall.

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Hiker planning a route: PHYSICAL MAP. It shows natural features — hills, mountains, valleys, rivers, plains. The hiker needs to know the terrain, elevation, and water sources. Political maps show borders, not terrain.

Step 2 — Diplomat studying boundaries: POLITICAL MAP. It shows human-made boundaries — country borders, capitals, states, cities. The diplomat needs to know which land belongs to which country. Physical maps show terrain, not borders.

Step 3 — Scientist studying rainfall: THEMATIC MAP. It shows a SINGLE specific variable — in this case, rainfall distribution. Thematic maps use colour or shading to show how one factor varies across regions. Neither physical nor political maps show rainfall data.

✦ Answer: (a) Hiker → Physical map (shows terrain/hills/rivers). (b) Diplomat → Political map (shows country borders). (c) Scientist studying rainfall → Thematic map (shows one specific variable).

Q7MEDIUM· latitude-longitude

Explain the difference between latitude and longitude. If Delhi is at approximately 28°N, 77°E, what does each number tell you about its location?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — LATITUDE: Horizontal imaginary lines that circle the Earth parallel to the Equator. Latitude measures how FAR NORTH or SOUTH a place is from the Equator (0°). Values range from 0° (Equator) to 90°N (North Pole) or 90°S (South Pole).

Step 2 — LONGITUDE: Vertical imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Longitude measures how FAR EAST or WEST a place is from the Prime Meridian (0°, which passes through Greenwich, UK). Values range from 0° to 180°E or 180°W.

Step 3 — Delhi at 28°N, 77°E: '28°N' = Delhi is 28 degrees NORTH of the Equator. This places it in the Northern Hemisphere, in the TEMPERATE zone (between Tropic of Cancer 23½°N and Arctic Circle 66½°N). '77°E' = Delhi is 77 degrees EAST of the Prime Meridian. This places it in Asia, east of the Greenwich meridian.

✦ Answer: Latitude = N/S position from Equator (horizontal lines). Longitude = E/W position from Prime Meridian (vertical lines). Delhi 28°N = 28° north of Equator (Northern Hemisphere). 77°E = 77° east of Prime Meridian (Asia).

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Globe = 3D, accurate shape. Map = 2D, flat, portable, can show small areas in detail.
•Five map elements: Title · Direction · Scale · Symbols · Legend (TDSSL).
•Three map types: Physical (terrain) · Political (borders) · Thematic (one variable like rainfall/population).
•Five important latitudes: Equator (0°) · Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) · Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S) · Arctic Circle (66½°N) · Antarctic Circle (66½°S).
•Latitude = horizontal lines = N/S of Equator. Longitude = vertical lines = E/W of Prime Meridian.
•Three mountain types: Fold (plates collide → Himalayas) · Block (land between faults → Vosges) · Volcanic (magma erupts → Mt Fuji).
•Five oceans by size: Pacific (largest + deepest) > Atlantic > Indian > Southern > Arctic (smallest).
•Indian Ocean = only ocean named after a country.
•Lake superlatives: Caspian Sea = largest lake · Dead Sea = saltiest lake · Lake Baikal = deepest lake.
•Caspian Sea = technically a LAKE (surrounded by land) despite its name.

ICSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 20–25 marks (in 80-mark ICSE Class 6 Geography annual paper)

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ / Fill-in-the-blank	1	4–5	Ocean superlatives, lake superlatives, latitude degrees, mountain examples
Short answer (Define/State)	2–3	3–4	Map elements, latitude-longitude difference, three map types, three mountain types
Map work	3–4	1–2	Mark five important latitudes, locate oceans on world map
Long answer	5	1	Globe vs Map comparison table, or comparing three mountain types in detail

Prep strategy

Memorise the five important latitudes as a list with degrees: 0°, 23½°N, 23½°S, 66½°N, 66½°S
Five map elements: Title, Direction, Scale, Symbols, Legend — memorise all five, not just three
Mountain types as a 3-row table: Type | Formation | Example — answer any mountain question from this table
Ocean order by size: Pacific > Atlantic > Indian > Southern > Arctic. Pacific = largest AND deepest
Lake superlatives: Caspian = largest; Dead Sea = saltiest; Baikal = deepest — three separate lakes, three separate facts
Latitude = horizontal = N/S. Longitude = vertical = E/W. This distinction appears every year

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

GPS and navigation apps

Google Maps and GPS navigation use the same latitude/longitude coordinate system you learned in this chapter. When you share a location pin, you are sharing coordinates (e.g. 28.6139°N, 77.2090°E for New Delhi). Understanding latitude and longitude is understanding how GPS works.

Climate and crop geography

The latitude zones (tropical, temperate, polar) directly determine what can be grown where. Tropical latitudes (near Equator) grow rice, sugarcane, and coconuts. Temperate latitudes grow wheat, apples, and potatoes. Understanding latitudes explains why India grows mangoes but Canada grows wheat.

The Dead Sea as a medical destination

The Dead Sea's extreme salinity and mineral content have attracted health tourism for centuries. People with skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema) visit because the mineral-rich water and UV radiation at low elevation (Dead Sea is ~430 m BELOW sea level — the lowest point on Earth's surface) help treat these conditions.

Earthquake and volcano prediction

Understanding how fold and volcanic mountains form — from plate tectonics — allows geologists to identify earthquake-prone and volcano-prone zones. Japan (Mt Fuji, volcanic), the Himalayas (fold, earthquakes), and Italy (Mt Vesuvius, volcanic) are all monitored using the same geological principles.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

For latitude questions: memorise all five lines in order from north to south with degrees. The Tropics (23½°) and Polar Circles (66½°) are often tested as fill-in-the-blank.
For mountain-type questions: answer as a THREE-ROW TABLE (fold/block/volcanic) with columns for formation and example. Never mix them up — each has a distinct formation mechanism.
For ocean questions: always state that Pacific is BOTH largest AND deepest — this is a two-mark answer in one go.
For lake superlatives: three separate facts, three separate lakes. CASPIAN (largest), DEAD SEA (saltiest), BAIKAL (deepest). Note that Caspian is called a 'sea' but is actually a lake.
For map-type questions: link each type to its PURPOSE — physical = terrain navigation, political = borders/administration, thematic = one variable. The examiner asks 'which map would a scientist use to study rainfall?' → thematic.

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Research the Mercator projection: why does Greenland appear larger than Africa on most world maps, when Africa is actually 14 times larger? What is the Peters projection and why is it considered more 'fair'?
The Great Rift Valley in East Africa is a massive rift valley (formed between fault lines) stretching ~6,000 km — the same process that formed block mountains. Research how this rift valley will eventually split Africa into two continents millions of years from now.
Lake Baikal contains ~20% of the world's unfrozen fresh surface water. As global freshwater stress increases, how significant is Baikal as a strategic resource? Research transboundary water disputes globally.
Research the Ring of Fire — the chain of volcanoes and earthquake zones around the Pacific Ocean. Why does this zone exist? How does it relate to tectonic plate boundaries, and why does Japan experience so many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

ICSE Class 6 Geography Annual ExaminationDirect — Maps, Landforms, and Water Bodies is 20–25 marks of the 80-mark paper

ICSE Class 8 Geography: Landforms and Physical GeographyDirect continuation — mountain types and water bodies are extended to detailed study of major world regions

ICSE Class 10 Geography: Map WorkFoundation — the map-reading skills and latitude/longitude coordinate system are examined at a more advanced level in Class 10

ICSE Class 9 & 10 Physics: Earth's structureConnected — the tectonic processes that form fold and volcanic mountains are explained in physical science

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

A globe shows Earth's TRUE shape — oceans, continents, and countries in correct proportion. But a globe is impractical: you can only see half of it at a time, it's hard to carry, and you can't print it. A map is flat, portable, and can show any area in great detail. The problem is maps DISTORT — the further from the centre, the more stretched things appear (Greenland looks larger than Africa on some maps, but it is actually 14× smaller). Each tool has its purpose.

Latitude is a measurement (degrees north or south of the Equator). Climate zones are regions defined partly by latitude ranges. The Tropical zone is between 23½°N and 23½°S (between the two Tropics). Temperate zones are between 23½° and 66½° (between Tropics and Polar Circles). Polar zones are beyond 66½°. Latitude determines how much sunlight a region receives, which shapes its climate zone.

Classic stratovolcanoes (like Mt Fuji and Mt Vesuvius) are cone-shaped because successive eruptions build up layers of lava and ash. But not all volcanic features are cone-shaped — shield volcanoes (like those in Hawaii) are broad and flat, formed by slow-flowing lava. ICSE Class 6 focuses on the classic cone-shaped volcanic mountain.

Like the Caspian, the Dead Sea was named by ancient explorers who saw a large, saltwater body and called it a 'sea.' Geographically, it is a lake — completely surrounded by land (Israel, Jordan, the West Bank). Its extreme salinity (about 34%, vs 3.5% for most oceans) makes it hostile to most life, hence 'Dead' Sea.

Size and depth are separate properties. Baikal is deep because it sits in an ancient rift valley — a crack in the Earth's crust that formed over 25 million years ago and sank to enormous depths. The Caspian is large in AREA but not nearly as deep — it is broad and relatively shallow compared to Baikal. Baikal holds about 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh surface water precisely because of its great depth despite its smaller area.

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