Great Bear LakeThe largest lake lying entirely within Canada
A starburst lake astride the Arctic Circle.
- Surface area
- 31,328 km²
- Water volume
- 2,236 km³
- Max depth
- 446 m
See its true size
One shared area scaleBoth outlines share one area scale. The bars compare water volume.
Reference data: Encyclopædia Britannica: jezioro Bajkał (2024).
Simplified outlines: Natural Earth (public domain), reprojected to one shared scale.
among the 18 lakes in this section
It is the world's eighth largest lake by area and the largest wholly within Canada. Its surface exceeds that of Great Slave Lake.
The map intuition
Its remote Arctic setting makes the lake's true size easy to underestimate.
About the lake
Great Bear Lake has a distinctive starburst outline with five arms and straddles the Arctic Circle. At 31,328 km² it is the largest lake lying entirely within Canada (the bigger Superior and Huron share a shore with the USA).
It is cold and ice covered for most of the year. It holds about 2,236 km³ of water. Sparse settlement around the lake has helped its vast landscape retain an Arctic character.
- Mean depth
- 72 m
- Surface elevation
- 186 m a.s.l.
- Location
- Canada
- Type
- glacial lake
Where the lake is
Great Bear Lake: Questions
Yes. Great Bear covers 31,328 km², compared with Great Slave's 28,568 km², and it holds more water. Great Slave is much deeper in its eastern arm.
Yes. It straddles the Arctic Circle and stays under ice for most of the year, limiting navigation to a short summer.
About 2,236 km³, over 31,328 km² and up to 446 m deep.
Sources and data year
Outline: Natural Earth, public domain. Simplified and reprojected.