Lake Onega
The continent's second largest lake.
Where the lake is
The pulsing dot marks the lake's position (Russia).
among the 18 lakes in this section
Second place in Europe can make Onega sound like one of the largest lakes in the world.
Onega is large by European standards, but Baikal holds over 80 times as much water. Second place on the continent does not translate into a similar global rank.
About the lake
Onega is Europe's second largest lake, covering 9,700 km² and ranking behind neighbouring Ladoga. It has a smooth southern shore and branching, ragged arms in the north, shaped by glacial ice.
Kizhi Island contains a UNESCO listed ensemble of wooden churches and a bell tower. The buildings are renowned for sophisticated carpentry. The lake holds about 285 km³ of water.
Lake Onega: Questions
Ladoga (17,700 km²) is almost twice the size. Onega (9,700 km²) is the second largest lake in Europe.
It contains a UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of wooden churches and a bell tower, including the 22-domed Church of the Transfiguration.
About 285 km³, over 9,700 km² and up to 127 m deep.