Europe's Largest Lake — with a Geographic Caveat

Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia is the largest lake located entirely in Europe, with an area of roughly 18,000 km² depending on measurement boundaries. There is an important caveat: the Caspian Sea is often classified as the world's largest endorheic lake, and its European portion is far larger than Ladoga. The familiar claim is most precise as “largest lake entirely in Europe” when the Caspian is treated separately.