A cubic-kilometre lake
A cubic-kilometre lake is a hypothetical body of freshwater defined as containing exactly one cubic kilometre of water.
1 km³VolumeEveryday quantities
A cubic-kilometre lake vs Earth’s oceans
What are they, and what does the difference actually look like?
Two things. One honest scale.
Meet the pair
What these two things are
Earth’s oceans
Earth’s oceans are the interconnected bodies of salt water that cover most of the planet’s surface.
1.338 × 10⁹ km³VolumeEarth’s oceans has about 1.34 × 10⁹ times the volume of A cubic-kilometre lake.
01
A cubic-kilometre lake1 km³Volume
02
Earth’s oceans1.338 × 10⁹ km³Volume
These are equal-volume cubes. Edge lengths grow with the cube root of capacity; the cubes do not depict container exteriors.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
A cubic-kilometre lake
A defined 1 km³ water volume, with no claimed shoreline or depth profile.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked volume is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Earth’s oceans
Estimated total ocean-water volume: 1.338 billion cubic kilometres. The diagram compares water volume, not ocean depth or surface area.
USGS — How much natural water is there?
The marked volume is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change the comparison
Put something else beside it.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
The visual compares volume with volume. The records below preserve each value’s basis and caveats.
A cubic-kilometre lake
1 km³Volume · example
A defined 1 km³ water volume, with no claimed shoreline or depth profile.
Earth’s oceans
1.338 × 10⁹ km³Volume · estimated
Estimated total ocean-water volume: 1.338 billion cubic kilometres. The diagram compares water volume, not ocean depth or surface area.
- Comparing
- Volume ↔ Volume
- Relative size
- Earth’s oceans is larger on this measurement by a factor of about 1.34 × 10⁹.
How to read the visual
The labelled spans and stored measurements determine the scale; unmeasured illustration details do not.
- A cubic-kilometre lake is labelled example; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
- Earth’s oceans is labelled estimated; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
PlacesA cubic-kilometre lake1 km³A cubic-kilometre lake is a hypothetical body of freshwater defined as containing exactly one cubic kilometre of water.PlacesEarth’s oceans1.338 × 10⁹ km³Earth’s oceans are the interconnected bodies of salt water that cover most of the planet’s surface.
PeopleHuman1.75 mA human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
TransportFamily car4.5 mA family car is a motor vehicle designed to carry several passengers and their belongings.
TransportDouble-decker bus11 mA double-decker bus is a passenger vehicle with two levels, used for public transport.
SpaceEarth12,740 kmEarth is the rocky planet on which we live and the third planet from the Sun.
Sport50 m swimming pool50 mA 50 m swimming pool is a large pool built for competitive swimming events, including international competitions.Side by side
Another point of view.
