A cubic-kilometre lake
A cubic-kilometre lake is a hypothetical body of freshwater defined as containing exactly one cubic kilometre of water.
How big is it?
1 km³ · volume
Volume · example
A little perspective
A cubic-kilometre lake vs 10 million litre reservoir: volume comparison
A cubic-kilometre lake has about 100,000 times the volume of a 10 million litre reservoir.
A cubic-kilometre lake is a hypothetical body of freshwater defined as containing exactly one cubic kilometre of water.
Too small to see at this scale. The ring marks its true-scale position, not its volume. The shape has not been enlarged.
A reservoir is an artificial or natural lake used to store water for supply, irrigation, or industry.
Too small to see at this scale. The ring marks its true-scale position, not its volume. The shape has not been enlarged.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
A cubic-kilometre lake
Volume: 1 km³; example.
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.
10 million litre reservoir
Volume: 10,000 m³; example.
Defined 10,000,000 litre capacity. Actual containers, servings and fills vary. Outer shape is not used to calculate capacity.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked volume is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 1 km³
We compare the volume of a cubic-kilometre lake. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.
A defined 1 km³ water volume, with no claimed shoreline or depth profile.
The picture identifies the subject; the diagram compares the recorded values. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km³ | Not recorded | example |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueContainers and capacity10 million litre reservoir10,000 m³VolumeA reservoir is an artificial or natural lake used to store water for supply, irrigation, or industry.
Nearest higher valuePlanets, moons and spaceEnceladus67,110,000 km³Spherical volumeEnceladus is a natural satellite of Saturn, with an icy surface and plumes of water vapour erupting from its south pole.Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
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Curated comparisons
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