Global Lakes and Wetlands Database: Small Lake Polygons (Level 2)

The Global Lakes and Wetlands Database was developed through a partnership among WWF, the Center for Environmental Systems Research, and University of Kassel, Germany. It draws upon the best available maps, data and information to display lakes and wetlands on a global scale (1:1 to 1:3 million resolution). The application of GIS functionality enables the generation of a database which focuses in three coordinated levels on (1) large lakes and reservoirs, (2) smaller water bodies, and (3) wetlands.

Level 2 (GLWD-2) comprises permanent open water bodies with a surface area ≥ 0.1 km2 excluding the water bodies contained in GLWD-1. The approximately 250,000 polygons of GLWD-2 are attributed as lakes, reservoirs and rivers.

The data is available for free download (for non-commercial scientific, conservation and educational purposes).