These images attempt to show three dimensions, so each sphere represents "volume." Overall, it shows that in comparison to the volume of the globe the amount of water on the planet is very small - and the oceans are only a "thin film" of water on the surface.

The largest sphere represents all of Earth's water, and its diameter is about 1385km (860 miles). It would have a volume of about 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers (km3) (332,500,000 cubic miles (mi3)).

Fresh water
The "tiny" bubble over Atlanta, Georgia represents fresh water in all the lakes and rivers on the planet, and most of the water people and life of earth need every day comes from these surface-water sources.

The volume of this sphere is about 93,113 km3 (22,339 mi3). The diameter of this sphere is about 56.2 kilometers (34.9 miles ). Yes, Lake Michigan looks way bigger than this sphere, but you have to try to imagine a bubble 56km (almost 35 miles) high—whereas the average depth of Lake Michigan is less than 91 meters (300 feet ).

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Primary source ► How much water is on Earth?

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