# How large a lake would be needed to hold all the worlds warships? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008 "2013-08-23T21:50:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/1 "2013-08-23T21:50:54Z")
On a thread some ago it was asked what people would do if godlike abililities were bestowed on them, I said I’d take a pretty much hands off approach but to show off my neat local omnipotence and snazzy new powers I’d instantly and harmlessly teleport every single warship and submarine plus crew into a lake deep in the interior of a continent. It would make good TV apart from anything else. Anyway, while mulling over this scenario again today _(got to be prepared, just in case, you know)_ I was wondering how large a lake would actually be needed _(one that’s only just big enough to hold them all, but large enough to let the submarines surface)_. Are any lakes already suitable or do I have to go to the bother and actually _make_ one? _sighs audibly_ Need answer fast! ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/2 "2013-08-24T00:30:02Z")
I’m sure there’s a suitable lake out there somewhere. According to wikipedia there’s about 3000 [warships in service world wide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_warships_in_service_worldwide) with displacements over 250 tons. Considering how many of those are patrol boats and such, I’ll bet the average surface area of them is somewhat less than an acre. According to this [list of lakes in Minnesota](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_in_Minnesota) there’s at least a dozen in the 3000ish acreage range. You might have to try a few first but, hey, it ain’t easy being omnipotent. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/3 "2013-08-24T13:14:42Z")
You do realize there’s some [pretty damn big lakes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Superior) out there, right? ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/4 "2013-08-24T13:48:50Z")
What if it was every single boat in existence- all the cruise ships,barges, yachts, row boats, canoes, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/5 "2013-08-24T14:09:55Z")
You would think a large lake would be required. But if you’re only looking at surface area, the size of the lake would be a lot smaller than you would imagine. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/6 "2013-08-24T17:22:45Z")
Ooo, I hope Titicaca is big enough. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/7 "2013-08-24T17:31:13Z")
Maybe you’d have to sink a few? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/8 "2013-08-24T17:40:50Z")
I refuse you access to Lake Tahoe. How omnipotent ya feel now? Feel free to junk up The Great Salt Lake. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/9 "2013-08-24T18:02:59Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > I’m sure there’s a suitable lake out there somewhere. According to wikipedia there’s about 3000 [warships in service world wide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_warships_in_service_worldwide) with displacements over 250 tons. Considering how many of those are patrol boats and such, I’ll bet the average surface area of them is somewhat less than an acre. According to this [list of lakes in Minnesota](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_in_Minnesota) there’s at least a dozen in the 3000ish acreage range. You might have to try a few first but, hey, it ain’t easy being omnipotent. Still, at least I don’t have to make my own damn lake, can you imagine the paperwork? > [@Athena](#): > > You do realize there’s some [pretty damn big lakes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Superior) out there, right? That’s why I mentioned that the lake should be only just large enough to hold them all, it would be a lot more entertaining if the _Kuznetsov_ was jammed up against the _USS Carl Vinson_, wouldn’t it? _(or put a North Korean ship beside an American one! Something to consider…)_ > [@Bootis](#): > > What if it was every single boat in existence- all the cruise ships,barges, yachts, row boats, canoes, etc.? Well I was trying to make a point about the militaristic nature of man or something…I don’t know, it seemed like a good idea at the time… > [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > Maybe you’d have to sink a few? 😃 I’m going for the whole benign diety thing, could try the wrath and destruction later if that loses its entertainment value. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > I refuse you access to Lake Tahoe. How omnipotent ya feel now? That’s a bit harsh, way to dent the self-esteem of a newly incarnated minorly godlike posthuman entity. Thanks for the answers everyone! ‘Titicaca’ _snorts_ ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/10 "2013-08-24T18:16:57Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > On a thread some ago it was asked what people would do if godlike abililities were bestowed on them, I said I’d take a pretty much hands off approach but to show off my neat local omnipotence and snazzy new powers I’d instantly and harmlessly teleport every single warship and submarine plus crew into a lake deep in the interior of a continent. > > It would make good TV apart from anything else. > > Anyway, while mulling over this scenario again today _(got to be prepared, just in case, you know)_ I was wondering how large a lake would actually be needed _(one that’s only just big enough to hold them all, but large enough to let the submarines surface)_. Are any lakes already suitable or do I have to go to the bother and actually _make_ one? _sighs audibly_ > > Need answer fast! > [@GreasyJack](#): > > I’m sure there’s a suitable lake out there somewhere. According to wikipedia there’s about 3000 [warships in service world wide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_warships_in_service_worldwide) with displacements over 250 tons. Considering how many of those are patrol boats and such, I’ll bet the average surface area of them is somewhat less than an acre. According to this [list of lakes in Minnesota](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_in_Minnesota) there’s at least a dozen in the 3000ish acreage range. You might have to try a few first but, hey, it ain’t easy being omnipotent. Crater Lake in Oregon has a surface area of over 14,000 acres. If **Greasy Jack** is right about the 3,000 acre figure, or even close, then it’ll be no problem. As a bonus, Crater Lake is definitely deep enough for even the largest ships to avoid bottoming out. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-a-lake-would-be-needed-to-hold-all-the-worlds-warships/667008/11 "2013-08-24T19:32:11Z")
[Ulithi Atoll](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulithi) might be useful for comparison’s sake. According to wikepedia, the lagoon there is 212 square miles. During WWII, a survey team estimated that 700 ships could be anchored there. [Chart of the berthing plan](http://taluga.usnavyoilers.com/History/Berthing-Plan.html).