Updated over 1 year ago

Global Lakes and Wetlands Database Levels 1 and 2 Polygons as GeoJSON (.geojson/.topojson) and Shapefiles (.shp)

1K

geodata data package providing geojson polygons and shapefiles for Global Lakes and Wetlands Database

API Access

Access dataset files directly from scripts, code, or AI agents.

Browse dataset files

Dataset Files

Each file has a stable URL (r-link) that you can use directly in scripts, apps, or AI agents. These URLs are permanent and safe to hardcode.

/core/glwd/

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/README.md

├ datapackage.json

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/datapackage.json

├ json/glwd_1.geojson

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/json/glwd_1.geojson

├ json/glwd_1.topojson

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/json/glwd_1.topojson

├ json/glwd_2.geojson.zip

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/json/glwd_2.geojson.zip

├ json/glwd_2.topojson

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/json/glwd_2.topojson

├ shp/level-01/GLWD-level1.zip

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/GLWD-level1.zip

├ shp/level-01/GLWD_Data_Disclaimer.pdf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/GLWD_Data_Disclaimer.pdf

├ shp/level-01/GLWD_Data_Documentation.pdf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/GLWD_Data_Documentation.pdf

├ shp/level-01/glwd_1.avl

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/glwd_1.avl

├ shp/level-01/glwd_1.dbf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/glwd_1.dbf

├ shp/level-01/glwd_1.sbn

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/glwd_1.sbn

├ shp/level-01/glwd_1.sbx

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/glwd_1.sbx

├ shp/level-01/glwd_1.shp

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/glwd_1.shp

├ shp/level-01/glwd_1.shp.xml

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/glwd_1.shp.xml

├ shp/level-01/glwd_1.shx

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-01/glwd_1.shx

├ shp/level-02/GLWD-level2.zip

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/GLWD-level2.zip

├ shp/level-02/GLWD_Data_Disclaimer.pdf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/GLWD_Data_Disclaimer.pdf

├ shp/level-02/GLWD_Data_Documentation.pdf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/GLWD_Data_Documentation.pdf

├ shp/level-02/glwd_2.avl

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/glwd_2.avl

├ shp/level-02/glwd_2.dbf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/glwd_2.dbf

├ shp/level-02/glwd_2.sbn

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/glwd_2.sbn

├ shp/level-02/glwd_2.sbx

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/glwd_2.sbx

├ shp/level-02/glwd_2.shp

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/glwd_2.shp

├ shp/level-02/glwd_2.shp.xml

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/glwd_2.shp.xml

├ shp/level-02/glwd_2.shx

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-02/glwd_2.shx

├ shp/level-03/GLWD-level3.zip

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/GLWD-level3.zip

├ shp/level-03/GLWD_Data_Disclaimer.pdf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/GLWD_Data_Disclaimer.pdf

├ shp/level-03/GLWD_Data_Documentation.pdf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/GLWD_Data_Documentation.pdf

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3.avl

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3.avl

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3/dblbnd.adf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3/dblbnd.adf

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3/hdr.adf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3/hdr.adf

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3/metadata.xml

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3/metadata.xml

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3/sta.adf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3/sta.adf

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3/vat.adf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3/vat.adf

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3/w001001.adf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3/w001001.adf

├ shp/level-03/glwd_3/w001001x.adf

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/glwd_3/w001001x.adf

├ shp/level-03/info/arc.dir

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc.dir

├ shp/level-03/info/arc0000.dat

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc0000.dat

├ shp/level-03/info/arc0000.nit

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc0000.nit

├ shp/level-03/info/arc0001.dat

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc0001.dat

├ shp/level-03/info/arc0001.nit

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc0001.nit

├ shp/level-03/info/arc0002.dat

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc0002.dat

├ shp/level-03/info/arc0002.nit

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc0002.nit

└ shp/level-03/info/arc0002r.001

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/shp/level-03/info/arc0002r.001

Key Files

Start with these files — they give you everything you need to understand and access the dataset.

datapackage.json— metadata & schema

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/datapackage.json

README.md— documentation

https://datahub.io/core/glwd/_r/-/README.md

Typical Usage

1. Fetch datapackage.json to inspect schema and resources
2. Download data resources listed in datapackage.json
3. Read README.md for full context

Data Previews

Level 1 (GLWD-1) comprises the 3,067 largest lakes (area ≥ 50 km2) and 654 largest reservoirs (storage capacity ≥ 0.5 km3) worldwide, and includes extensive attribute data.

Level 1 (GLWD-1) comprises the 3,067 largest lakes (area ≥ 50 km2) and 654 largest reservoirs (storage capacity ≥ 0.5 km3) worldwide, and includes extensive attribute data.

Unsupported data preview format `topojson`

Level 2 (GLWD-2) comprises permanent open water bodies with a surface area ≥ 0.1 km2 excluding the water bodies contained in GLWD-1. Compressed because it exceeds GitHub's 100k file limit.

Unsupported data preview format `compressed geojson`

Level 2 (GLWD-2) comprises permanent open water bodies with a surface area ≥ 0.1 km2 excluding the water bodies contained in GLWD-1.

Unsupported data preview format `topojson`

Data Files

File	Description	Size	Last modified	Download
Level 1 (GLWD-1) comprises the 3,067 largest lakes (area ≥ 50 km2) and 654 largest reservoirs (storage capacity ≥ 0.5 km3) worldwide, and includes extensive attribute data.		28 MB	about 2 months ago	Level 1 (GLWD-1) comprises the 3,067 largest lakes (area ≥ 50 km2) and 654 largest reservoirs (storage capacity ≥ 0.5 km3) worldwide, and includes extensive attribute data.
Level 1 (GLWD-1) comprises the 3,067 largest lakes (area ≥ 50 km2) and 654 largest reservoirs (storage capacity ≥ 0.5 km3) worldwide, and includes extensive attribute data.		8.92 MB	about 2 months ago	Level 1 (GLWD-1) comprises the 3,067 largest lakes (area ≥ 50 km2) and 654 largest reservoirs (storage capacity ≥ 0.5 km3) worldwide, and includes extensive attribute data.
Level 2 (GLWD-2) comprises permanent open water bodies with a surface area ≥ 0.1 km2 excluding the water bodies contained in GLWD-1. Compressed because it exceeds GitHub's 100k file limit.		30.2 kB		Level 2 (GLWD-2) comprises permanent open water bodies with a surface area ≥ 0.1 km2 excluding the water bodies contained in GLWD-1. Compressed because it exceeds GitHub's 100k file limit.
Level 2 (GLWD-2) comprises permanent open water bodies with a surface area ≥ 0.1 km2 excluding the water bodies contained in GLWD-1.		50.4 MB	about 2 months ago	Level 2 (GLWD-2) comprises permanent open water bodies with a surface area ≥ 0.1 km2 excluding the water bodies contained in GLWD-1.

Files	Size	Format	Created	Updated	License	Source
4	87.4 MB	geojson, topojson, compressed geojson		over 1 year ago

GLWD - Global Lakes and Wetlands Database

Global Lakes and Wetlands Database Levels 1 and 2 Polygons as GeoJSON (.geojson/.topojson) with original format (.shp), via WWF https://worldwildlife.org/pages/global-lakes-and-wetlands-database.