English Grammar: definite article: lakes

[Anna Plisetskaya]

Dear English native speakers,

Could you please help me solve one problem concerning the usage of articles.
The respected Murphy Grammar tells us that we use THE with the names of
seas, rivers, oceans (e.g. the River Volga), but we do not use THE before
the word LAKE (e.g. lake Constance)., while many Russian textbooks add that
we should use THE with the names of lakes and omit it if the word LAKE is
present (e.g. lake Baikal, but the Baikal). I wonder if they are right:
shall I explain the students that we say the Baikal but Lake Baikal? To tell
the truth, I've always believed we shouldn't use THE in both cases. Could
you please put an end to my doubts?

Thanks in advance,

Anna Plisetskaya, Ph.D. (Moscow).

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