Use of definite article referring to figures and tables

Do not use an article in such a case. This is a common error made by non-native speakers.

You do not use articles with proper names. For example, you would say "I went to a grocery store", but "I went to Smith's Grocery Store". Numbered figures or tables are generally treated as proper names. So, "See the second figure below" — descriptive, not a proper name; but "See Figure 2 below" — a proper name.