Today we are going to take a look at the 25 largest lakes in the US.
Do you like water-related activities? Do you love wiggling in a small boat in the middle of the water? Do you also enjoy when water drops roll along your face while swimming? If so, you will surely like this compilation of the biggest lakes across the United States. As for me, my absolutely favorite activities are all related to water. In other words, I love everything related to water, swimming, boating, diving, rowing, or just lying on the shore and letting water hugging and cradling my body. I love water in its every state of matter, even ice and snow. I adore all natural waters, from the smallest streamlet to the oceans. According to the famous, Ancient Greek philosopher, Empedocles, water is one of the four classical elements, alongside earth, air and fire, and these form the substance of universe.
Pixabay/ Public Domain
At first, let’s make clear what is the definition of a lake. Basically, it’s a basin filled with water and surrounded by land, being fed by rivers and brooks. Located on land, they are not part of any oceans and seas, and they are differs from lagoons. There are several types of lakes, such as freshwater lakes, meteorite lakes, fluvial lakes and artificial lakes, just to name a few. Artificial lakes are generally built for agricultural and industrial or recreational use, among others. In this compilation you will find man-made lakes that were created for hydro-electric power generation, but actually they are tourist attractions, too. The top five lakes in our article form The Great Lakes of North America – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Eirie and Ontario Lakes. According to Visual Capitalist, The Great Lakes are the economic growth engine of the United States. Incredible, but true fact if this region were its own country, it would mean the third-largest economy across the globe with its amazing GDP of $6 trillion. The region is involved in agriculture, automotive and space industry, manufacturing industries among others. The region also produces billions of dollars valued of minerals year by year. As we have written earlier in our article of 15 largest iron ore producing countries in the world, the United States is among these countries due to the mines in Minnesota. Pennsylvania is the largest producer of met coal, which important for manufacturing steel. Food and agriculture industries of the region are also surpassingly significant, as you can see in top 10 largest agricultural companies in the US by revenue, such as Fresh Del Monte Produce (NYSE:FDP), CF Industries Holding (NYSE:CF) and The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS), just to name a few.
In order to create the list of the largest lakes in the US, we consulted the National Atlas of the US, and ranked the lakes by surface area. You will see man-made reservoirs also in the compilation, because all of them have significant role for several industries, such as energy, tourism and catering. In this article you can take delight in the magic water surface, and perhaps you can find the new destinations of your next travels. If you liked this article, we also recommend you to read 50 most forested cities in US.
And now, without a further ado, let’s see what are largest lakes in the US, starting with 25:
25. Kentucky Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Kentucky-Tennessee
Area: 250 sq mi/647 km2
Type: man-made
Kentucky Lake is a large passable reservoir along the Tennessee River. It was created as early as in 1944 by Tennessee Valley Authority. It supplies a source for hydro-electric power, and it’s popular tourist attraction and angler-paradise, as there can be found three species of fish ever taken in Kentucky: Buffalo carp, yellow perch and white bass.
Pixabay/Public domain
24. Lake Powell
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Arizona-Utah
Area: 251 sq mi/650 km2
Type: man-made
It’s a reservoir on the Colorado River in Arizona and Utah, and is a popular tourist and holiday spot visited more than two million people year by year. It was named after John Wesley Powell, who was a one-armed explorer and Civil War veteran.
Pixabay/ Public Domain
23. Toledo Bend Reservoir
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Louisiana-Texas
Area: 284 sq mi/736 km2
Type: man-made
It’s also a man-made reservoir between Louisiana and Texas. Actually, the dam can provide 92 megawatts of electrical power, and has an area of 185,000 acres/749 km².
Pixabay/Public Domain
22. Devils Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: North Dakota
Area: 300 sq mi/777 km2
Type: natural
Up on our list of the largest lakes in the United States, Devils Lake stands on the 22nd spot. Devils Lake is the second biggest lake in North Dakota, flowing into the Sheyenne River.
Pixabay/Public domain
21. Teshekpuk Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Alaska
Area: 320 sq mi/829 km2
Type: natural
It’s the biggest lake in the Arctic Alaska, and the lake holds several fish species, such as Arctic grayling, broad whitefish, lake trout, Dolly Varden, Chinook Salmon and Chum salmon, among others. Tourists and habitants can admire the wide range of wildlife, such as the Teshekpuk Lake Caribou Herd (64,000 animals).
IZZ HAZEL/Shutterstock.com
20. Rainy Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Minnesota-Ontario
Area: 345 sq mi/894 km2
Type: natural
Rainy River and Rainy Lake are the boundary between Canada and the United States. Rainy Lake is among the huge lake system in the United States, that spreads from Lake Superior to Arctic Ocean.
martinho Smart/Shutterstock.com
19. Salton Sea
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: California
Area: 347 sq mi/899 km2
Type: man-made
Actually, the Salton Sea is pretty shallow, with a maximum depth of 5 ft/1.5 m at the deepest point. Its primary sources are Alamo and Whitewater Rivers with agricultural runoff.
Pixabay/Public Domain
18. Fort Peck Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Montana
Area: 393 sq mi/1,018 km2
Type: man-made
Fort Peck Lake is another man-made one, is the main reservoir in Montana. It was built in the 1930s so that there would be a navigation channel from Sioux City, Iowa to the Missouri. It’s also a popular tourist attraction with several parks and recreational sites around the lake.
Pixabay/Public Domain
17. Selawik Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Alaska
Area: 404 sq mi/1,046 km2
Type: natural
Selawik Lake stands on the 17th spot on the compilation of the largest lakes across America. It’s the third biggest lake in Alaska, after Iliamna Lake and Becharof lake, and is worth visiting it.
16. Red Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Minnesota
Area: 427 sq mi/1,106 km2
Type: natural
It’s the biggest natural freshwater lake in Minnesota, and 16th in America. The lower part of the lake belongs to the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
John McCormick/Shutterstock.com
15. Lake St. Clair
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Michigan-Ontario
Area: 440 sq mi/1,140 km2
Type: natural
It’s amazing freshwater lake between Michigan and Ontario. It was names after Saint Clare of Assisi by French Catholic explorers. As a matter of fact it’s part of the Great Lakes system, which means several economical advantage for this region.
14. Becharof Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Alaska
Area: 453 sq mi/1,173 km2
Type: natural
Becharof lake is a magic natural lake on the Alaska Peninsula. After Iliamna Lake, it’s the second-largest one in Alaska. It was named after a Russian navigator, Dmitry Bocharov who explored at Kodiak, Alaska, in 1788.
13. Lake Champlain
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: New York -Vermont- Quebec
Area: 490 sq mi/1,269 km2
Type: natural
Lake Champlain is a freshwater lake bordered by two states, New York and Vermont, and a Quebec in Canada. The amazing Adirondack Park can be found here with lots of recreational facilities. The Quebec portion includes several beautiful islands in the lake, such as Isle La Motte North Hero and Grand Isle.
Sopotnicki/Shutterstock.com
12. Lake Sakakawea
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: North-Dakota
Area: 520 sq mi/1,347 km2
Type: man-made
It’s a popular recreational spot for camping, boating, hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities. There are parks, recreation areas around the lake with rich wildlife, managed by several organizations and agencies, such as North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Corps of Engineers, and the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
11. Lake Pontchartrain
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Louisiana
Area: 631 sq mi/1,634 km2
Type: natural
The average depth of Lake Pontchartrain is between at 12 and 14 ft/3.7 and 4.3 m, but there are also shipping channels as well, due to dredging. It’s broadly oval shaped, around 40 miles/60 km wide and 24 miles/39 km long. The world-wide famous Lake Pontchartrain Causeway crosses the lake which is the longest continuous bridge over water across the globe.
10. Lake Okeechobee
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Florida
Area: 662 sq mi/1,715 km2
Type: natural
It’s also known as Florida’s Inland Sea, and actually it’s the largest freswater lake in Florida State, and the eighth biggest natural freshwater lake across North America. The lake primary source is the Kissimmee River, situated in the north of Lake Okeechobee.
Gavrusha/Shutterstock.com
9. Lake Oahe
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: North-Dakota-South Dakota
Area: 685 sq mi/1,774 km2
Type: man-made
As a matter of fact, it’s a huge reservoir behind Oahe Dam on the Missouri River. It’s maximum depth is 205 ft/62 m. As for its volume it’s the fourth biggest reservoir in America. Its name derives from the Oahe Indian Mission in 1874.
Pixabay/Public domain
8. Iliamna Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Alaska
Area: 1,014 sq mi/2,626 km2
Type: natural
Up on our list of the top 10 largest lakes in US, Iliamna Lake stands on eighth spot. It’s the biggest lake in Alaska, and the eight-largest one in the United States with a maximum depth of 988 ft/301 m.
7. Lake of the Woods
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Manitoba-Minnesota-Ontario
Area: 1,679 sq mi/4,349 km2
Type: natural
Lake of the Woods is fed by Shoal Lake, Kakagi Lake and Rainy River. Its more than 70 miles/110 km long and wide, and amazingly it includes over 14,552 islands! It’s the sixth biggest freshwater lake in the US, and it stands on the 36th spot by area across the globe.
6. Great Salt Lake
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Utah
Area: 2,117 sq mi/5,483 km2
Type: natural
The Great Sale Lake is actually the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. Despite it got the name “America’s Dead Sea” it gives wonderful habitat for hundreds of thousands of native birds and other animals, such as waterfowl, shorebirds and brine shrimp. If there’s only one thing you have time for in the United States, the Great Salt Lake should be that one!
superoke/Shutterstock.com
5. Lake Ontario
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: New York – Ontario
Area: 7,340 sq mi/19,011 km2
Type: natural
Lake Ontario is the first one among the Great Lakes in North America. Its name derives from Ontario, which Canada’s most populous province. The word “Ontarí’io” means “great lake” in the Huron language. The famous Niagara River is its primary inlet from Lake Eirie.
Christopher Gardiner/Shutterstock.com
4. Lake Eirie
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Michigan-New York- Ohio-Ontario-Pennsylvania
Area: 9,910 sq mi/25,667 km2
Type: natural
Lake Eirie also belongs to the Great Lakes of North America, and it’s the eleventh biggest lake in the world respectively. Regarding to its volume it’s the smallest lake among the Great Lakes, and its deepest point is at 210 ft/64 m. Its name origins from Eirie people, who inhabited along its shore. Their tribal name was “eirie” which was an abbreviation of Iroquoian word “erielhonan” meaning long tail. According to other sources, the name derives from the word “eri” meaning “cherry tree”.
Pixabay / Public Domain
3. Lake Michigan
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Illinois-Indiana-Michigan-Wisconsin
Area: 22,300 sq mi/57,757 km2
Type: natural
Lake Michigan is third-largest lake among the Great Lakes of North America by surface area, however it’s the second-largest one by volume 1,180 cu mi/4,900 km3. The word “Michigan’ is said to derive from the Ojibwe word “michi-gami” which means “great water”. As a matter of fact, twelve million people reside along the shores of the lake, mainly in the Chicago and Milwaukee M.S.A.
Theresa Scarbrough/Shutterstock.com
2. Lake Huron
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Michigan-Ohio
Area: 23,000 sq mi/59,570 km2
Type: natural
Lake Huron is among the five Great Lakes in North America. French explorers named the lake after Huron people living in that region. It’s the second biggest lake of the Great Lakes, and is the third-largest freshwater lake throughout the whole world. As of its volume, Lake Huron is the third biggest one among the Great Lakes, including 850 cubic miles (3,500 km3).
ehrlif/Shutterstock.com
1. Lake Superior
US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Michigan-Minnesota-Wisconsin-Ontario
Area: 31,700 sq mi/82,103 km2
Type: natural
Without a shadow of a doubt, Lake Superior tops the list of the 10 largest lakes in the US. Lake Superior is not only the largest one of the Great Lakes in North America, but actually it’s the biggest freshwater lake by surface area all over the world, and as for its volume it’s the third-largest lake across the globe, behind Lake Baikal in Siberia and Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.
John McCormick/Shutterstock.com
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Disclosure: No positions. 25 largest lakes in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
