Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/largest-lakes-us-surface-area-4157787. Explore Boat Types for Your Lifestyle. Lake Superior has a maximum depth of 406 m. If you're a trained scuba diver, you can tour wrecks from the 18th through 20th centuries. km, and Lake Huron of 59,570 sq. The man-made Kentucky Lake came into being when the Kentucky Dam, part of the Tennessee Valley Authority, was completed on the Tennessee River in 1944. Top Ten Largest Lakes in the us. States of Ontario (Canada), New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio (United States of America). Lake Superior is the largest lake in the United States. Florida’s Lake Okeechobee might have been named “Big Water” by the Seminoles, but the lake averages only 9 feet deep (2.7 m). U.S. 10 Best Lakes in the US. LakesOnline.com is a resource for lake and reservoir information. Surface Area: 31,700 square miles (82,103 sq km), Location: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. The bed of the Salton Sea is only about 5 feet higher than the lowest point in Death Valley, and the basin it lies in is part of the prehistoric Lake Cahuilla. Also, the Great Salt lake and Salton Sea are famous for being in Utah and California, respectively, so if a different place is filled in on the map than where you were trying to … Lake Pontchartrain is part of the basin where the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico meet. Surface Area: 685 square miles (1,774 sq km). Surface Area: 300 square miles (777 sq km). Amanda Briney, M.A., is a professional geographer. Largest Lake in the United States (by surface area): Lake Superior is the single named lake with the largest surface area in the United States at 31,700 square miles (82,103 square kilometers). Great Salt Lake. Named after an old trading post, Fort Peck Lake is one of six lakes on the Missouri River. Lake Okeechobee (700 square miles [1,800 square km]) is the third largest freshwater lake entirely within the United States (after Lake Michigan and Alaska’s Iliamna Lake). It's the largest man-made lake in the South and was created when a dam on the Sabine River was built. It is part of the Great Lakes Region, with its northwest border sitting along Lake Michigan. As Alaska is so far north, the effects of climate change there are more dramatic than in other parts of the nation. Oahe is a reservoir behind Oahe Dam on the Missouri River. Surface Area: 23,000 square miles (59,570 sq km), Lake Huron is named for the people who inhabited the region before European explorers’ arrival; when the French first saw it, they named it “La Mer Douce,” which means “The Sweetwater Sea.”, Surface Area: 22,300 square miles (57,757 sq km), Location: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Lake Ontario might be the smallest of the Great Lakes, but it’s deep; it holds four times the water of Lake Erie, even though their widths and lengths are similar. Lake Mattamuskeet, which spreads over 63 square miles, is the largest lake in terms of surface area, followed by Lake Norman, which is … This is list of Largest Lakes in the U.S. by Surface Area: Lake Superior Surface Area: 31,700 sq mi, Lake Michigan Surface Area:22,300 sq mi, Lake Huron Surface Area:22,300 sq mi. Located within the Canadian province of Ontario and the US states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes of North America and the largest freshwater lake in the world. As it evaporates and cities increasingly divert water from flowing into it, the salinity increases, killing off its fish that eat the algae in it and making the ecosystem inhospitable to other species. Some of these lakes are natural while others are man-made. Surrounding it is a national wildlife refuge of more than 1 million acres (4,046 sq km. Devils Lake. Up on our list of the largest lakes in the United States, Devils Lake … Many include man-made reservoirs created through damming rivers. At this luxurious resort, plan your entire stay around the water, which seems to be everywhere you look. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University. Lake Okeechobee (US: / oʊ k i ˈ tʃ oʊ b i /), also known as Florida's Inland Sea, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. This freshwater lake, which crosses the border of California and Nevada, is the largest alpine lake on the North American continent. the background third eye blind lyrics. Only about a third of the lake is in the United States. The lake is fed by the Bear, Weber, and Jordan rivers and has no outlet. At its highest level in 1873 and the mid-1980s, it was about 2,400 square miles (6,200 square km), and at its lowest in 1963, about 950 square miles (2,460 square km. It is the eighth largest natural freshwater lake among the 50 states of the United States and the second largest natural freshwater lake (the largest being Lake Michigan) contained entirely within the contiguous 48 states. The United States of America is one of the largest countries with hundreds of notable fresh and saltwater lakes including Natural and Man-made lakes. Briney, Amanda. Whether you want the stunning backdrop of a Canadian mountain range, the liveliness of a city center, or the charm of Small Town, USA—the destinations on our list are sure to please. Lake Superior is the largest lake by surface area with 82,103 sq. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. It provides water to nearly 20 million people in Arizona, California, and Nevada. ... For those lakes partially in Canada or Mexico the area given for the lake is the total area, not just the part of the lake in the United States. 9. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Let’s take North Carolina for example. Located within the Canadian province of Ontario and the US states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes of North America and the largest freshwater lake in the world. The dam that created the lake contains hydroelectric turbines that produce enough power for 259,000 homes per year. "The Largest Lakes in the US by Surface Area." The Largest Lakes in the US by Surface Area 01. 03. As the only Great Lake nestled completely within the boundaries of the United States, Lake Michigan is the pride and joy of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. This can be seen in reduced sea ice, glacier retreat, and melting permafrost (increasing CO2 in the atmosphere that had been locked away), and a noticeable rise in temperatures. There are a few different ways to define the world's largest lake. Surface Area: 427 square miles (1,106 sq km). ), Surface Area: 1,485 square miles (3,846 sq km), Location: Minnesota and Manitoba and Ontario, Canada. Or, the lake with the greatest water volume? The waves can do serious damage. Some of the largest are found in high mountain areas , while others are located at … Are you interested in the lake with the largest surface area? The lake is a major tourist attraction for both summer and winter recreation. It is the largest lake in Alaska, third largest lake entirely in the United States, and twenty-fourth in North America. Surface Area: 250 square miles (647 sq km). If the surface area is to be considered then it is the largest lake in … Surface Area – 4,400 sq km. Lake St. Clair connects the St. Clair River and Lake Huron with the Detroit River and Lake Erie. We currently have 1681 lake sites in the United States. Technically, Lake Erie is Pennsylvania’s largest lake. Iliamna Lake, inland body of water, southwestern Alaska, U.S.It lies west of Cook Inlet (Gulf of Alaska), near Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (north) and Katmai National Park and Preserve (south). With a total area of about 205,000 acres in both Louisiana and Texas and providing water supply, hydroelectric power, and a plethora of recreational uses, Toledo Bend Lake is the largest human-made body of water in the south and the ninth largest in the United States. People catch walleye, bass, northern pike and perch in this man-made lake. Lake Erie. US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: North Dakota. One way of comparing size is by measuring surface area, as is done here. "The Largest Lakes in the US by Surface Area." 10) Lake Erie. Surface Area: 490 square miles (1,269 sq km). Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is the sixth largest lake by volume in the United States. etc. Alternative Titles: Buenaventura, Timpanogos Great Salt Lake, lake in northern Utah, U.S., the largest inland body of salt water in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most saline inland bodies of water in the world. Area: 300 sq mi/777 km 2. The largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world at 31,802 square miles (82,367 sq km), Lake Superior is more than 10,000 years old and holds 10 percent of the world’s freshwater. Sakakawea is located in the Missouri River basin in central North Dakota. Lake George is also the largest lake on the St. Johns River, about 12 miles long, 6 … km, and Lake Huron of 59,570 sq. The largest lake in North Dakota, Devils Lake has been affectionately known as the "Perch Capital of the World" since the 1980s. LakesOnline.com is a resource for lake and reservoir information. Sebago Lake in Maine Lake Michigan (Photo by Nick Ellis/The Points Guy) Maine’s second-largest lake, Sebago Lake, reaches a depth of 316 feet and is known as one of the purest and clearest lakes in the entire state — which means you really need to outsmart the fish if you hope to catch any since they can see you coming! The largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world at 31,802 square miles (82,367 sq km), Lake Superior is more than 10,000 years old and holds 10 percent of the world’s freshwater. The Lakes here are used for Agriculture, Water supply and power generation. 9. It is also the 2 nd largest natural freshwater lake that is entirely within the United States border. It’s surface area of more than 6 million acres ranks Lake Erie as the fourth largest of the Great Lakes. The largest river flowing into the lake, the Ruhuhu River, and the main outflow in the southern end, the Shire River. However, the following lakes are considered the best for fishing in the United States. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/largest-lakes-us-surface-area-4157787. It has a surface area of 82,100 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 183 metres above sea level. About one-third of the people who reside in the Great Lakes basin live in the watershed home to Lake Erie, including 17 metro areas with at least 50,000 residents. The second largest state, Texas, has only 40% of the total area of the largest state, Alaska. Lakes Oahe (1497 km2) and Sakakawea (1240 km2) are the biggest ones by surface area in the US. The Great Salt Lake is located in Utah and lies within the Great Basin, an inland water drainage area that encompasses most of Nevada and parts of Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and California. However, the following lakes are considered the best for fishing in the United States. Named for a Russian explorer, Becharof Lake has a large sockeye salmon population, which is essential economically to its area of Alaska (and for its wildlife). Surface Area: 7,340 square miles (19,010 sq km). Walleye fishing has rebounded there since 2006 after the population had crashed in 1997 due to overfishing. Scott Dickerson / Design Pics/Getty Images, Surface Area: 1,014 square miles (2,626 sq km). It is the southernmost and the shallowest among the great lakes of North America, with the maximum depth of 210 feet. With 1,300 miles of shoreline, Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes in North America and the largest freshwater lake in the U.S. Adventurous, highly-skilled boaters will love taking speed boats out on the vast and unpredictable waters, but keep in mind that venturing out on “The Big Lake” isn’t for novices. Hello, The United States (US) hosts thousands of lakes of different sizes, volumes, depths, and hydrological patterns. Some of the largest are found in high mountain areas, while others are located at low elevations. Toledo Bend Lake, Louisiana and Texas. At its deepest point, this lake is 733 feet (223 meters) below sea level, making it the deepest point in the continental United States. As a matter of fact, reservoirs and dammed natural lakes account for 80% of all the lakes in the list. It's one of the National Park System's most visited places, but the lake is presenting officials and residents challenges as it dries up. Location – Utah. The lake spans the border of Nevada and Arizona, with four marinas on the lake in the two states combined. Scott Stringham photographer/Getty Images, Surface Area: 2,117 square miles (5,483 sq km), The Great Salt Lake’s size fluctuates greatly in size over time based on its evaporation and the size of the rivers that feed it. Because it’s so big and deep (1,332 ft [406 m]), the annual fluctuations in height of Lake Superior are no more than... 02. Lake Tahoe. The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando isn’t a “traditional” lake resort—but hear us out. Lake Huron receives its main entrance from Lake Superior, via the St. Mary’s River, and discharges its waters into Lake Erie. Lake Sakakawea, created after the completion of the Garrison Dam, is one of the top three largest man-made reservoirs in the United States. It’s interesting to note that many of these lakes, 62% to be precise, are reservoirs. Surface Area: 284 square miles (736 sq km). Lake Huron is the second largest lake in North America and covers a total area of 59,590 square kilometers. Just 75 miles east of Atlanta, the property sits on 35 wooded acres along the shores of Georgia's second-largest lake. Lakes Online is the largest online community for lake enthusiasts. That's the auto typein for the lake, so I don't think I should be the one to change it. The lakes here ranked by water volume or surface area and information gathered including official sources including National Atlas of the United States. We currently have 1681 lake sites in the United States. The lakes here ranked by water volume or surface area and information gathered including official sources including National Atlas of the United States. One way of comparing size is by measuring surface area, as is done here. Rhode Island is the smallest state by total area and land area. Lake George is the second largest lake in Florida, second only to Lake Okeechobee. Largest National Parks in the United States, Biography of Robert Cavelier de la Salle, French Explorer, All About the Great Lakes of North America, 10 Facts About the Geography of Baja California, Geography of the Territories of the United States, Types, Sources, and Solutions for Lake Pollution, M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay, B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento. Many include man-made reservoirs created through damming rivers. Briney, Amanda. Named by Tanaina Indians, the lake was said to be inhabited by a mythical giant blackfish that would bite holes in canoes. Surface Area: 251 square miles (650 sq km). It has a surface area of 82,100 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 183 metres above sea level. Lakes are listed from largest to smallest. Because it’s so big and deep (1,332 ft [406 m]), the annual fluctuations in height of Lake Superior are no more than 12 inches (30 cm)—but that doesn’t mean the area around it is immune to flooding. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, America's first such designated place, is 1.5 million acres of desert, mountains, valleys, and canyons. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, the 3rd largest lake by volume, and the 2nd largest lake of any kind by surface area in the world. The United States is home to thousands of lakes. US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: Florida. Alabama one of the largest states in United states and holds more than 100 public lakes that holds many species of fishes. Great Slave Lake. It was created through dams across the Colorado River. https://www.thoughtco.com/largest-lakes-us-surface-area-4157787 (accessed January 24, 2021). Lake Huron is the third largest freshwater lake … It is located high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the border between California and Nevada. Surface Area: 247 square miles (640 sq km). Lake Okeechobee is the tenth largest lake in the US and the largest freshwater lake in the US State of Florida. From the Great Salt Lake in Utah, which is the 6th largest lake in the United States, to Lums Pond in Delaware, these lakes come in all shapes and sizes. The United States has diverse ecologies, both on land and in water. The United States is home to thousands of lakes. Lake Tahoe United States Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest lake in the United States after Crater Lake. The northernmost part of the United States, Angle Township, Minnesota, can be accessed only by crossing the Lake of the Woods or crossing the border into Canada first. It is just 2.7 m deep and there has been a growth of toxic algae within the lake since the last few years. A popular fishing lake for lovers of largemouth bass, the Toledo Bend Reservoir gives anglers more fish in cooler seasons due to fish being more active during cooler water temperatures. Of the top 100 lakes, 55 are man-made and 45 are natural. The only Great Lake that lies completely in the United States, Lake Michigan used to have the Chicago River draining... 04. Surface Area: 430 square miles (1,114 sq km). With a total area of about 205,000 acres in both Louisiana and Texas and providing water supply, hydroelectric power, and a plethora of recreational uses, Toledo Bend Lake is the largest human-made body of water in the south and the ninth largest in the United States. It is also the second deepest lake in the US after Crater Lake. This vast water network is fed by… The Great Salt Lake is located in Utah and lies within the Great Basin, an inland water drainage area that encompasses most of Nevada and parts of Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and California. The five largest lakes in the USA also known as the Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Surface Area: 631 square miles (1,634 sq km). Lakes are listed from largest to smallest. Lakes Online is the largest online community for lake enthusiasts. North America is chock-full of beautiful lake towns—some of the best in the world, if you ask us—each boasting its own unique attributes and dazzling beauty. It holds back Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States by water capacity. Surprisingly, however, the lake spanning an area of 1,715 km2 is exceptionally shallow with an average depth of only 9 feet, an unexpected figure for a lake of its size. Today we are going to take a look at the 25 largest lakes in the US.Click to skip our introduction and methodology and jump to the top 10 largest lakes in the US. Lake Huron. Lake Oahe has a surface area of 685 square miles (1,774 square kilometers) and a … Surface Area: 9,910 square miles (25,666 sq km), Location: Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada. The lake is part of a large National Wildlife Refuge. Alabama covers around 52,000 sq miles of land with 3.20% of water surface. Some of the largest are found in high mountain areas, while others are located at low elevations. Surface Area: 393 square miles (1,018 sq km), The man-made Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana's largest body of water, has more than 50 types of fish. In the mid- to late 1990s, more farm fields near it became tiled and drained into it, doubling its size and displacing more than 300 homes and flooding more than 70,000 acres of farmland. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. Surface Area: 31,044 Sq Km. Surface Area: 345 square miles (894 sq km). That's the auto typein for the lake, so I don't think I should be the one to change it. Lake Oahe does not look like a traditional lake and instead looks more like a river. Comprising of free memberships, members can participate in free boat classifieds, news and level alerts, forums, photo sharing and much more. The Largest Lakes in the US by Surface Area. Also, the Great Salt lake and Salton Sea are famous for being in Utah and California, respectively, so if a different place is filled in on the map than where you were trying to … Type: natural. km is the second largest lake in the country. Lake Superior covers an area of 31,700 square miles and is therefore the largest lake in the U.S. Read more Toledo Bend Reservoir (Louisiana/Texas) Located between Texas and Louisiana, the lake covers an approximate of 185,000 acres, making it Texas’ largest man-made lake, and the fifth largest in the United States. San Bernardino County is the largest county in the contiguous U.S. and is larger than each of the nine smallest states; it is larger than the four smallest states combined. Fort Peck Lake, located 20 miles southeast of Glasgow, Montana on Montana Highway 24, is the 5th-largest man-made reservoir by volume in the United States and is Montana's largest lake. Lake Superior is the largest lake by surface area with 82,103 sq. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest lake in the United States after Crater Lake. A 2006 drought in Florida allowed previously lost vegetation to re-emerge. It's a major recreation area in Detroit and was the subject of several citizen-aided testing and cleanup efforts in 2018. Area: 662 sq mi/1,715 km 2. The 38th largest state, Indiana is located in Midwestern USA and has a total area of over 94,000 square kilometres. Indiana is home to rolling hills, lowlands and sand dunes, with its average altitude being 230 metres above sea level. It's the second-largest saltwater lake (actually an estuary) in the United States and is still recovering from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Another man-made reservoir due to the construction of a dam in the 1950s, Lake Powell has been mired in controversy. (2020, August 28). …drainage basins, of which the Lake Okeechobee–Everglades basin (17,000 square miles [44,000 square km]) is the largest. The lake borders on the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada. Islands do exist within Lake Superior, and those islands often feature lakes of their own, with islands … ), Surface Area: 347 square miles (899 sq km). US States/Canadian Provinces/Mexican States: North Dakota. Three lakes in the top 100 are primarily salt water. km is the … The following is a list of the largest lakes of the United States by normal surface area. Surface Area: 404 square miles (1,046 sq km). This is the largest natural saltwater lake located in the Western Hemisphere and is the 8 th largest terminal lake in the world. Briney, Amanda. Surface Area – 1,715 sq km Location - Florida Also called Florida’s Inland Sea, Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida State. 9. …drainage basins, of which the Lake Okeechobee–Everglades basin (17,000 square miles [44,000 square km]) is the largest. Type: natural. Rainy Lake's landscape is known for its starry skies, picturesque sunsets, and the ability to see the northern lights. On the border of Louisiana and and Texas, Caddo Lake is a protected wetlands and home to the largest cypress forest in the world, and it’s a beautiful spot to canoe through lush vegetation. The Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Ontario, Erie, and Huron) are the largest lakes in the United States. Lake Champlain lies between the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains and was strategically important during America's early years. Devils Lake. All the lakes are fresh water bodies and are situated in the north-eastern part of the United States along the US-Canada border. Big Water Near the bottom of the state sits its largest lake, Lake Okeechobee. Toledo Bend Reservoir (Louisiana/Texas) Located between Texas and Louisiana, the lake covers an approximate of 185,000 acres, making it Texas’ largest man-made lake, and the fifth largest in the United States. Oahe is a list of the lake, lake Erie is one the... 'S a major tourist attraction for both summer and winter recreation change.. Cleanup efforts in 2018 should be the one to change it man-made in., Weber, and Nevada for lake enthusiasts as a matter of,! 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