10 Largest Lakes in the United States You Must Visit in 2024

Lakes are more than just bodies of water; they are natural wonders that change landscapes, support different ecosystems, and provide recreational possibilities for millions of people. In this blog, we are going to explore the magnitude and beauty of some of the Largest Lakes in the United States.

From the majestic Great Lakes to the peaceful stretches of various sections of the country, each lake has its own story to tell. We’ll look into their intriguing history, their geographic range, and the essential role they play in both the environment and the communities surrounding them.

Whether you are a nature lover, a curious traveler, or simply someone who loves the incredible force of water, join us on our journey to uncover the mysteries and wonders of these amazing lakes. Be captivated by magnificent landscapes and vistas, and perhaps find a new favorite spot for your next vacation.

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List of 10 Biggest Lakes in the United States

Below is a list of the 10 Largest Lakes in the United States. From the famous Great Lakes to little-known gems, these natural wonders offer breathtaking beauty and rich biodiversity. 

• Lake Superior (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota)
• Lake Huron (Michigan)  
• Lake Michigan (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan)
• Lake Erie (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York)
• Lake Ontario (New York)
• Great Salt Lake (Utah)
• Lake of the Woods (Minnesota)
• Iliamna Lake (Alaska)
• Lake Oahe (North and South Dakota)
• Lake Okeechobee (Florida)

1. Lake Superior (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota)

Lake Superior is not just the largest lake in the United States, but also the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area. The largest of the Great Lakes has a surface area of 31,700 square miles (82,100 square kilometers) and a volume of 2,900 cubic miles (12,000 cubic kilometers).

Lake Superior is shared between the United States and sections of Ontario, Canada, including Minnesota’s eastern border, Wisconsin’s northern border, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Lake Superior is home to several national parks, including Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Isle Royale National Park, and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Lake Superior has struggled with human impact from the beginning. Problems include the Industrial Revolution, the demise of commercial fisheries, phytoplankton blooms, high water levels, and diminished ice cover.

The largest American cities on Lake Superior are Duluth, Superior, and Marquette. They all provide museums, tours, outdoor recreation, shopping, cuisine, wine, spas, accommodations, transportation, local festivals, and theme parks.

2. Lake Huron (Michigan)  

Lake Huron is the second largest Great Lake in terms of area, but it also boasts the longest shoreline. Lake Huron is the world’s fifth-largest freshwater lake. Michigan borders Lake Huron to the east, while Ontario, Canada, borders it to the north.

Lake Huron covers an area of approximately 23,007 square miles (59,588 square kilometers) and has a 3,827-mile (6,157-kilometer) shoreline. Lake Huron was the first Great Lake explored by Europeans. Lake Huron was originally named La Mer Douce, or the Sweet Sea, by French explorers.

Lake Huron receives water from both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. This lake can be found in either western Michigan or northern and eastern Ontario. It is well-known for its brilliant blue waters, beaches, and swimming.

Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation all pose a significant threat to Lake Huron. The major American cities on Lake Huron are Bay City, Port Huron, and Alpena.

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3. Lake Michigan (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan)

Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake fully within the United States (the other four Great Lakes are mostly located in Canada). Lake Michigan is the second-largest Great Lake by volume, despite being the third-largest in terms of area. Lake Michigan has an area of about 22,404 square miles (58,030 square kilometers) and a volume of 1,180 cubic miles (4,900 cubic kilometers).

Lake Michigan is bordered by four states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Major port cities on the lake include Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Gary, Indiana.

This lake empties into Lake Huron via the canals of the Straits of Mackinac. Many historical relics have been discovered near the bottom of Lake Michigan, including stones with mastodon sculptures.

Invasive species, poisons, water diversions, wetland degradation, sewage overflows, and climate change all have an impact on Lake Michigan, as they do on all Great Lakes. Chicago, Waukegan, Gary, Traverse City, Green Bay, Kenosha, and Milwaukee are seven communities along Lake Michigan that offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

4. Lake Erie (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York)

Lake Erie has a far smaller volume than the three largest and smallest Great Lakes. The surface area of Lake Erie is approximately 25,667 square kilometers while the smaller Great Lake has a volume of 480 cubic kilometers.

Lake Erie is both the southernmost and the warmest of the Great Lakes. However, because Lake Erie is shallower than the other Great Lakes, the majority of its surface freezes during the winter.

The majority of Lake Erie’s water originates from the Detroit River. Despite having an average depth of 60 feet (19 meters), it is considered the shallowest of the Great Lakes. With over 26 islands, this lake provides many options for sunbathing, swimming, and splashing around. There are other activities to do in Cleveland, Buffalo, Toledo, Mento, Norwalk, and Port Clinton.

The Lake Erie ecosystem is under serious threat from land development, misuse of natural resources, chemical and biological pollution, and invading non-native species.

5. Lake Ontario (New York)

Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes, covering around 19,000 square kilometers and ranking as the world’s fourteenth largest lake. Although it is smaller than Lake Erie, it is significantly deeper, measuring 393 cubic miles (1,640 cubic kilometers).

Unfortunately, Lake Ontario is the most contaminated of the Great Lakes since the other four lakes drain into it, fully fouling it. Lake Ontario receives a significant amount of runoff from adjacent farms and enterprises.

Lake Ontario is unique because it is the only body of water where two places meet exactly in the middle. It is located at the foot of Niagara Falls in New York and is surrounded by Ontario to the north, west, and southwest.

Rochester is the only American city that borders Lake Ontario. Toronto, Kingston, Mississauga, and Hamilton are Canadian cities located near the lake.

6. Great Salt Lake (Utah)

The Great Salt Lake in Utah is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi. It has an area of 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers). As the name suggests, the Great Salt Lake is hypersaline, or salty, because it has no outlet. The Great Salt Lake is also the largest in the Western Hemisphere.

The salinity in the Great Salt Lake is too high to support most species of fish and other aquatic life. However, some algae, and brine shrimp can withstand the salt in the Great Salt Lake.

The Great Salt Lake gets its water from a variety of sources, including four rivers and many streams. The depth ranges between 4 and 10 meters. This lake’s unique habitat attracts migratory birds.

The Great Salt Lake has two parks: Antelope Island State Park and Great Salt Lake State Park. Both are excellent sites to explore the lake, hike, camp, see animals, and picnic. Box Elder, Davis, Tooele, Weber, and Salt Lake counties all have a claim to the Great Salt Lake.

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7. Lake of the Woods (Minnesota)

The majority of Lake of the Woods is located in the Canadian province of Ontario, with a tiny piece in Manitoba and the remainder in northern Minnesota. Lake of the Woods has a surface area of 1,679 square miles (4,348.6 square kilometers) and a volume of 4.65 cubic miles (19.4 cubic km).

The Minnesota portion of Lake of the Woods is known as the “walleye capital of the world.” Lake of the Woods is also home to a variety of different fish species, including northern pike, sturgeon, perch, musky, and sauger.

The lake provides countless options for fishing, canoeing, and outdoor recreation. It also provides a valuable habitat for wildlife. There are walleye, pike, perch, sauger, gray bass, smallmouth bass, lake trout, lake sturgeon, whitefish, suckerfish, and extremely huge muskellunge. It resembles a fishing paradise.

Pollutants, excess nutrients, and algae that are poisonous to fish, birds, animals, and humans all pose a threat to Lake of Woods. 

8. Iliamna Lake (Alaska)

Lake Iliamna is Alaska’s largest lake by area and volume. Lake Iliamna is smaller than the majority of the other lakes on this list, covering only 2,622 square kilometers, yet it is quite deep. Lake Iliamna has a volume of 27.7 cubic miles (115 cubic kilometers) and an average depth of 144 feet (44 meters).

Because Lake Iliamna is so deep, there are stories that a creature known as the “Iliamna Sea Monster” lives in its waters. Many people believe the monster, known as “Illie,” is a massive cryptic fish ranging in size from 3 to 9 meters long.

The area provides fishing, boating, bush plane chartering, hiking, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

The two main worries for the lake are large-scale mining and climate change. Cities and towns near Iliamna Lake include New Haven, Kokhanok, Igiugig, and, of course, Iliamna. These locations are surrounded by nature, making them an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.

9. Lake Oahe (North and South Dakota)

Lake Oahe resembles a river rather than a typical lake. This is because Lake Oahe is the largest man-made reservoir in the United States. Lake Oahe covers 685 square miles (1,774 square kilometers) and reaches a maximum depth of 205 feet (62 meters).

Oahe Dam, one of the world’s largest rolling earth dams, is situated in Lake Oahe. The name Lake Oahe is derived from the Sioux Indian word for “foundation.” Lake Oahe made headlines in 2016 during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests because the pipeline would be built beneath the lake.

Camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, water skiing, swimming, bird viewing, hiking, and biking are just a few of the activities available on Lake Oahe, which attracts 1.5 million visitors each year. The fact that so many people swim and fish in the choppy waters of Oahe Dam makes this lake unsafe.

Lake Oahe is home to several towns, including Pierre, Fort Pierre, Mobridge, Pollock, and Bismarck. Other minor towns have been established near the lake to boost the amount of activities in the region.

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10. Lake Okeechobee (Florida)

Lake Okeechobee is Florida’s largest lake and the second-largest freshwater lake in the continental United States. Florida’s Great Lake has an area of 1,900 square kilometers and an average depth of only 2.7 meters.

Okeechobee, the lake’s name, is derived from Seminole Indian terms meaning “big” and “water.” Lake Okeechobee was previously known as Miami by the Spanish, and later European inhabitants gave it various names such as Espiritu Santo Laguna, Lake Mayaca, Lake Macaco, and Lake Sarrope. 

Lake Okeechobee can be enjoyed in Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach, and Hendry counties. The Kissimmee River is the lake’s primary water supply, and it is the third biggest freshwater lake in the United States.

The water released from Lake Okeechobee is filled with contaminants that contribute to algae growth, which is dangerous to humans and wildlife. The lake isn’t shared by many cities. So, if you want to appreciate it, there’s just one place to go; in Okeechobee, Florida.

Following is the table for better understanding: 

Rank	Name	Volume	Surface Area	Average Depth	Type	Location
1.	Lake Superior	2,900 cu mi (12,000 km³)	31,700 sq mi (82,100 km²)	1,333 ft (406 m)	Glacial	Eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Parts of Ontario, Canada; and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
2.	Lake Huron	850 cu mi (3,543 km³)	23,007 sq mi (59,588 km²)	195 ft (59 m)	Glacial	Canada and Michigan, Parts of Ontario
3.	Lake Michigan	1,180 cu mi (4,900 km³)	22,404 sq mi (58,030 km²)	279 ft (85 m)	Glacial	Illinois, Parts of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan
4.	Lake Erie	116 cu mi (480 km³)	9,910 sq mi (25,667 km²)	62 ft (19 m)	Glacial	Canada; parts of Michigan, The Ontario Peninsula, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York
5.	Lake Ontario	393 cu mi (1,640 km³)	7,340 sq mi (19,000 km²)	283 ft (86 m)	Glacial	Canada and New York, Parts of Ontario
6.	Great Salt Lake	4.54 cu mi (18.92 km³)	1,700 sq mi (4,400 km²)	16 ft (4.9 m)	Endorheic and hypersaline	Northern part of Utah
7.	Lake of the Woods	4.65 cu mi (19.4 km³)	1,679 sq mi (4,348.6 km²)	4.65 cu mi (19.4 km³)	Remnant of former glacial Lake Agassiz	Minnesota, Parts of Ontario and Manitoba; Canada
8.	Iliamna Lake	27.7 cu mi (115 km³)	1,012.5 sq mi (2,622 km²)	144 ft (44 m)	Oligotrophic	Southwest Alaska
9.	Lake Oahe	6.98 cu mi (29.1 km³)	685 sq mi (1,774 km²)	Unspecified (max depth is 205 ft (62 m))	Man-made reservoir	Southern North Dakota and Central South Dakota
10.	Lake Okeechobee	1 cu mi (5.2 km³)	734 sq mi (1,900 km²)	8 ft 10 in (2.7 m)	Unspecified	Florida

Conclusion

The United States has some truly beautiful lakes! The Great Lakes, Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario are the leading ones, with by far the most water. However, there are numerous other natural and man-made lakes across the country, each with its distinct features. So, the next time you’re looking for a location to swim, boat, or fish, try exploring these Largest Lakes in the United States.

FAQs

What Is the Deepest Lake in the World?

Lake Baikal, which covers 3.15 million hectares in southeast Siberia, is the world’s oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 meters). It holds 20% of the world’s total unfrozen freshwater reserves.

What’s the World’s Smallest Lake?

Guinness World Records recently acknowledged Benxi Lake in Liaoning Province, China, as the “smallest lake in the world”. The lake was named for the city of Benxi, where it is located. Benxi Lake is a natural lake of barely 15 m², however the water remains pure.

What Is the Largest Lake Surrounded by a Single Country?

Lake Michigan is the largest lake that is located within one country. The Great Lakes formed some 14,000 years ago when retreating ice sheets revealed the basins they had carved into the earth and filled them with meltwater.

Who Has More Lakes, USA or Canada?

Canada has more lakes than the United States. In fact, Canada has the world’s biggest number of lakes, with estimates ranging from 1.2 to 2 million. The vast landmass and diversified landscape of Canada contribute to a lot of freshwater bodies. The United States has a large number of lakes, however it falls short of Canada in terms of raw quantity.

How Many Lakes Are in Russia?

According to official Russian government estimates, the country has 2,747,997 lakes. These lakes range in size, with many located in remote areas of Russia, contributing to the country’s vast freshwater resources and biodiversity.