US Lakes Map

Explore US map showing lakes of the United States, The U.S. is home to numerous lakes, with the Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario—being the most prominent. These five interconnected freshwater lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes by total area in the world, covering over 94,000 square miles. Lake Superior, the largest of them, is the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area. Additionally, the U.S. has thousands of smaller lakes, such as Lake Tahoe and the Great Salt Lake, which play crucial roles in local ecosystems, recreation, and water supply.

About US Lakes Map

Explore the map of United States to see all the lakes in United States of America. The location and names of the lakes are clearly marked on the US map.

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List of Largest Lakes in the USA by Area

Rank	Name	Flows Through - U.S. States / Canadian Provinces / Mexican States	Type	Area in sq mi	Area in km2
1	Lake Superior	Michigan-Minnesota-Wisconsin-Ontario	natural	31,700	82,103
2	Lake Huron	Michigan-Ontario	natural	23,000	59,570
3	Lake Michigan	Illinois-Indiana-Michigan-Wisconsin	natural	22,300	57,757
4	Lake Erie	Michigan-New York-Ohio-Ontario-Pennsylvania	natural	9,910	25,667
5	Lake Ontario	New York-Ontario	natural	7,340	19,011
6	Lake of the Woods	Manitoba-Minnesota-Ontario	natural	1,679	4,349
7	Iliamna Lake	Alaska	natural	1,014	2,626
8	Great Salt Lake	Utah	natural	950	2,460
9	Lake Oahe	North Dakota-South Dakota	man-made	685	1,774
10	Lake Okeechobee	Florida	natural	662	1,715
11	Lake Pontchartrain	Louisiana	natural	631	1,634
12	Lake Sakakawea	North Dakota	man-made	520	1,347
13	Lake Champlain	New York-Vermont-Quebec	natural	490	1,269
14	Becharof Lake	Alaska	natural	453	1,173
15	Lake St. Clair	Michigan-Ontario	natural	440	1,140
16	Red Lake	Minnesota	natural	427	1,106
17	Selawik Lake	Alaska	natural	404	1,046
18	Fort Peck Lake	Montana	man-made	393	1,018
19	Salton Sea	California	man-made	347	899
20	Rainy Lake	Minnesota-Ontario	natural	345	894
21	Teshekpuk Lake	Alaska	natural	320	829
22	Devils Lake	North Dakota	natural	300	777
23	Toledo Bend Reservoir	Louisiana-Texas	man-made	284	736
24	Lake Powell	Arizona-Utah	man-made	251	650
25	Kentucky Lake	Kentucky-Tennessee	man-made	250	647
26	Lake Mead	Arizona-Nevada	man-made	247	640
27	Naknek Lake	Alaska	natural	242	627
28	Lake Winnebago	Wisconsin	natural	215	557
29	Mille Lacs Lake	Minnesota	natural	207	536
30	Flathead Lake	Montana	natural	192	497
31	Lake Tahoe	California-Nevada	natural	191	495
32	Pyramid Lake	Nevada	natural	183	474
33	Sam Rayburn Reservoir	Texas	man-made	179	464
34	Eufaula Lake	Oklahoma	man-made	169	438
*	Tulare Lake	California	natural	168	435
35	Lake Marion	South Carolina	man-made	165	427
36	Leech Lake	Minnesota	natural	161	417
37	Utah Lake	Utah	natural	151	391
38	Lake Francis Case	South Dakota	man-made	149	386
39	Lake Pend Oreille	Idaho	natural	148	383
40	Lake Texoma	Oklahoma-Texas	man-made	139	360
41	Yellowstone Lake	Wyoming	natural	136	352
42	Falcon Lake	Tamaulipas-Texas	man-made	131	339
43	Lake Livingston	Texas	man-made	130	337
44	Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake	Washington	man-made	128	332
45	Lake Clark	Alaska	natural	120	311
46	Moosehead Lake	Maine	natural	117	303
47	Lake Strom Thurmond	Georgia-South Carolina	man-made	111	287
48	Bear Lake	Idaho-Utah	natural	109	282
49	Lake Guntersville	Alabama	man-made	108	280
50	Lake St. Francis	New York-Ontario-Quebec	man-made	105	272
50	Wheeler Lake	Alabama	man-made	105	272
52	Amistad Lake	Coahuila-Texas	man-made	102	264
53	Klamath Lake	Oregon	natural	96	249
54	Tustumena Lake	Alaska	natural	94	243
54	Lake Moultrie	South Carolina	man-made	94	243
56	Lake Winnibigoshish	Minnesota	natural	91	236
56	Lake Barkley	Kentucky-Tennessee	man-made	91	236
58	Lake Sharpe	South Dakota	man-made	89	231
59	American Falls Reservoir	Idaho	man-made	88	228
60	Lake Hartwell	Georgia-South Carolina	man-made	87	225
60	Truman Reservoir	Missouri	man-made	87	225
62	Lake of the Ozarks	Missouri	man-made	86	223
63	Oneida Lake	New York	natural	80	207
64	Lake Cumberland	Kentucky	man-made	79	205
65	Kerr Lake	North Carolina-Virginia	man-made	78	202
66	Calcasieu Lake	Louisiana	natural	77	199
67	Lake Murray	South Carolina	man-made	75	194
68	Grand Lake o' the Cherokees	Oklahoma	man-made	73	189
68	Lake Koocanusa	British Columbia-Montana	man-made	73	189
70	Lake George	Florida	natural	72	186
71	Lake Winnipesaukee	New Hampshire	natural	71	184
71	Bull Shoals Lake	Arkansas-Missouri	man-made	71	184
71	Walter F. George Lake	Alabama-Georgia	man-made	71	184
74	Lake Martin	Alabama	man-made	69	179
75	Clear Lake	California	natural	68	176
75	Robert S. Kerr Lake	Oklahoma	man-made	68	176
75	Seneca Lake	New York	natural	68	176
78	Pickwick Lake	Alabama-Mississippi-Tennessee	man-made	67	174
78	Table Rock Lake	Arkansas-Missouri	man-made	67	174
78	Cayuga Lake	New York	natural	67	174
81	Flaming Gorge Reservoir	Utah-Wyoming	man-made	66	171
82	Richland-Chambers Reservoir	Texas	man-made	64	166
83	Lake Vermilion	Minnesota	natural	63	163
83	Lake Ouachita	Arkansas	man-made	63	163
83	Lake Mattamuskeet	North Carolina	natural	63	163
86	Watts Bar Lake	Tennessee	man-made	61	158
86	Lake Wallula	Oregon-Washington	man-made	61	158
88	Lake Lanier	Georgia	man-made	59	153
89	Lake Tawakoni	Texas	man-made	57	148
89	Elephant Butte Lake	New Mexico	man-made	57	148
89	Chickamauga Lake	Tennessee	man-made	57	148
92	Grenada Lake	Mississippi	man-made	55	142
92	Lake Kissimmee	Florida	natural	55	142
94	Lake Dardanelle	Arkansas	man-made	54	140
95	Norris Lake	Tennessee	man-made	53	137
95	Canyon Ferry Lake	Montana	man-made	53	137
97	Lake Chelan	Washington	natural	52	135
98	Cedar Creek Lake	Texas	man-made	51	132
98	Lake Norman	North Carolina	man-made	51	132
98	Sardis Lake	Mississippi	man-made	51	132

Lakes of the United States

The United States is home to an extensive array of lakes, varying widely in size, depth, and ecological significance. These lakes play crucial roles in the country's ecosystem, economy, and recreational life. From the vast Great Lakes to the unique saline bodies in the West, U.S. lakes are diverse and integral to the nation's natural heritage.

The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are the most significant and well-known group of freshwater lakes in the United States. They include Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Together, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes by total area in the world, covering over 94,000 square miles.

Lake Superior: The largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior is also the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area, spanning 31,700 square miles. It holds more water than the other four Great Lakes combined and is known for its clear, cold water and rugged shoreline.

Lake Michigan: The only Great Lake entirely within the United States, Lake Michigan covers 22,400 square miles. It is bordered by four states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The lake is famous for its sandy beaches and major cities like Chicago on its shores.

Lake Huron: Covering 23,000 square miles, Lake Huron is known for its complex system of bays and inlets, including Georgian Bay. It has a diverse ecosystem with many islands, the largest being Manitoulin Island.

Lake Erie: The shallowest and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie covers 9,910 square miles. It is the most biologically productive, supporting a significant fishing industry.

Lake Ontario: The smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area, Lake Ontario covers 7,340 square miles. It serves as the outlet to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River.

Major Inland Lakes

Great Salt Lake: Located in Utah, the Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Covering an area of up to 2,400 square miles, its size fluctuates significantly with seasonal rainfall and evaporation. The lake is a critical habitat for millions of migratory birds.

Lake Tahoe: Straddling the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is renowned for its clear, deep waters and stunning mountainous surroundings. It covers 191 square miles and is a popular destination for both winter and summer recreation.

Lake Okeechobee: The largest freshwater lake in Florida, Lake Okeechobee covers 730 square miles. It is a vital component of the state's water system and a key part of the Everglades ecosystem.

Crater Lake: Located in Oregon, Crater Lake is famous for its deep blue color and clarity. Formed in the caldera of a collapsed volcano, it is the deepest lake in the United States, with a depth of 1,949 feet.

Ecological and Economic Importance

Lakes in the United States serve numerous ecological and economic purposes:

Water Supply: Many lakes are crucial sources of drinking water for millions of Americans. For example, Lake Michigan provides water to Chicago and other major cities.

Biodiversity: Lakes support diverse ecosystems, including fish, birds, and plant species. The Great Lakes alone are home to over 170 species of fish.

Recreation: Lakes are hubs for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking. Tourism associated with lakes contributes significantly to local economies.

Fisheries: Commercial and recreational fishing are vital industries supported by lakes. For instance, Lake Erie is known for its abundant walleye and perch fisheries.

Environmental Challenges

Despite their importance, U.S. lakes face several environmental challenges:

Pollution: Industrial, agricultural, and residential pollution threaten the water quality of many lakes. The Great Lakes have historically been impacted by pollution from surrounding industrial areas.

Invasive Species: Non-native species, such as zebra mussels and Asian carp, have disrupted ecosystems in the Great Lakes and other water bodies.

Climate Change: Alterations in temperature and precipitation patterns due to climate change are affecting lake levels and ecosystems. For example, reduced ice cover on the Great Lakes increases evaporation rates, potentially lowering water levels.

Conservation Efforts

Efforts to protect and restore U.S. lakes are ongoing:

Legislation: Laws such as the Clean Water Act regulate pollutants entering lakes and fund cleanup efforts.

Restoration Projects: Various state and federal programs focus on restoring lake habitats, controlling invasive species, and improving water quality.

Public Awareness: Education and advocacy initiatives aim to raise public awareness about the importance of lakes and the need for conservation.