US Lakes Map

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.

Major Lakes of the United States

#	Lake Name	Location	Surface Area (sq mi)	Type	Notable Characteristics
1	Lake Superior	Michigan–Minnesota–Wisconsin	31,700	Natural	Largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world
2	Lake Huron	Michigan	23,000	Natural	Second-largest of the Great Lakes
3	Lake Michigan	Illinois–Indiana–Michigan–Wisconsin	22,300	Natural	Only Great Lake located entirely within the United States
4	Lake Erie	Michigan–New York–Ohio–Pennsylvania	9,910	Natural	Shallowest of the Great Lakes
5	Lake Ontario	New York	7,340	Natural	Smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area
6	Great Salt Lake	Utah	950	Natural	Largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere
7	Lake of the Woods	Minnesota	1,679	Natural	Spans the U.S.-Canada border
8	Iliamna Lake	Alaska	1,014	Natural	Largest lake in Alaska
9	Lake Oahe	South Dakota–North Dakota	685	Artificial	Fourth-largest reservoir in the U.S.
10	Lake Okeechobee	Florida	662	Natural	Largest freshwater lake in Florida
11	Lake Pontchartrain	Louisiana	631	Natural	Brackish estuarine system
12	Lake Sakakawea	North Dakota	520	Artificial	Third-largest reservoir in the U.S.
13	Lake Champlain	New York–Vermont	490	Natural	Known for its historical significance
14	Becharof Lake	Alaska	453	Natural	Second-largest lake in Alaska
15	Lake St. Clair	Michigan	440	Natural	Connects Lake Huron and Lake Erie
16	Red Lake	Minnesota	427	Natural	Largest natural freshwater lake entirely within Minnesota
17	Selawik Lake	Alaska	404	Natural	Located within the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge
18	Fort Peck Lake	Montana	393	Artificial	Fifth-largest man-made reservoir in the U.S.
19	Salton Sea	California	347	Artificial	Largest lake in California
20	Rainy Lake	Minnesota	345	Natural	Partially located in Canada

US Lakes

The United States contains an extraordinary number of lakes which include both extensive inland seas and tiny glacial ponds that exist across every region and climate zone. The United States contains more than 117 million lakes and ponds which make up one of the most extensive and varied lake systems globally. Natural and artificial water bodies across the country exist due to geologic and climatic processes including glaciation tectonic activity river damming and sinkhole formation. The five Great Lakes consisting of Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario represent the largest freshwater lake group on Earth by surface area while being shared between the United States and Canada except for Lake Michigan which belongs entirely to U.S. territory. The lakes contain 21% of Earth's surface fresh water while supporting essential ecological economic and transportation functions in the country.

Major Lakes and Their Significance

The largest freshwater lake globally extends across 31,700 square miles (82,100 square kilometers) of surface area. The lake extends across the borders of Michigan and Minnesota and Wisconsin while reaching its deepest point at 1,333 feet. Among the Great Lakes group Lake Michigan stands as the largest lake by volume while being the only one that exists within U.S. territory and plays a vital role in forming the natural beauty of the Midwest. The shallow Lake Erie faces the highest risk of algal blooms because of its minimal depth while Lake Ontario flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River. The Great Lakes region supports major cities such as Chicago and Detroit and Cleveland and Buffalo while providing essential functions for shipping and fishing and recreational activities.

The United States contains many significant large lakes which extend beyond the Great Lakes region. The Great Salt Lake in Utah stands as the largest saltwater lake in Western Hemisphere while its surface area fluctuates between 1,000 and 3,000 square miles based on seasonal and climatic changes. The southern Florida water source Lake Okeechobee extends across 730 square miles while providing water to the Everglades region. The largest lake in Alaska extends across 1,014 square miles making it the second-largest freshwater lake outside the Great Lakes region. The artificial lakes Lake Mead and Lake Powell serve as vital water reservoirs and hydroelectric power sources for the dry American Southwest region.

Classification and Formation

The United States contains two main types of lakes which are natural and artificial. Glacial volcanic tectonic and fluvial processes create natural lakes. The Upper Midwest and Northeast regions contain the highest number of glacial lakes which formed when massive ice sheets retreated during the last Ice Age. The tectonic lakes of Oregon's Crater Lake emerge from volcanic basins and calderas. Artificial lakes known as reservoirs come into existence through river damming processes. Human-made lakes exist for multiple functions which include irrigation and flood control and hydroelectric power generation and recreational activities. Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota and Fort Peck Lake in Montana stand as significant examples of large reservoirs that lead the country in volume.

Ecological and Economic Importance

The ecological importance of lakes includes supporting diverse plant and animal life which includes fish species together with migratory birds and aquatic plant varieties. Wildlife refuges and national and state parks include numerous lakes which serve as biodiversity conservation areas and protect water resources. The economic value of U.S. lakes reaches into the billions each year because they support commercial and recreational fishing and boating industries as well as tourism and waterfront real estate development. The Great Lakes function as a vital transportation route because they provide access to the Saint Lawrence Seaway which connects North American heartland markets to international shipping routes.

Current Challenges and Conservation Efforts

The numerous lakes across the United States endure multiple environmental dangers despite their widespread occurrence. The lakes experience environmental threats because of agricultural runoff pollution industrial waste and invasive species and water resource depletion and climate change. The frequency and intensity of algal blooms in Lake Erie and other shallow lakes have risen because of excessive nutrients from fertilizers and sewage. Major reservoirs in the western United States including Lake Mead and Lake Powell have experienced severe water level reductions because of extended drought periods which threatens water security for millions of Americans.

Federal and state and local conservation programs work together to protect and restore lake ecosystems. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and the Clean Water Act and watershed management strategies work together to enhance water quality while controlling invasive species and maintaining healthy aquatic habitats. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) perform ongoing monitoring and research which guides policy development and conservation approaches for America’s lakes.