The United States of America is home to some of the largest lakes in the world, including five Great Lakes (shared with Canada). These lakes provide freshwater to the surrounding states, as well as scenic beauty, recreational areas and fishing opportunities. From freshwater to salty seas, and even man-made seawater, some of the largest bodies of water can be found all over the United States. The importance of these large lakes is evident in the major cities that developed on and around the lakes. Here are the 10 largest lakes in the United States:
1. Lake Superior – 82, 103km
Lake Superior is the largest lake in North America and one of the five Great Lakes in North America bordering the United States and Canada. On the Canadian side, it is bordered by the province of Ontario, while on the US side, it is bordered by Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is also the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and the third largest by volume. Lake Superior is the northernmost and westernmost of the Great Lakes, and it is also the lake with the highest elevation, meaning it empties into the other lakes.
2. Lake Huron – 59,570km
Another well-known Great Lakes, Lake Huron is the second largest lake in the United States by surface area, with an area of 59,570 km2 and the third largest volume of water among the Great Lakes. Lake Huron also has the longest shoreline of the Great Lakes. Likewise, Lake Huron borders Canada and the United States in the form of Ontario and Michigan. Huron has an abundance of fish that thrive in deep freshwater. They include species such as spinach, lake sturgeon, aleft, lake trout, and lake whitefish. The area is popular with tourists and locals alike for fishing, boating and swimming during the warmer months.
3. Lake Michigan – 57,757km
Lake Michigan has a surface area of approximately 57,757 km2 , and although it is named after the state of Michigan, it actually borders four different states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is the only Great Lake completely in the United States Territory, lakes that do not border Canada, although the Great Lakes system does feed each other. Lake Michigan’s beautiful shoreline attracts many visitors each year, and the riverbank actually hosts sand dune areas, including Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Warren Dunes State Park. Like many of the Great Lakes, it’s popular for fishing, boating, sailing, and more, and is home to native species such as yellow perch, lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and abalone.
4. Lake Erie – 25,667km
Lake Erie, another of the Great Lakes, borders several states: Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the Canadian province of Ontario. It is the southernmost, shallowest and smallest, although its size is still impressive at 25,667 km2 . Although a smaller Great Lake, the shores of Lake Erie contain some of the largest cities in the region, including Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Toledo, Ohio. The main inlet to the lake is the Detroit River, while the main outflow leads to the Niagara River. The Niagara River is the main source of hydroelectric power for much of Canada and the United States, further underscoring the importance of Lake Erie.
5. Lake Ontario – 19,011km
Lake Ontario is often associated with Canada, especially since it shares the same name as the province of Ontario, but Lake Ontario also borders the state of New York and is the only large lake that does not share a border with Michigan. Its surface area averages 19,011 km2. Lake Ontario is the last of the Great Lakes chain, and as such is the main part of the lake that flows out of the St. Lawrence River , and into the Atlantic Ocean . It was, and still is, an important part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, allowing trading ships to enter the lake from the ocean and inland area. Additionally, Lake Ontario is the source of drinking water for approximately 90,000 people in Ontario and New York State.
6. Great Salt Lake City – 5,483km
The Great Salt Lake, in Utah , is the only lake on this list that is not a freshwater lake. As its name suggests, the Great Salt Lake has a high level of salinity, or salt, and is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. The area is about 5,483 square kilometers. The southeast and east sides of the Great Salt Lake are Salt Lake City and its suburbs, the largest city in Utah with a population of about 20,000
7. Forest Lake – 4,349km
Like many of the Great Lakes, Lake Forest shares borders with Canada and the United States. It sits alongside Manitoba , part of Ontario and Minnesota . Interestingly, due to the location of the lake, it separates a small piece of Minnesota from the rest of the US, which means that this part of the state It can only be reached by crossing or entering the lake. Canada . This vast lake has an area of 4,349 km2 , has 105,000 km of coastline and contains more than 14,500 distinct islands.
8. Lake Iliamna – 2,626 km
Lake Iliamna is located in the southwestern portion of the state, Alaska , along the Alaska Peninsula. It is the third largest lake found entirely in the United States (as many other lakes share Canada ). The lake is 2,626 km2 long and is known for its abundance of freshwater fish. Because of its remote location, wildlife is more common in Alaska, and the lake hosts healthy populations of sockeye salmon, as well as Dolly Walden trout, northern pike, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, and lake trout .
9. Lake Auach – 1,774 km
Lake Oahe is a reservoir, or man-made lake formed by the damming of the Missouri River by the Oahe Dam, and spans two regions, North Dakota and South Dakota . The lake has a shoreline area of approximately 1,774 km2 , 3,621 km. The lake is home to an abundance of major fish species, including the endangered pale sturgeon. There are also more than 50 different entertainment venues along the shores of Lake Aach. These include everything from camping to picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, water skiing, swimming, bird watching, hiking and biking areas.
10. Lake Okeechobee – 1,715km
Lake Okeechobee is located in the southern state of Florida , with an area of 1,715 kilometers 2. Although the lake ranks 10th for its size, it is surprisingly shallow for its size, with an average depth of only around 2.7 meters. Unfortunately, swimming and many similar recreational activities are strongly discouraged, as the lake is home to an estimated 28,000 alligators (on average). However, the area does have the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Byway, which is part of the larger Florida National Scenic Trail at 2,100 kilometers. In Okeechobee, most of the trail follows the embankment, providing hikers and bikers with flat, easy terrain.
