Largest lakes & reservoirs in Middle Tennessee by acres
There is no widely-accepted minimum surface area that defines a lake. What LakeLubbers describes as a lake, you might call a pond. Acreage of a lake (or sometimes square kilometers) is most often measured at the top surface area when the lake is at normal elevation. The surface area can be considerably smaller or larger when lake levels are lower or higher than normal. North America’s Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake by this measure.The other measure of a lake’s size is the lake’s water volume. By that measure, the world’s largest freshwater lake is Lake Baikal in Siberia.
You can find many of the world’s largest lakes (acres) on LakeLubbers in the comparison table below. Note: For some lakes, "Largest Lakes - Acres" data is unknown or does not apply, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 11 articles we have published for Middle Tennessee lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Tennessee > Middle Tennessee > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Middle Tennessee, only the 11 Middle Tennessee lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Barkley, KY/TN (Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, Western Waterlands Region, KY) |
57,920 ac | Lake Barkley is one of the premier recreational destinations in Western Kentucky. The reservoir was created by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1966 for… |
| Dale Hollow Lake, KY/TN (Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Southern Lakes Region, KY, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
27,700 ac | Also known as Dale Hollow Reservoir Dale Hollow Lake, straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee border, is an artificial lake that was formed by damming the Obey and Cumberland Rivers. As with m… |
| Old Hickory Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
22,500 ac | Only half an hour outside of Nashville, Old Hickory Lake offers outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors to the middle region of Te… |
| Center Hill Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
18,220 ac | Also known as Center Hill Reservoir Center Hill Lake is almost completely surrounded by the beautiful hardwood forested hills of the Tennessee Eastern Highlands. Center Hill Lake has 18,… |
| J. Percy Priest Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
14,200 ac | Also known as J. Percy Priest Reservoir One of the most popular recreation sites in the Middle Tennessee region of J Percy Priest lake. Less than 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, the rese… |
| Cordell Hull Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
11,960 ac | Also known as Cordell Hull Reservoir One of the premier spots for water-based recreation in the Middle Tennessee region is Cordell Hull Lake. Built by the United States Army Corps of Engi… |
| Tims Ford Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
10,700 ac | Also known as Tims Ford Reservoir Nestled in south central Tennessee between Tullahoma and Winchester, the clear, deep water of the Elk River meets the wooded sloped shores of Tims For… |
| Cheatham Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
7,450 ac | Middle Tennessee is blessed with a wealth of recreational opportunities created by Cheatham Lake. The lake itself is more properly called a wide spot… |
| Woods Reservoir, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
3,980 ac | Located on Arnold Air Force Base between Nashville and Chattanooga in Tullahoma, Tennessee, Woods Reservoir is a fantastic place to fish. Its unique s… |
| Normandy Reservoir, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
3,048 ac | Also known as Normandy Lake, Lake Normandy Situated in south central Tennessee near Manchester, Normandy Lake draws anglers, campers and boaters from all over. With its proximity to nearby Tims… |
| Great Falls Lake (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
1,830 ac | Also known as Great Falls Reservoir, Rock Island Lake One of the best-kept secret destination lakes in the Middle Tennessee area is Great Falls Lake. The 1800-acre reservoir formed behind Great Falls Dam… |