Largest lakes & reservoirs in Nebraska 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 13 articles we have published for Nebraska lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Nebraska > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Nebraska, only the 13 Nebraska lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake McConaughy, NE (Nebraska, Prairie Lakes Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
30,500 ac | Also known as Big Mac Lake McConaughy, commonly called Big Mac, is Nebraska’s largest reservoir with 30,500 acres and 76 shoreline miles. Lake McConaughy is conveniently lo… |
| Lewis and Clark Lake, NE/SD (Lewis and Clark Region, NE, Nebraska, South Dakota, Southeast Region, SD, US Midwest Region, USA) |
28,000 ac | Stretching 25 miles long and straddling the Nebraska and South Dakota border, 28,000-acre Lewis and Clark Lake is the smallest of the Missouri River r… |
| Harlan County Lake, NE (Frontier Trails Region, NE, Nebraska, US Midwest Region, USA) |
13,250 ac | Harlan County Lake covers an impressive 13,250 acres in south-central Nebraska’s Frontier Trails region. Just seven miles from the Nebraska / Kansas s… |
| Calamus Reservoir, NE (Nebraska, Sandhills Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
5,124 ac | Located in central Nebraska, the Calamus Reservoir is a wonderful place to relax, appreciate the beauty of nature, and enjoy some fun on the water. Th… |
| Sutherland Reservoir, NE (Nebraska, Prairie Lakes Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
3,017 ac | Also known as Sutherland Lake Sutherland Reservoir is 3,017-acre lake located just south of the town of Sutherland, Nebraska. Located in the Prairie Lakes tourism region, the lake… |
| Merritt Reservoir, NE (Nebraska, Sandhills Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,906 ac | Deep in the heart of the Midwest, in the Sandhills region of Nebraska, lies the 2,906-acre Merritt Reservoir. This secluded lake is a paradise for tho… |
| Sherman Reservoir (Nebraska, Sandhills Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,845 ac | Also known as Sherman Lake Sherman Reservoir adds great recreation value to the Sandhills region of Nebraska in addition to precious irrigation water for thousands of farm acres… |
| Lake Minatare, NE (Nebraska, Panhandle Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,158 ac | In the western strip of Nebraska known as “the Panhandle” lies the 2,158 acre Lake Minatare. This reservoir is located in Nebraska’s North Platte Vall… |
| Branched Oak Lake, NE (Metro Region, NE, Nebraska, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,780 ac | Also known as Dam Site #18 Branched Oak Lake, part of the Branched Oak State Recreation Area, is conveniently located northwest of Lincoln, Nebraska’s state capital. Branched Oa… |
| Lake Wanahoo (Metro Region, NE, Nebraska, US Midwest Region, USA) |
662 ac | Also known as Wanahoo Reservoir The newest lake in Nebraska’s Metro Region, Lake Wanahoo will officially greet visitors on April 28, 2012. This attractive gem is eagerly anticipated… |
| Carter Lake IA (Iowa, Metro Region, NE, Nebraska, Southwest Iowa, US Midwest Region, USA) |
315 ac | In the late 1800’s the Missouri River changed its course, altering the future of the area around Omaha, Nebraska and creating Carter Lake. Spanning pa… |
| Buckskin Hills Lake, NE (Lewis and Clark Region, NE, Nebraska, US Midwest Region, USA) |
75 ac | Also known as Buckskin Hills Reservoir and Buckskin Hills Wildlife Management Area Buckskin Hills Lake is a small prairie lake of about 75 acres located in northeastern Nebraska’s Dixon County. Lying four miles southwest of the town… |