Largest lakes & reservoirs in Northwest Minnesota 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 21 articles we have published for Northwest Minnesota lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Minnesota > Northwest Minnesota > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Northwest Minnesota, only the 21 Northwest Minnesota lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake of the Woods, MN / Canada (Canada, Manitoba, Canada, Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, Ontario, Canada, US Midwest Region, USA) |
950,400 ac | Spanning the border from Minnesota into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, Lake of the Woods is an enormous body of water over 68 miles l… |
| Upper Red Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
119,271 ac | Nestled in the Northwest Region of Minnesota, Upper Red Lake has an incredible comeback story and is becoming a popular vacation place for the second… |
| Leech Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
102,948 ac | With over 120,000 acres of water and 316 miles of shoreline, Leech Lake is the third largest lake located entirely in Minnesota, the “Land of 10,000 L… |
| Lake Winnibigoshish, MN (Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
58,544 ac | Also known as Lake Winnie Lake Winnibigoshish is a legend among Minnesota lakes. The lake’s impressive size, covering more than 58,500 acres, reaches into both the Northwest an… |
| Cass Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
15,956 ac | Cass Lake is, without a doubt, one of Minnesota’s natural treasures. Its scenic beauty is only surpassed by its rich history, unique features and the… |
| Lake Bemidji, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
6,420 ac | Also known as Bemidji Lake A cornucopia of soothing sound, rejuvenating sights and the invigorating scents of nature at work, Lake Bemidji is one of Minnesota’s natural gems. A… |
| Woman Lake Chain (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
5,502 ac | Also known as Child Lake, Girl Lake, Little Woman Lake, Woman Lake, Squaw Lake The Woman Lake Chain in northwest Minnesota includes four lakes and covers 5,502 acres. Sprawling across Cass County slightly south of the Chippewa Na… |
| Ten Mile Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
5,046 ac | Also known as Tenmile Lake Ten Mile Lake is a 5,046-acre spring-fed lake located near Hackensack, in the northwest region of Minnesota. With 25 miles of shoreline and a maximum… |
| Detroit Lake MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
3,067 ac | Minnesota’s Detroit Lake offers visitors an impressive number of things to do, both in and out of the water. The lake offers 3,067 acres of year-round… |
| Blackduck Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,596 ac | Bald eagles gracefully swoop over elegant sandbars and around the large, peaceful island situated directly in the middle of Blackduck Lake. Located ju… |
| Lake Plantagenet (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,529 ac | Also known as Plantagenet Lake Lake Plantagenet holds a special place in the hearts of fishermen in Northwest Minnesota. Where else can you find fighting muskie with a four-foot siz… |
| Kabekona Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,252 ac | They start almost every day this way, sitting on the deck, and watching the loons glide across Kabekona Lake. When they were ready to retire they knew… |