Largest lakes & reservoirs in Virginia 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 30 articles we have published for Virginia lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Virginia > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Virginia, only the 30 Virginia lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Kerr Lake, NC/VA (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
48,900 ac | Also known as Kerr Reservoir, John H Kerr Reservoir, Buggs Island Lake, Buggs Island Reservoir The 48,900-acre John H. Kerr Reservoir straddles the Virginia-North Carolina border. This impoundment of the Roanoke and Dan Rivers, completed by the… |
| Smith Mountain Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, Central Virginia, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
20,800 ac | Also known as Jewel of the Blue Ridge With emerald green shores, sapphire blue skies, topaz blue waters, and soaring surrounding mountains, it’s clear why Smith Mountain Lake is nicknamed… |
| Lake Gaston, NC/VA (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
20,300 ac | Lake Gaston covers 20,300 acres along 34 miles of Virginia and North Carolina real estate. The lake was created in 1963 by the Virginia Electric and P… |
| Lake Anna, VA (Central Virginia, Northern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
9,600 ac | Lake Anna, covering 13,000 acres of central Virginia, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the state. It spans Virginia’s Northern and Central to… |
| South Holston Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
7,580 ac | Also known as South Holston Reservoir An impoundment of the South Fork Holston River, South Holston Lake is an exceptional place to fish and boat. Straddling the Virginia and Tennessee sta… |
| Claytor Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
4,475 ac | Claytor Lake is a 4,475 acre impoundment of the New River in southwestern Virginia’s Blue Ridge Highlands region. Stretching out over 21 miles in Pula… |
| Lake Chesdin, VA (Central Virginia, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
3,060 ac | With some of the best freshwater sport fishing and recreation in Virginia, it’s hard to believe that Lake Chesdin is only 30 minutes from metropolitan… |
| Leesville Lake, VA (Central Virginia, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
3,040 ac | Also known as Leesville Reservoir The 3000+ acre Leesville Lake is another of Virginia’s prolific fishing and outdoor recreation reservoirs. It is part of the Smith Mountain Lake hydro… |
| Philpott Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
2,880 ac | Also known as Philpott Reservoir Snuggled into the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 2,880-acre Philpott Lake resides in southwestern Virginia’s Franklin, Henry, and Patrick Counties. The irr… |
| Lake Moomaw, VA (Shenandoah Valley Region, VA, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
2,530 ac | Lake Moomaw is located in western Virginia, just north of Covington in the Shenandoah Valley region. It is nearly surrounded by George Washington Nati… |
| Occoquan Reservoir, VA (Northern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
2,100 ac | Also known as Occoquan River Reservoir or Lake Occoquan In the dialect of the Native American Dogue tribe, “occoquan” means “at the end of the water.” The Dogue tribe occupied Northern Virginia up until the… |
| Swift Creek Reservoir, VA (Central Virginia, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
1,700 ac | Surrounded by secluded communities, beautiful Swift Creek Reservoir is the perfect respite in the suburban jungle. Just 20 minutes southwest of Richmo… |