Largest lakes & reservoirs in 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 2151 articles we have published for lakes.
Thinking about booking a lake vacation home rental, cabin or hotel?
Use our free interactive vacation rental map to search and compare multiple vacation properties at a glance. Enter a lake name, a state or city and then simply click on a listing to compare all similar properties, best rates and availability for your dates.Search results: Sort lakes by surface acreage
Below are lakes within Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in , only the 2151 lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| Lake Buchanan, TX (Hill Country Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
22,335 ac | Also known as "Big Buc" Lake Buchanan, the oldest and northernmost of the Highland Lakes, is known as “Big Buc” to the locals and anglers who regularly visit the area. It is… |
| Lake Muskoka, ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
22,091 ac | Also known as Muskoka Lake, Muskoka Lakes Region Lake Muskoka, located in Ontario’s Muskoka Lakes Region, is one of Canada’s most famous lakes. Actually a chain of lakes, Muskoka joins Lake Joseph an… |
| Pathfinder Reservoir, WY (Central Wyoming, US West Region, USA, Wyoming) |
22,012 ac | Pathfinder Reservoir is the oldest reservoir along the North Platte River. With over 21,000 acres of water it is a welcome destination for more than 1… |
| Norfork Lake, AR/MO (Arkansas, Missouri, Ozarks Region, AR, Southwest Missouri, US Midwest Region, US South Region, USA) |
22,000 ac | Locals describe Norfork Lake as “unspoiled, uncrowded, and unforgettable.” It is an apt description for this beautiful lake hidden in the Ozark Region… |
| Lough Mask, Ireland (Ireland, West Ireland) |
22,000 ac | The picturesque Lough Mask is situated to the north of Lough Corrib in West Ireland. The clear blue waters of Lough Corrib magnify the surrounding are… |
| Lake Ray Hubbard, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
21,671 ac | Also known as Ray Hubbard Lake, previously known as Forney Reservoir Everything is bigger in Texas, and Lake Ray Hubbard is no exception. Less than twenty minutes east of Dallas, the reservoir that serves “Big D” offers… |
| Lake Washington, WA (Seattle & Puget Sound Region, WA, US West Region, USA, Washington) |
21,500 ac | Lake Washington has the distinction of being the second largest natural lake in the state of Washington. This glacial lake is long and narrow, a “ribb… |
| Jaisamand Lake (India, Rajasthan Region, West India, West India) |
21,499 ac | Also known as Dhebar Lake, Dhevar Lake One of India’s largest artificial lakes, Jaisamand Lake was created in 1685 when Rana Jai Singh of Udaipur built a marble dam across the Gomati River.… |
| Roosevelt Lake, AZ (Arizona, North Central Arizona, US Southwest Region, USA) |
21,493 ac | Also known as Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Lake Roosevelt With 21,500 acres at full pond and 128 miles of shoreline, Roosevelt Lake is the largest body of water contained entirely within Arizona; the larger L… |
| Lavon Lake (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
21,400 ac | Also known as Lake Lavon, Lavon Reservoir Lavon Lake holds a special spot in the affections of residents northeast of Dallas. The reservoir, located on the East Fork of the Trinity River in th… |
| Lewis Smith Lake, AL (Alabama, Mountains Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
21,200 ac | Also known as Smith Lake Lewis Smith Lake is a perfect place for an outdoor adventure. Tucked into a corner of the Bankhead National Forest in northern Alabama’s Mountain Regi… |