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.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Springfield, IL (Central Illinois, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
4,234 ac | Lake Springfield at Springfield, Illinois is the largest municipally owned lake in Illinois at 4,234 acres. City Water, Light & Power built the re… |
| Muskegon Lake (Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA, West Central Michigan) |
4,232 ac | Also known as Lake Muskegon One of Michigan’s little-known vacation hotspots is Muskegon Lake. Lake Muskegon, as it is sometimes called, has been a major port on the eastern Lake… |
| Lake Hickory, NC (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, US South Region, USA) |
4,223 ac | Lake Hickory, situated in west central North Carolina near the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, is one of several man-made reservoirs in North Carolina’… |
| Cedar Creek Reservoir, AL (Alabama, Mountains Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
4,200 ac | The four reservoirs of the Bear Creek watershed are a recreational paradise for water lovers, and Cedar Creek Reservoir is the largest of the four and… |
| Big Whiteshell Lake (Canada, Manitoba, Canada) |
4,200 ac | Manitoba’s Big Whiteshell Lake is a shining star among the 200 lakes in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Fourth largest lake in the park, Big Whiteshell La… |
| Lake Nottely, GA (Georgia, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, US South Region, USA) |
4,180 ac | Also known as Nottely Reservoir Lake Nottely is one of the best kept secrets in Georgia. The small mountain lake with deep clear water is just two hours from Atlanta, yet most water… |
| Okatibbee Lake, MS (Mississippi, Pines Region, MS, US South Region, USA) |
4,144 ac | Okatibbe Lake, located a few miles northwest of Meridian in the Pines Region of eastern Mississippi, is a nature lover’s retreat and water enthusiast’… |
| Trout Lake ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
4,136 ac | Located in Ontario’s Nipissing District, Trout Lake has everything to offer the northwoods adventurer looking for water-based activities. Often oversh… |
| Aberdeen Lake, MS (Mississippi, Pines Region, MS, US South Region, USA) |
4,121 ac | Also known as Aberdeen Reservoir Standing on the top of the limestone bluffs looking down over magnificent Aberdeen Lake, visitors plan the day ahead. There will definitely be fishing… |
| Schroon Lake, NY (Adirondacks Region, NY, New York, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
4,107 ac | Whether you are looking for relaxation in a peaceful, countryside location or four-season outdoor adventure, Schroon Lake is an exciting lake resort a… |
| Fort Cobb Lake, OK (Great Plains Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
4,100 ac | Also known as Fort Cobb Reservoir Fort Cobb Lake is in the beautiful Great Plains Country region of southwestern Oklahoma surrounded by plains, prairies and hills. The Great Plains, si… |
| Cypress Lake, FL (East Central Florida, Florida, US South Region, USA) |
4,097 ac | Also known as Lake Cypress Cypress Lake, a 4097 acre expanse in Osceola County, is a prime vacation destination in central Florida.One of the lakes on the Kissimmee Waterway, Bo… |