Largest Lakes in North America (by Surface Area)

By  simple john , views , updated
Categories: Nature Americas
Dataset contains 42 data items (see table below).

Overview

Among the largest lakes in North America, are the Great Lakes - Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area. They have a combined volume of 22,671 km³, a shade less than the volume of Lake Baikal (23,615 km³).

Which is the largest lake in North America by surface area?
The largest lake by surface area in North America is Lake Superior with an area of 82,100 km2. At second and third, are Huron which spans 59,600 km2 and Michigan at 58,000 km2.The surface areas of the major lakes in North America range from 5 km2 to 82,100 km2, with the average area at around 9,866.4 km2.

 Compare Lake Superior with Lake Simcoe

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The above represents only a partial dataset — click here to rank, query and segment all 42 data items on the full dataset.

Deepest Lakes. The deepest lake in North America is Great Slave Lake with a maximum depth of 614 meters.The depths of the major lakes in North America range from 7 meters to 614 meters, with lakes reaching as deep as 212.5 meters on average.

Lakes with the largest volumes. The largest lake in North America by volume is Lake Superior with a volume of 12,100 km3.The water volumes of the major lakes in North America range from 0.32 km3 to 12,100 km3, with lakes holding up to 906.6 km3 of water on average.


Here are North America's largest lakes by surface area.

Lake Superior.

Lake Superior is the 2nd largest lake by surface area in the world at 82,100 km2.

Lake Superior is a lake that holds up to 12,100 km3 of water, reaching a maximum depth of 406.3 meters. The lake also covers 82,100 km2 in surface area.

It spans 616 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: Canada, United States.

 

 Compare Lake Superior with Melville from Canada.

 Compare Lake Superior with Athabasca from Canada.


Huron.

Aerial view Dorcas Bay, Lake Huron, Ontario (credit: Youtube/Bruce Beechey)

Huron is the 2nd largest lake by surface area in North America at 59,600 km2.

Containing up to 3,540 km3 of water, Huron has a maximum depth of 229 meters and spans a surface area of 59,600 km2.

It spans 332 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: Canada, United States.

It also contains Manitoulin Island, the world's largest lake island.  

 

 Compare Huron with Manitoba from Canada.

 Compare Huron with Lake Tahoe from United States.


Michigan.

Michigan is the 2nd largest lake by water volume in North America at 4,900 km3.

Containing up to 4,900 km3 of water, Michigan has a maximum depth of 281 meters and spans a surface area of 58,000 km2.

It spans 494 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: United States.

It is also the largest lake that is contained within one country. 

 

 Compare Michigan with Nicaragua from Nicaragua.

 Compare Michigan with Mistassini from Canada.


Great Bear Lake.

Great Bear Lake is the 3rd largest lake by surface area in Canada at 31,000 km2.

Reaching as deep as 446 meters, Great Bear Lake holds up to 2,236 km3 of water and covers a surface area of 31,000 km2.

It spans 373 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: Canada.

It is also the largest lake that is situated entirely within Canada 

 

 Compare Great Bear Lake with Lake Of The Woods from Canada, United States.

 Compare Great Bear Lake with Athabasca from Canada.


Great Slave Lake.

Great Slave Lake is the deepest lake in North America at 614 meters.

Containing up to 1,560 km3 of water, Great Slave Lake has a maximum depth of 614 meters and spans a surface area of 27,000 km2.

It spans 480 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: Canada.

The name 'Great Slave' is derived from the Slavey Indians, which were one of the indigenous Athapaskan tribes living on its southern shores in the mid-18th century.

 

 Compare Great Slave Lake with Muncho Lake from Canada.

 Compare Great Slave Lake with Lake Norman from United States.


Erie.

Lake Erie Islands from Mavic Drone! (credit: Youtube/Joe Cornor)

Erie is a lake that spans 25,700 km2 in surface area, reaching as deep as 64 meters. It also holds a total water volume of up to 489 km3.

It spans 388 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: Canada, United States.

 

 Compare Erie with Lake Simcoe from Canada.

 Compare Erie with Lake Superior from Canada, United States.


Datasets on Lakes

 World — Deepest lakes   |   Largest lakes by water volume   |   Largest lakes by surface area

 Largest Lakes by Region — Europe   |   North America   |   South America   |   Asia   |   Africa

 Deepest Lakes by Region — Europe   |   North America   |   South America   |   Asia   |   Africa

 Largest Lakes by Countries — Canada   |   USA   |   China   |   Russia   |   UK   |   Italy   |   Switzerland   |   Scandinavia   |   Argentina   |   Australia

 Deepest Lakes by Countries — Canada   |   USA   |   UK   |   Australia

Attributions