Largest Lakes of the United States (by surface area)
Overview
Which is the largest lake in the United States by surface area?
The largest lake by surface area in the United States 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 the United States range from 5 km2 to 82,100 km2, with the average area at around 15,141.3 km2.
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Deepest Lakes. The deepest lake in the United States is Crater Lake with a maximum depth of 594 meters.The depths of the major lakes in the United States range from 10 meters to 594 meters, with lakes reaching as deep as 239.5 meters on average.
Lakes with the largest volumes. The largest lake in the United States by volume is Lake Superior with a volume of 12,100 km3.The water volumes of the major lakes in the United States range from 0.32 km3 to 12,100 km3, with lakes holding up to 1,644.8 km3 of water on average.
Here are the United States's largest lakes by surface area.
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.
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.
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.
Erie.
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.
Ontario is a lake that spans 18,960 km2 in surface area, reaching as deep as 244 meters. It also holds a total water volume of up to 1,639 km3.
It spans 311 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: Canada, United States.
Compare Ontario with Winnipegosis from Canada.
Compare Ontario with Lac Saint-Jean (Lake St. Jean) from Canada.
Containing up to 18.92 km3 of water, Great Salt Lake has a maximum depth of 10 meters and spans a surface area of 4,662 km2.
It spans 121 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: United States.
It is both the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the largest non-Great Lake in the United States.
Compare Great Salt Lake with Melville from Canada.
Compare Great Salt Lake with Lake Chelan from United States.
Lake of the Woods is a lake that holds up to 19.40 km3 of water, reaching a maximum depth of 64 meters. The lake also covers 4,350 km2 in surface area.
It spans 110 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: Canada, United States.
It also has the title of having the most islands of any lake, with around 14,632 in total.
Spanning a surface area of 2,622 km2, Iliamna contains up to 115 km3 of water and reaches a maximum depth of 301 meters.
It spans 124 km on its length. Countries along its shoreline in North America: United States.
Compare Iliamna with Lake Tahoe from United States.
Compare Iliamna with Lac Saint-Jean (Lake St. Jean) from Canada.
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