Largest lakes & reservoirs in North Carolina 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 45 articles we have published for North Carolina lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > North Carolina > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in North Carolina, only the 45 North Carolina lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Surface area in acres | Lake description |
---|---|---|
Mayo Lake, NC (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, US South Region, USA) |
2,800 ac | Also known as Mayo Reservoir or Lake Mayo Mayo Lake, set in a landscape of gently rolling hills and farmlands, was formed when Carolina Light and Power Company (now Progress Energy) needed coo … |
Tuckertown Reservoir (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, US South Region, USA) |
2,560 ac | Also known as Tuckertown Lake The Tuckertown Reservoir in North Carolina’s Piedmont region is a stunning example of how hydroelectric power generation can mesh with habitat preserv … |
Finger Lakes of the South (East Tennessee, Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
1,734 ac | Also known as Chilhowie Lake, Calderwood Lake, Cheoah Lake. Chilhowie Reservoir, Calderwood Reservoir, Cheoah Reservoir Three reservoirs on the Little Tennessee River in northwestern North Carolina and Southeastern Tennessee offer some of the most spectacular wilderness … |
Nantahala Lake, NC (Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
1,605 ac | Also known as Lake Nantahala Nantahala Lake is one of the most pristine lakes in North Carolina. Located within the Nantahala National Forest at an elevation of 3,012 feet, the 1, … |
W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, NC (Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
1,475 ac | Also known as W. Kerr Scott Lake W. Kerr Scott Reservoir is a 1,475-acre reservoir located near Wilkesboro, North Carolina in the Mountains tourism region. Built by the U.S. Army Corp … |
Lake Glenville, NC (Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
1,470 ac | Also known as Thorpe Reservoir, Glenville Lake Nestled among the forests and mountain peaks of southwestern North Carolina lies the highest lake east of the Mississippi, Lake Glenville (aka Thorpe … |
Bay Tree Lakes (Coast Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
1,418 ac | Canals reminiscent of Venice weave through the private community of Bay Tree Lakes in the Coastal region of North Carolina. The manmade canals connect … |
Lookout Shoals Lake (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, US South Region, USA) |
1,305 ac | Also known as Lake Lookout, Lookout Shoals Reservoir Lookout Shoals Lake is a lakefront living gem in North Carolina’s Piedmont region. The 1,300-acre reservoir is known affectionately as Lake Lookout to … |
White Lake NC (Coast Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
1,065 ac | A rare treasure in the North Carolina Coast region, White Lake invites visitors to its sandy shores. One of only a few intact ‘Carolina Bay’ lakes, Wh … |
Oak Hollow Lake, NC (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, US South Region, USA) |
810 ac | Also known as Highpoint Reservoir Tucked in between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, North Carolina, sparkling 810-acre Oak Hollow Lake is the primary water supply for the City of High Po … |
Lake Lure, NC (Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
720 ac | Snuggled into the emerald mountains of western North Carolina, Lake Lure’s 720 acres sparkle in the sunlight. Clean water, beautiful scenery, and rura … |
Lake Toxaway, NC (Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
640 ac | Tucked away amidst the ancient Appalachian Mountains is the largest private lake in North Carolina – Lake Toxaway. Lake Toxaway, spanning 640 acres, w … |