Largest lakes & reservoirs in US South Region 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 343 articles we have published for US South Region lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in US South Region, only the 343 US South Region lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Surface area in acres | Lake description |
---|---|---|
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 … |
Smith Mountain Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, Central Virginia, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
20,800 ac | Also known as Jewel of the Blue Ridge With emerald green shores, sapphire blue skies, topaz blue waters, and soaring surrounding mountains, it’s clear why Smith Mountain Lake is nicknamed … |
Lake Gaston, NC/VA (North Carolina, Piedmont Region, NC, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
20,300 ac | Lake Gaston covers 20,300 acres along 34 miles of Virginia and North Carolina real estate. The lake was created in 1963 by the Virginia Electric and P … |
Lake Oconee, GA (Classic South Region, GA, Georgia, Historic Heartland Region, GA, US South Region, USA) |
18,971 ac | Lake Oconee takes its name from a group of Creek Indians that long ago lived close to Georgia’s Oconee River basin. “Oconee” is purported to mean “gre … |
Lake Tohopekaliga, FL (East Central Florida, Florida, US South Region, USA) |
18,810 ac | Also known as Lake Toho Lake Tohopekaliga is world renowned for its bass fishing and loved for its natural beauty. It is located in Osceola County, Florida, at the headwaters … |
Lake Keowee, SC (South Carolina, The Upcountry, SC, US South Region, USA) |
18,372 ac | Lake Keowee is a freshwater lake located in northwestern South Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The lake supplies water to the n … |
Center Hill Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
18,220 ac | Also known as Center Hill Reservoir Center Hill Lake is almost completely surrounded by the beautiful hardwood forested hills of the Tennessee Eastern Highlands. Center Hill Lake has 18, … |
William ‘Bill’ Dannelly Reservoir, AL (Alabama, River Heritage Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
17,000 ac | Also known as Lake Dannelly, Millers Ferry, Dannelly Reservoir, Millers Ferry Reservoir, Millers Ferry Lake Along the Alabama River in the River Heritage region of the state, visitors will find the William “Bill” Dannelly Reservoir. Located an hour southwest … |
Crescent Lake, FL (Cross Florida, Florida, North Florida, US South Region, USA) |
15,960 ac | Also known as Lake Crescent Crescent Lake, straddling Putnam and Flagler Counties in northeastern Florida, lazes out over an imposing 15,960 acres. Known for its clean water and … |
Tellico Reservoir, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
15,560 ac | Also known as Tellico Lake About 30 minutes south of Knoxville, nestled in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, Tellico Lake is the lake that almost wasn’t. Extending 33 miles al … |
Wilson Lake, AL (Alabama, Mountains Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
15,500 ac | Also known as Wilson Reservoir Once known as the “Smallmouth Capital of the World,” outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Wilson Lake for its fishing, boating, hiking, and exploring the natural … |
Lake Sinclair, GA (Classic South Region, GA, Georgia, Historic Heartland Region, GA, US South Region, USA) |
15,330 ac | Also known as Sinclair Lake With 15,330 acres of sparkling water against the backdrop of the Oconee National Forest, Lake Sinclair in Georgia is an outdoor enthusiast’s premier d … |