Largest lakes & reservoirs in Tennessee 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 33 articles we have published for Tennessee lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Tennessee > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Tennessee, only the 33 Tennessee lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| 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 … |
| Fort Loudoun Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
14,600 ac | Also known as Fort Loudoun Reservoir Named for a nearby 18th century British fort, Fort Loudoun Lake draws millions of visitors every year for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Loca … |
| J. Percy Priest Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
14,200 ac | Also known as J. Percy Priest Reservoir One of the most popular recreation sites in the Middle Tennessee region of J Percy Priest lake. Less than 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, the rese … |
| Cordell Hull Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
11,960 ac | Also known as Cordell Hull Reservoir One of the premier spots for water-based recreation in the Middle Tennessee region is Cordell Hull Lake. Built by the United States Army Corps of Engi … |
| Tims Ford Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
10,700 ac | Also known as Tims Ford Reservoir Nestled in south central Tennessee between Tullahoma and Winchester, the clear, deep water of the Elk River meets the wooded sloped shores of Tims For … |
| Reelfoot Lake, KY/TN (Kentucky, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, West Tennessee, Western Waterlands Region, KY) |
10,427 ac | Reelfoot Lake makes its home in northwestern Tennessee and extends into southern Kentucky. The lake is young: popular history says that after the New … |
| Nickajack Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
10,370 ac | Also known as Nickajack Reservoir Set against the spectacular scenery and steep walls of the Tennessee River Gorge, Nickajack Lake is the perfect place to relax on the water, fish, or … |
| South Holston Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
7,580 ac | Also known as South Holston Reservoir An impoundment of the South Fork Holston River, South Holston Lake is an exceptional place to fish and boat. Straddling the Virginia and Tennessee sta … |
| Cheatham Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
7,450 ac | Middle Tennessee is blessed with a wealth of recreational opportunities created by Cheatham Lake. The lake itself is more properly called a wide spot … |
| Watauga Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
6,430 ac | Also known as Lake Watauga Watauga Lake exudes independence, solitude, and nature’s bounty. If these traditional American values appeal to you, then you need to visit pristine W … |
| Melton Hill Reservoir, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
5,470 ac | Also known as Melton Hill Lake Melton Hill Reservoir, also known as Melton Hill Lake, is an impoundment of the Clinch River. Located near Oak Ridge, TN, the reservoir extends 57 mil … |
| Boone Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
4,310 ac | Also known as Boone Reservoir Boone Lake is one of a series of reservoirs lying among the hills in northeast Tennessee. Completed on March 16, 1953, Boone Lake was constructed, and … |