Largest lakes & reservoirs in Wisconsin 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 128 articles we have published for Wisconsin lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Wisconsin > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Wisconsin, only the 128 Wisconsin lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Winneconne, WI (Central Sands Prairie Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
4,507 ac | The Winneconne Chamber of Commerce describes its town as a “hidden treasure,” and the same can be said of Lake Winneconne. The excellent fishing and a … |
| Lac Vieux Desert, MI/WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA, Upper Peninsula Region, MI, Wisconsin) |
4,260 ac | Also known as Lac Vieux Lake Lac Vieux Desert is the French name for this 4,260-acre lake of Michigan and Wisconsin. The name was given by French fur trappers who were among the f … |
| Manitowish Chain of Lakes (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
4,074 ac | Also known as Manitowish Chain O Lakes, Manitowish Chain, Manitowish Lakes Located in the heart of scenic Vilas County, the Manitowish Chain of Lakes is truly a northern Wisconsin vacation paradise. The chain consists of ten … |
| Trout Lake WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,864 ac | Also known as North Trout Lake, South Trout Lake Hiding in plain sight behind a relatively common name, Trout Lake in Wisconsin’s Vilas County offers nearly 4,000 acres of clear, cool water. Even in … |
| Chetek Chain of Lakes, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,761 ac | Also known as Six Lakes Tucked in the midst of the Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Northwoods Region lies the Chetek Chain of Lakes, also known as Six Lakes. Centuries ago, inhabit … |
| Pelican Lake, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,585 ac | Oneida County in Wisconsin’s Northwoods has over a thousand lakes and over 68,000 acres of water making it one of the largest concentrations of water … |
| Fence Lake (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,555 ac | Fence Lake is an impressive 3,555-acre lake near the town of Minocqua in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Surrounded by the dense hardwood and pine forests of … |
| Eau Claire Lakes, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,482 ac | Also known as Upper Eau Claire Lake, Middle Eau Claire Lake, Lower Eau Claire Lake Among Wisconsin’s more than 15,000 lakes is the Eau Claire Lakes Chain, made up of three larger lakes and eight spring-fed smaller ponds. The Chain in … |
| Tomahawk Lake, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,392 ac | Oneida County is known as the place “Where nature lingered longer.” With over a thousand lakes, 68,447 acres of water and tens of thousands of acres o … |
| Gile Flowage, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,384 ac | Tucked away in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, Gile Flowage is a lovely wilderness getaway. With its undeveloped shoreline and all the amenities of nearby Hur … |
| Long Lake, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,290 ac | There are 59 lakes in Wisconsin named Long Lake, but only one has the state designation of “Walleye Capital of Wisconsin.” Long Lake near Sarona in so … |
| Lake Monona, WI (Southern Savanna Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
3,274 ac | Also known as Yahara Chain of Lakes Originally called “Tchee-ho-bo-kee-xa-te-la” or Teepee Lake by the Winnebago Indians who lived in the area, Lake Monona is one of the lakes bordering … |