Largest lakes & reservoirs in 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 2151 articles we have published for lakes.
Thinking about booking a lake vacation home rental, cabin or hotel?
Use our free interactive vacation rental map to search and compare multiple vacation properties at a glance. Enter a lake name, a state or city and then simply click on a listing to compare all similar properties, best rates and availability for your dates.Search results: Sort lakes by surface acreage
Below are lakes within Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in , only the 2151 lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Shaver Lake, CA (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
2,177 ac | Also known as Shaver Reservoir Sixty miles east of Fresno, hidden in the High Sierra Region, Shaver Lake is one of California’s favorite recreation destinations. There have been man … |
| Lake Saint John, LA (Crossroads Region, LA, Louisiana, US South Region, USA) |
2,175 ac | One of the hottest bass fishing lakes in Louisiana is Lake Saint John located in Concordia Parish. With stands of cypress trees lining its banks, this … |
| Lake Placid, NY (Adirondacks Region, NY, New York, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
2,170 ac | Set among tall pines and white birches in the gorgeous Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, Lake Placid is a spring-fed, sparkling 2,173-acre lak … |
| Biggesee (Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia Region, Germany) |
2,165 ac | Also known as Bigge Reservoir, Bigge Lake, Listersee Surrounded by the Ebbegebirge Nature Park, Biggesee (see = lake) is the largest reservoir in Germany’s North Rhine- Westphalia region. Bigge Lake was … |
| Lake Minatare, NE (Nebraska, Panhandle Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,158 ac | In the western strip of Nebraska known as “the Panhandle” lies the 2,158 acre Lake Minatare. This reservoir is located in Nebraska’s North Platte Vall … |
| Lake Metonga, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
2,157 ac | Also known as Metonga Lake She looks up and freezes, the coffee cup halfway to her mouth. Standing in front of her in the grasses and shallow water of the lake is the biggest cr … |
| Lake Oliver, AL/GA (Alabama, Georgia, Presidential Pathways Region, GA, River Heritage Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
2,150 ac | Located in west central Georgia in the Presidential Pathways region, Lake Oliver is a 2,150-acre lake that has one shoreline in Georgia and the other … |
| Wabana Lake (Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,133 ac | Also known as Wabana Chain of Lakes Trilling their distinctive call, loons glide across the surface of Wabana Lake, dodging in and out of the mist rising from the exceptionally clear wat … |
| Green Mountain Reservoir (Colorado, Northwest Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
2,125 ac | Thousands of tourists and recreational guests come to the Colorado Rockies each year, never knowing that Green Mountain Reservoir is only a short dist … |
| Hallstatter See (Austria, Upper Austria, Austria) |
2,120 ac | Also known as Lake Hallstatter, Lake Hallstatt, Hallstattersee Lake Hallstatter (Hallstatter See or Hallstattersee in German) is one of the best known lakes in Austria’s Salzkammergut resort area. A popular lake f … |
| South Long Lake (Central Minnesota, Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,115 ac | Also known as Upper South Long Lake, Lower South Long Lake, Brainerd Lakes South Long Lake near Brainerd, Minnesota in Crow Wing County offers 2,115 acres of scenic beauty with a shoreline surrounded by rolling hills covered … |
| Lake Greifensee (Switzerland, Zurich Region, Switzerland) |
2,112 ac | Also known as Lake Greifen, Greifensee Only 7 miles southeast of Zurich, Lake Greifensee has become a favored destination for holidays away from the big city. Located in the Canton of Zuric … |