Largest lakes & reservoirs in US Midwest Region by water volume
The estimated volume of water that a lake contains is measured at the lake’s normal elevation. By this measure, the world’s largest freshwater lake is Siberia’s Lake Baikal.Water Volume can be measured in acre-feet, in cubic miles, or in cubic kilometers. One acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre (43,560 square feet) to a depth of one foot. One cubic mile equals 3,379,200 acre-feet. One cubic kilometer equals 810,713 acre-feet. 1 acre-foot is equal to 325,851 US gallons. Siberia’s Lake Baikal contains about 6,276,367,740,000,000 gallons of freshwater – nearly 1 million gallons for every living person on earth.
The other – and more widely used – measure of a lake’s size is the lake’s surface acreage. By that measure, the world’s largest freshwater lake is North America’s Lake Superior.
Note: In the United States, an acre foot is a unit of volume used to refer to large-scale bodies of water. It is defined by the volume of water needed to cover 1 acre of surface area to a depth of 1 foot.
You can find many of the the world’s largest lakes (by water volume) on LakeLubbers. Note: For some lakes, the water volume data is unknown or does not apply, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 516 articles we have published for US Midwest Region lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Compared by water volume. This list does not represent all lakes in US Midwest Region, only the 516 US Midwest Region lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Water vol. in ac-ft | Lake description |
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Table Rock Lake, AR/MO (Arkansas, Missouri, Ozarks Region, AR, Southwest Missouri, US Midwest Region, US South Region, USA) |
2,702,000 ac-ft | Branson, Missouri has the saying “Someone you love is playing here.” When you visit nearby Table Rock Lake, the person playing is sure to be you. With … |
Torch Lake, MI (Michigan, Northwest Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,635,927 ac-ft | Torch Lake holds the dual distinction as Michigan’s longest inland lake (18 miles) and its second largest inland lake (18,770 acres). The lake’s unpar … |
Upper Red Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,129,000 ac-ft | Nestled in the Northwest Region of Minnesota, Upper Red Lake has an incredible comeback story and is becoming a popular vacation place for the second … |
Lake of the Ozarks, MO (Central Missouri, Missouri, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,000,000 ac-ft | (Also known as Lake Ozark) Painting plains of central Missouri a liquid blue, Lake of the Ozarks snakes its way through the landscape. Just 180 miles from St. Louis and 170 mile … |
Norfork Lake, AR/MO (Arkansas, Missouri, Ozarks Region, AR, Southwest Missouri, US Midwest Region, US South Region, USA) |
1,900,000 ac-ft | Locals describe Norfork Lake as “unspoiled, uncrowded, and unforgettable.” It is an apt description for this beautiful lake hidden in the Ozark Region … |
Lake McConaughy, NE (Nebraska, Prairie Lakes Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,756,300 ac-ft | (Also known as Big Mac) Lake McConaughy, commonly called Big Mac, is Nebraska’s largest reservoir with 30,500 acres and 76 shoreline miles. Lake McConaughy is conveniently lo … |
Lake Sharpe, SD (Great Lakes Region, SD, South Dakota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,621,000 ac-ft | Lake Sharpe, located on South Dakota Highways 50 and 47 near Chamberlain, and Reliance, is one of the four reservoirs constructed along the Missouri R … |
Cass Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,399,425 ac-ft | Cass Lake is, without a doubt, one of Minnesota’s natural treasures. Its scenic beauty is only surpassed by its rich history, unique features and the … |
Lake Winnebago, WI (Central Sands Prairie Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
1,230,000 ac-ft | American white pelicans skim across the surface of Lake Winnebago, fishing alongside the anglers below. Birds and fishermen alike flock to the beautif … |
Harry S. Truman Lake, MO (Central Missouri, Missouri, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,181,640 ac-ft | (Also known as Harry S. Truman Reservoir, Truman Lake) It looks a like a reel of film perched on a bluff; it is the visitor center overlooking Truman Lake. The round wall of windows offers a panoramic view … |
Stockton Lake, MO (Missouri, Southwest Missouri, US Midwest Region, USA) |
875,000 ac-ft | Stockton Lake is a popular recreational reservoir covering 24,900 acres on the western edge of the scenic Missouri Ozarks. Though perhaps not as widel … |
Kabetogama Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
643,453 ac-ft | (Also known as Lake Kabetogama) Located just a few miles from the Canadian border in St. Louis County, Minnesota’s Kabetogama Lake is every bit as unique as its name implies. This fr … |