Largest lakes & reservoirs in Canada by shoreline length
The length of the exterior shoreline around a lake is measured at the lake’s normal elevation. The shoreline length can be considerably shorter or longer when lake water levels are lower or higher than normal. A lake with many coves has a much longer shoreline than a lake of similar surface area that is nearly circular in shape.When known, the shoreline miles that we report in our statistics include only the lake’s exterior shoreline, and exclude the shorelines of islands located within a lake’s boundaries. In lakes with many islands, those islands’ combined shorelines may exceed a lake’s exterior shoreline.
You can find many of the world’s longest-shoreline lakes on LakeLubbers. Note: For some lakes, "Longest Shorelines" data is unknown or does not apply, so this table may display fewer lakes than the total 164 articles we have published for Canada lakes.
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Below are lakes within Canada > Compared by longest shoreline length in miles. This list does not represent all lakes in Canada, only the 164 Canada lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Shoreline length in miles | Lake description |
---|---|---|
Lake Kipawa (Canada, Quebec, Canada) |
1,200 mi | Also known as Lake Kippewa Sprawled across one of western Quebec’s most beautiful environments, Lake Kipawa offers nearly 75,000 acres of pristine water stretching into countles … |
Lake Athabasca, AB (Alberta, Canada, Canada, Saskatchewan, Canada) |
1,181 mi | Lake Athabasca is a 1,939,776-acre lake with a maximum depth of 410 feet making it the largest and deepest lake in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. Appr … |
Lake Winnipeg, MB (Canada, Manitoba, Canada) |
1,087 mi | Lake Winnipeg is a long (271 miles) somewhat shallow outdoor enthusiast’s dream. It’s located some 35 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is a natur … |
Rainy Lake, MN / Canada (Canada, Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, Ontario, Canada, US Midwest Region, USA) |
929 mi | Rainy Lake’s sprawling 221,000 acres straddle the border of the United States and Canada. Known as a water sports lover’s paradise, Rainy Lake is loca … |
Shuswap Lake, BC (British Columbia, Canada, Canada) |
889 mi | With 889 miles of shoreline and a multitude of provincial parks, 76,602-acre Shuswap Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia offers unlimite … |
Lake Erie (Canada, Chautauqua-Allegheny Region, NY, Great Lakes Region, PA, Great Lakes of North America, Greater Niagara Region, NY, Michigan, New York, Northeast Ohio, Northwest Ohio, Ohio, Ontario, Canada, Pennsylvania, Southeast Michigan, US Mid-Atlantic Region, US Midwest Region, USA) |
871 mi | Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes of North America, straddles the borders of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and the Canadian province of Onta … |
Manicouagan Reservoir (Canada, Quebec, Canada) |
821 mi | Also known as Lake Manicouagan, Lac Manicouagan, Lac Mouchalagane Manicouagan Reservoir is one of the world’s most interesting geological features. This huge annular (circular) lake was shaped by a number of factors, … |
Lake Ontario (Canada, Finger Lakes Region, NY, Great Lakes of North America, Greater Niagara Region, NY, New York, Ontario, Canada, Thousand Islands Region, NY, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
712 mi | Lake Ontario, one of the world’s five Great Lakes, weaves over state and country borders, delighting Americans, Canadians, and visiting tourists with … |
Kawartha Lakes (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
606 mi | Also known as The Kawarthas The Kawartha Lakes are a band of beautiful lakes in south-central Ontario, Canada that form the upper watershed of the Trent River. Although 14 lakes … |
Lake Champlain (Adirondacks Region, NY, Canada, Lake Champlain Valley Region, VT, New York, Quebec, Canada, US Mid-Atlantic Region, US New England Region, USA, Vermont) |
587 mi | Lake Champlain, straddling New York and Vermont in the USA, and Quebec in Canada, is a natural freshwater lake seated 96 feet above sea level. Briefly … |
Lake Manitoba, MB (Canada, Manitoba, Canada) |
569 mi | Lake Manitoba is located in central Manitoba about 45 miles northwest of the city of Winnipeg. It is one of the best fishing and outdoor natural lakes … |
Lake Nipissing, ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
494 mi | Located in the Near North region of Ontario, Lake Nipissing is the fifth largest lake in Ontario excluding the Great Lakes. This relatively shallow 21 … |