Top 10 Lakes in USA

Top 10 Lakes in USA: USA has a large number of lakes in terms of area and volume. The top ten lakes in the USA are Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake of the Woods, Iliamna Lake, Great Salt Lake, Lake Oahe, and Lake Okeechobee, based on their surface area. Lakes are a very important part of a country’s beauty measure. The huge cities that have developed up and around the shores of these large lakes are obvious proof of their importance.

In this article, we will discuss the location, surface area, and some important points regarding the top 10 lakes in the USA.

Lakes in USA

Some of the world’s largest lakes are situated in the United States of America. Among them, the five Great Lakes are famous and are shared with Canada. These lakes offer beautiful landscapes, recreation areas, fishing potential, and fresh water to the neighboring states. The United States has some great waterbodies, some of which are freshwater lakes, some are saline lakes, and there are even man-made reservoirs.

List of Top Ten Lakes in USA

The following table lists the top 10 lakes in the USA:

Name of Lakes	Location	Area in Square km.
Lake Superior	Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario	82,103
Lake Huron	Michigan, Ontario	59,570
Lake Michigan	Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin	57,757
Lake Erie	Michigan, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania	25,667
Lake Ontario	New York, Ontario	19,011
Lake of the Woods	Manitoba, Minnesota, Ontario	4,349
Iliamna Lake	Alaska	2,626
Great Salt Lake	Utah	2,460
Lake Oahe	North Dakota, South Dakota	1,774
Lake Okeechobee	Florida	1,715

Largest Lake in USA – Lake Superior

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world. Total area of the lake is 82,103 sq. km. This lake contains 10% of the world’s surface freshwater. Lake Superior flows into Lake Huron through the Soo Locks and the St. Marys River.

• Approximately 200 rivers feed Lake Superior, including the Bois Brule River, the Nipigon River, the Michipicoten River.
• Michigan’s Isle Royale is the most important island in Lake Superior. Madeline Island, Michipicoten Island, and Grand Island are a few other well-known islands.
• The important ports are Duluth, Minnesota, Thunder Bay, Ontario; Marquette, Michigan.
• Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario are some of the largest cities on Lake Superior.
• The lake is home to a variety of native species, including pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, bloater, brook trout, burbot, etc.
• Compared to the other Great Lakes, Lake Superior has less dissolved nutrients per unit of water, making it an oligotrophic lake with lower fish population productivity.

Second Largest Lake in USA – Lake Huron

Michigan and Ontario share the Lake Huron along with some provinces of Canada. Total surface area is 59,570 sq. km.

• Georgian Bay and the North Channel are located in the lake’s northern regions. Saginaw Bay is situated in the lake’s southwest corner.
• The Saint Marys River is the principal inlet of the lake, and the Saint Clair River is the principal outflow from it.
• It is earth’s fourth-largest freshwater lake.
• The world’s largest lake island is Manitoulin Island.
• At first, the lake sustained a community of native deepwater fish, primarily lake trout. These fish consumed various types of ciscos, sculpins, and other native fish. several invasive species, such as rainbow smelt, alewife, and sea lamprey.

Third Largest Lake in USA – Lake Michigan

One of the five Great Lakes in North America is Lake Michigan. With a volume of 4,900 cubic km and a surface area of 58,030 sq. km, it is the third largest of the Great Lakes. Lake Michigan is the only among five Great Lakes to situate entirely within the borders of the United States. The states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan all share it.

• Chicago, Illinois; Gary, Indiana; Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Muskegon, Michigan are some of the ports that line its coasts.
• Green Bay Grand Traverse and Little Traverse bays encircle the lake.
• Hog Island, Horseshoe Island, Hat Island, High Island, Gull Island, Garden Island, and Grape Island.
• There are dune formations at Saugatuck Dunes State Park, Warren, and Indiana Dunes National Park.
• Among the cities along Lake Michigan’s shoreline are Chicago, Evanston, Wilmette.
• Situated on the lake’s edge or on its islands are a multitude of state and local parks: Chicago Park District Beaches, Fayette Historic State Park and Duck, Lake State Park, Park at Fisherman’s Island State.

Fourth Largest Lake in USA – Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the great lakes by surface area, and the eleventh largest worldwide. Lake Erie reaches a maximum depth of 64 metres. The total area of the lake is 25,667 sq. km.

• It is located on the International Boundary between the United States and Canada.
• Among the Great Lakes, it is the shallowest.
• Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair are the main sources of water for Lake Erie, which empties into Lake Ontario through the Niagara River and Niagara Falls.
• When cold air moves, heavy lake-effect snowfalls may transpire.
• The species available in the lake are sour gum, dogwood, tulip trees, and sassafras.
• Many invasive species have been a problem for the lake, such as grass carp, goby, and quagga and zebra mussels.
• Some lake islands are Island Kelleys, Island Pelee.

Fifth Largest Lake in USA – Lake Ontario

The Canadian province of Ontario borders it on the north, west, and southwest, and the state of New York, in the United States, borders it on the east and south. With a surface area of 19,000 sq. km, Lake Ontario is the smallest and most eastern of the Great Lakes.

• It is the world’s thirteenth-largest lake.
• The Niagara River, which empties Lake Erie, is the lake’s main source, while the Saint Lawrence River is its outlet.
• The bays of the lake are Presquile Bay, Sodus Bay, Irondequoit Bay, Hamilton Harbour, and Toronto Bay.
• The Niagara River, Don River, Humber River, Rouge River, Trent River, Cataraqui River, and Genesee River are some of the major rivers that empty into Lake Ontario.
• There are drumlins, kames, and moraines among the landforms.
• The deciduous forests that surround the lake are mostly made up of basswood, maple, oak, beech, and ash trees.
• On the Canadian side, there are ports in Kingston, St. Catharines, Oshawa, and Cobourg. Some islands are Amherst Island, Galloo Island, Big Island.
• Wolfe Island is the largest island on this lake.

Sixth Largest Lake in USA – Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods is located in portions of the states of Minnesota in the United States and Ontario and Manitoba in Canada. Total surface area of the lake is 4,349 sq. km.

• The Rainy River, Shoal Lake, and Kakagi Lake feed it.
• In terms of area, Lake of the Woods ranks 36th in the globe and is the sixth-largest freshwater lake in the US.
• The Aulneau Peninsula is the greatest land feature in Lake of the Woods.
• Additional islands are Large Island, Bigsby Island, Minnesota’s Brush Island, Minnesota’s Flag Island.

Seventh Largest Lake in USA – Lake Iliamna

Lake Iliamna is located in southwest Alaska, between Cook Inlet and Kvichak Bay, at the northern tip of the Alaska Peninsula. It’s the biggest lake in Alaska, the seventh biggest in the US, and the twenty-fourth biggest in North America. The total surface area of the lake is 2,626 sq. km.

• Its waters discharge into Bristol Bay via the Kvichak River.
• On the banks of Iliamna Lake are the settlements of Iliamna, Newhalen, Kokhanok, Pedro Bay, Pope-Vannoy Landing, and Igiugig.
• Freshwater seals and Sockeye (red) and Chinook (king) salmon are regularly observed in the lake.

Eighth Largest Lake in USA – The Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake is the eighth-biggest saltwater lake worldwide. The surface area of the lake is 2,460 sq. km. It is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.

• The Jordan, Weber, and Bear rivers are the three main tributaries of the lake.
• These minerals build up in the lake, which has no outflow other than evaporation, giving it a high salinity and density that has earned it the moniker “dead sea of America.”
• Willard Bay is a freshwater reservoir that is also referred to as Arthur V. Watkins Reservoir or Willard Bay Reservoir.
• The Oquirrh and Stansbury Mountains rise to the south, and the Bonneville Salt Flats lie to the west.
• The Jordan, Weber, and Bear rivers are the three main rivers that feed the Great Salt Lake, in addition to a few smaller ones.
• Some islands of this lake Antelope Island, Badger Island, Cub Island, Dolphin Island, Stansbury Island, Fremont Island, and Carrington Island
• With the exception of a few species, such as brine shrimp, brine flies, and various types of algae, all other species cannot survive in the highly salinized areas of the lake.
• Black-necked stilt, American avocet, Wilson’s phalarope, and red-necked phalarope are a few of the species that live in these marshes.

Ninth Largest Lake in USA – Lake Oahe

Behind Oahe Dam on the Missouri River, Lake Oahe is a sizable reservoir that stretches from central South Dakota into North Dakota in the United States.The lake is 1,500 sq. km in size.

• The reservoir contains the following fish species: walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, Chinook salmon.
• The settlements in Fort Yates, Cannon Ball, Mobridge, Pollock, Pierre, and Bismarck.

Tenth Largest Lake in USA – Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in the US state of Florida.. It is America’s tenth-largest naturally occurring freshwater lake. Okeechobee has 1,900 sq. km. area. The main source of Lake Okeechobee is the Kissimmee River, which is situated directly to the north of the lake.

• The counties of Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach, and Hendry split the lake.
• The Islands in the lake are Eagle Bay; Kremer, Torry, Ritta; Grass; Observation; Bird; Horse; Hog.
• The three most prevalent fish in this lake are bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass.
• More than forty species of native fish, as well as invasive fish like the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, can be found in Lake Okeechobee.
• Other species present in the lake are Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illlinoensis), southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis), vallisneria (Vallisneria Americana), and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata).

Summary – Top 10 Lakes in USA

The United States is home to some of the world’s largest and most renowned lakes, offering stunning landscapes, recreational opportunities, and vital freshwater resources. The top 10 lakes in the USA, based on surface area, include Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake of the Woods, Iliamna Lake, Great Salt Lake, Lake Oahe, and Lake Okeechobee. Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake globally, stands out with 10% of the world’s surface freshwater. These lakes, especially the Great Lakes shared with Canada, play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems, providing water to neighboring states, and fostering economic activities. Each lake has unique features, ecosystems, and surrounding cities, making them significant geographical landmarks in the country.

FAQs on Top 10 Lakes in USA

1. What are the 5 Greatest lakes in USA?

The 5 Greatest lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

2. What are the top 10 states with the most lakes?

Top 10 states with most lakes are Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington, New York, Florida, Texas, Maine, California.

3. Which is the largest lake in USA?

Lake Superior is the largest lake in USA.

4. What are the 5 famous Great Lakes?

5 famous Greak Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

5. Which Great Lake is biggest?

Lake Superior is the biggest Great Lake.

6. Which Great Lake is the smallest?

Lake Erie is the smallest Great Lake.

7. What is the deepest lake in USA?

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the USA.