Lakes of the United States
The U.S. has approximately 250 fresh-water lakes known to have surface areas of 13,700 square miles or more. Nearly one hundred are in Alaska, and 100 in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Maine. Thirty-four fresh-water lakes, exclusive of the Great Lakes, have maximum depths of 250 feet or more. Twenty of these are in Alaska, and Alaska unquestionably has more lakes of that depth which have not been sounded. The volume of water stored in natural lakes, even exclusive of the Great Lakes, is much greater than the amount held in artificial reservoirs. Except for the Great Lakes, however, natural lakes’ economic value is surpassed by artificial reservoirs. Natural lakes are best known for the recreational advantages they afford.
Twenty-three U.S. states have all the lakes of 10 square miles or more and numerous smaller lakes. Minnesota has 40 lakes of 10 square miles or more. Michigan has 17 lakes of 10 square miles or more. New York has ten lakes of 10 square miles or more. Washington has three lakes of 10 square miles or more.
