The Deepest Lake in Every U.S. State

The United States is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, a group recognized for having extraordinary biodiversity, high numbers of endemic species, and marine ecosystems within its borders. Together, these countries contain a major share of the planet’s species, and the U.S. stands out for the range of habitats found across its states, from coastlines and wetlands to forests, mountains, deserts, and freshwater systems.

One of the clearest ways to see that variety is through America’s lakes. The country has millions of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, including natural lakes shaped by glaciers, volcanoes, rivers, and tectonic forces, as well as man-made reservoirs created for water supply, flood control, and recreation. This list looks at the deepest lake in each state, showing how different these waters can be from one part of the country to another. The EPA’s National Lakes Assessment studies lakes, ponds, and reservoirs nationwide, and its 2012 work found that a large share of U.S. lakes assessed were man-made reservoirs rather than natural lakes.

Alabama – Lewis Smith Lake (also known as Smith Lake)

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 264 feet (80 meters)
Surface Area: 21,200 acres

Alaska – Lake Clark

Type of Lake: Freshwater lake
Maximum Depth: 1,054 feet (321 meters)
Surface Area: 81,920 acres

Arizona – Lake Mead

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 532 feet (162 meters)
Surface Area: 158,080 acres

Arkansas – Lake Ouachita

Type of Lake: Hydro-Electric reservoir
Maximum Depth: 200 feet (61 meters)
Surface Area: 66,324 acres

California – Lake Tahoe

Type of Lake: Ancient lake
Maximum Depth: 1,645 feet (501 meters)
Surface Area: 122,240 acres

Colorado – Grand Lake

Type of Lake: Glacial lake
Maximum Depth: 389 ft (119 meters)
Surface Area: 507 acres

Connecticut – Lake Lillinonah

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 110 feet (33.5 meters)
Surface Area: 1,547 acres

Delaware – Horsey Pond

Type of Lake: Freshwater reservoir
Maximum Depth: 9 feet (3 meters)
Surface Area: 46 acres

Florida – Deep Lake

Type of Lake: Natural sinkhole
Maximum Depth: 90 feet (27 meters)
Surface Area: 31 acres

Georgia – Carters Lake

Type of Lake: Natural lake, reservoir
Maximum Depth: 450 feet (137 meters)
Surface Area: 3,200 acres

Hawaii – Halali’i Lake

Type of Lake: Ephemeral lake
Maximum Depth: Varies (Halali’i Lake’s depth depends on the weather. During the rainy seasons, it is Hawaii’s deepest lake)
Surface Area: 840 acres

Idaho – Lake Pend Oreille

Type of Lake: Natural lake
Maximum Depth: 1,158 feet (353 meters)
Surface Area: 96,000 acres

Illinois – Devil’s Kitchen Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 90 feet (27.5 meters)
Surface Area: 810 acres

Indiana – Tippecanoe Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 123 feet (37 meters)
Surface Area: 880 acres

Iowa – West Lake Okoboji

Type of Lake: Blue water lake
Maximum Depth: 136 feet (41.5 meters)
Surface Area: 3,847 acres

Kansas – Milford Lake and Wilson Lake (tie)

Type of Lake: Reservoirs
Maximum Depth: 65 feet (20 meters)
Surface Areas: Milford Lake – 15,709 acres, Wilson Lake – 9,020 acres

Kentucky – Herrington Lake

Type of Lake: Artificial reservoir
Maximum Depth: 249 feet (76 meters)
Surface Area: 2,335 acres

Louisiana – Lake Peigneur

Type of Lake: Brackish lake
Maximum Depth: 200 feet (61 meters)
Surface Area: 1,125 acres

Maine – Sebago Lake

Type of Lake: Oligotrophic lake
Maximum Depth: 316 feet (96 meters)
Surface Area: 30,513 acres

Maryland – Quarry Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 490 feet (150 meters)
Surface Area: 40 acres

Massachusetts – Quabbin Reservoir

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 151 feet (46 meters)
Surface Area: 119,940 acres

Michigan – Torch Lake

Type of Lake: Oligotrophic lake
Maximum Depth: 285 feet (87 meters)
Surface Area: 18,770 acres

Minnesota – Portsmouth Mine Pit Lake

Type of Lake: Artificial lake
Maximum Depth: 450 feet (137 meters)
Surface Area: 121 acres

Mississippi – Okhissa Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 75 feet (23 meters)
Surface Area: 1,075 acres

Missouri – Table Rock Lake

Type of Lake: Artificial lake/reservoir
Maximum Depth: 220 feet (67 meters)
Surface Area: 42,400 acres

Montana – Tally Lake

Type of Lake: Freshwater lake
Maximum Depth: 492 feet (150 meters)
Surface Area: 1,200 acres

Nebraska – Lake McConaughy

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 142 feet (43 meters)
Surface Area: 35,700 acres

Nevada – Lake Tahoe

Type of Lake: Freshwater Lake
Maximum Depth: 1,645 feet (501 meters)
Surface Area: 122,240 acres

New Hampshire – Lake Winnipesaukee

Type of Lake: Glacially formed lake
Maximum Depth: 212 feet (65 meters)
Surface Area: 44,500 acres

New Jersey – Merrill Creek Reservoir

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 225 feet (68.5 meters)
Surface Area: 650 acres

New Mexico – Navajo Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 395 feet (120 meters)
Surface Area: 15,600 acres

New York – Seneca Lake

Type of Lake: Glacial lake
Maximum Depth: 618 feet (188 meters)
Surface Area: 42,797 acres

North Carolina – Fontana Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 440 feet (134 meters)
Surface Area: 10,230 acres

North Dakota – Lake Sakakawea

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 180 feet (55 meters)
Surface Area: 307,000 acres

Ohio – Caesar Creek Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 115 feet (35 meters)
Surface Area: 2,830 acres

Oklahoma – Broken Bow Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 185 feet (56 meters)
Surface Area: 14,000 acres

Oregon – Crater Lake

Type of Lake: Volcanic lake
Maximum Depth: 1,949 feet (594 meters)
Surface Area: 13,069 acres

Pennsylvania – Raystown Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 200 feet (61 meters)
Surface Area: 8,300 acres

Rhode Island – Scituate Reservoir

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 87 feet (27 meters)
Surface Area: 3,392 acres

South Carolina – Lake Jocassee

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 350 feet (107 meters)
Surface Area: 7,500 acres

South Dakota – Lake Oahe

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 205 feet (62.5 meters)
Surface Area: 370,000 acres

Tennessee – Watauga Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 265 feet (81 meters)
Surface Area: 6,430 acres

Texas – Lake Travis

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 210 feet (64 meters)
Surface Area: 18,930 acres

Utah – Bear Lake

Type of Lake: Natural freshwater lake
Maximum Depth: 208 feet (63 meters)
Surface Area: 69.760 acres

Vermont – Lake Willoughby

Type of Lake: Glacial lake
Maximum Depth: 328 feet (100 meters)
Surface Area: 1,687 acres

Virginia – Smith Mountain Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 220 feet (67 meters)
Surface Area: 20,480 acres

Washington – Lake Chelan

Type of Lake: Glacially overdeepened lake
Maximum Depth: 1,486 feet (453 meters)
Surface Area: 33,280 acres

West Virginia – Summersville Lake

Type of Lake: Reservoir
Maximum Depth: 327 feet (99.5 meters)
Surface Area: 2,700 acres

Wisconsin – Wazee Lake

Type of Lake: Artificial lake
Maximum Depth: 355 feet (108 meters)
Surface Area: 146 acres

Wyoming – Fremont Lake

Type of Lake: Glacially-formed lake
Maximum Depth: 607 feet (185 meters)
Surface Area: 5,050 acres