The largest lakes in the Southeast are Lake Okeechobee in Florida, Lake Marion in South Carolina, and Lake Guntersville in Alabama. These three, along with the others on this list, are primarily man-made reservoirs, with Okeechobee being the notable natural exception.
What Counts as the Southeast
For this list, the Southeast includes the states commonly grouped together in the region: Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida. The lakes are ranked by surface area in square miles, which is the standard measure for comparing lake sizes. Using this definition, the largest lakes are a mix of natural and artificial, but the vast majority are reservoirs created by dams for flood control, hydropower, and water supply.
The Top 5 Largest Lakes
Here are the five largest lakes in the region, ranked by surface area.
- Lake Okeechobee (Florida) – 730 square miles. This is the only natural lake on the top list. It is a shallow, vast body of water in the center of the state, often called the “Lake of the Big Water” by the Seminole people. It is the second-largest freshwater lake entirely within the U.S. (after Lake Michigan).
- Lake Marion (South Carolina) – 110,000 acres (about 172 square miles). Created by the Santee Dam in the 1940s, it is the largest lake in South Carolina. It is known for its many cypress trees that remain standing in the water, creating a unique landscape.
- Lake Guntersville (Alabama) – 69,000 acres (about 108 square miles). This is the largest lake in Alabama, formed by the Guntersville Dam on the Tennessee River. It is a popular spot for bass fishing and birdwatching, especially for bald eagles in winter.
- Kentucky Lake (Kentucky/Tennessee) – 160,000 acres (about 250 square miles). Actually, this is larger than Guntersville. The list order should be corrected: Kentucky Lake is the largest reservoir in the Southeast. It is formed by the Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River. Its surface area is about 250 square miles, making it the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River.
- Lake Cumberland (Kentucky) – 63,000 acres (about 98 square miles). Another large reservoir, created by Wolf Creek Dam. It is known for its deep, clear water and is a major houseboating destination.
So the corrected top five are: Okeechobee, Kentucky Lake, Lake Marion, Lake Guntersville, and Lake Cumberland.
Other Notable Large Lakes
Beyond the top five, several other lakes in the Southeast are still very large and important.
- Lake Hartwell (Georgia/South Carolina) – 56,000 acres. A Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Savannah River, popular for recreation.
- Lake Oconee (Georgia) – 19,000 acres. A reservoir on the Oconee River, known for its golf and lakefront communities.
- Lake Lanier (Georgia) – 38,000 acres. A major reservoir north of Atlanta, heavily used for recreation and water supply.
- Lake Eufaula (Alabama/Georgia) – 45,000 acres. Also known as Walter F. George Lake, it is a large reservoir on the Chattahoochee River.
- Lake Pontchartrain (Louisiana) – 630 square miles. Technically an estuary, it is a brackish lake connected to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest inland body of water in Louisiana, but its salinity makes it different from freshwater lakes.
Natural vs. Man-Made
Most of the largest lakes in the Southeast are reservoirs. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built many of them in the 1930s through 1960s for flood control, hydropower, and navigation. Lake Okeechobee is the only natural lake among the top five. Lake Pontchartrain is also natural, but it is brackish. This distinction matters because reservoirs tend to have fluctuating water levels, which affect recreation and ecology.
How These Lakes Compare to National Giants
For context, the largest lake in the U.S. is Lake Superior, at 31,700 square miles. The largest reservoir in the U.S. is Lake Mead, at about 248 square miles. So Kentucky Lake, at about 250 square miles, is comparable to Lake Mead. The Southeast’s lakes are much smaller than the Great Lakes, but they are still massive by eastern standards. Lake Okeechobee is larger than any of the Great Lakes except Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie.
Common Questions and Misconceptions
A common misconception is that Lake Lanier is the largest lake in Georgia. It is not; Lake Hartwell is larger, and even Lake Eufaula is bigger. Another misconception is that Lake Okeechobee is a reservoir. It is natural, though it is highly managed with a dike and water control structures. Also, some people think the largest lake in the Southeast is Lake Pontchartrain, but it is brackish and not a freshwater lake, so it is often excluded from freshwater lists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest freshwater lake in the Southeast?
Lake Okeechobee in Florida is the largest freshwater lake entirely within the Southeast. It is natural and covers about 730 square miles.
What is the largest man-made lake in the Southeast?
Kentucky Lake, formed by Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River, is the largest reservoir in the Southeast, with a surface area of about 250 square miles.
Is Lake Lanier the biggest lake in Georgia?
No. Lake Lanier is about 38,000 acres, but Lake Hartwell is larger at about 56,000 acres, and Lake Eufaula is about 45,000 acres. So Lanier is not the biggest.
Are there any natural lakes in the Southeast besides Okeechobee?
Yes, but they are much smaller. Many natural lakes exist in Florida, such as Lake George and Lake Kissimmee, but they are far smaller than Okeechobee. In other states, most natural lakes are small oxbow lakes or Carolina bays.
Why are most large lakes in the Southeast man-made?
The Southeast lacks the glacial activity that created many natural lakes in the northern U.S. Instead, the region has rivers that were dammed in the 20th century for flood control, hydropower, and water supply, creating reservoirs.
Which state has the most large lakes in the Southeast?
Kentucky and Georgia both have several large reservoirs. Kentucky has Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland, and Barkley Lake. Georgia has Hartwell, Lanier, Oconee, and Eufaula (shared with Alabama).
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