Discover the Deepest Lake In Every State

Special Report

Published: January 25, 2024 10:51 am

The United States is one of only 17 megadiverse countries in the world. A megadiverse country features a broad array of plant and animal species. To be classified as a megadiverse country, a nation must have at least 5,000 endemic plants. It must also feature a marine ecosystem within its borders. These 17 megadiverse countries only cover about 10% of the Earth’s surface, but they house more than 70% of all the planet’s species. Along with the U.S., the world’s other megadiverse countries include Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, and Venezuela.

U.S. Lakes

Echo Lake, New Hampshire — Lakes are essential to the varied ecosystems in the United States. They also add unmatched beauty to the landscapes throughout the country.

The U.S. features tens of thousands of square miles of water area, which is key in its megadiverse designation. The nation’s water environments range from the ocean depths to raging rivers to inland lakes. It is estimated that the United States has the third-most lakes of any nation in the world, trailing only Canada and Russia. Exact numbers are difficult to corroborate, though, because there is no universally accepted definition regarding what constitutes a lake.

We can, however, ascertain the depth of a lake with verifiable numbers. Here is a look at the deepest lake in every U.S. state. (And, if you want to see which lakes are drying up, here is a list of 20 famous lakes that are going dry, one of which is included in the list below.)

Determining the Deepest U.S. Lakes

To determine each state’s deepest lake, 24/7 Wall St. consulted various sources such as state government and geological survey websites.

The Great Lakes were not included in this survey. These five lakes are massive natural wonders that touch eight U.S. states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the maximum depths of the Great Lakes are:

Lake Superior – 1,332 feet (406 meters)
Lake Michigan – 925 feet (282 meters)
Lake Ontario – 802 feet (244 meters)
Lake Huron – 750 feet (229 meters)
Lake Erie – 210 feet (64 meters)

These gigantic lakes, which account for 21% of the world’s freshwater, are obviously the deepest lakes in any state they touch. For example, Lake Superior is clearly the deepest lake in Minnesota. For our purposes, though, we excluded these lakes (which could be considered freshwater seas) and focused on the deepest inland lakes in each state.

Where Most Deep Lakes Are Found

All 50 U.S. states have lakes within their borders, although many are manmade reservoirs. Maryland, for instance, has no natural lakes. There are over 100 manmade impoundments in the state, though. All of Maryland’s lakes were created through damming systems.

Alaska, on the other hand, has the most natural lakes of any U.S. state and it is not remotely close. The Last Frontier has nearly 3,200 named lakes and over three million unnamed lakes!

Deep lakes are rare in the American South. For example, Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida by surface area, covering over 460,000 acres. However, it is only 12 feet deep at its deepest point.

Most of the nation’s deepest lakes are found in more northerly regions. Alaska not only has the most lakes, but it also houses more lakes with depths over 300 feet than any other state. The nation’s deepest lake is not found in Alaska, though but rather in the northwestern part of the conterminous U.S.

Depth Ranges

The deepest lakes in each U.S. state showcase quite a range of depths. The shallowest of these lakes is just nine feet deep. That is shallower than the typical “deep end” of a swimming pool, which is ten feet deep.

On the other end of the spectrum, the deepest lake in the U.S. is 1,949 feet deep. The waters of this lake could completely cover One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the nation, with 173 feet to spare!

Here is the complete list of the deepest lakes in all 50 U.S. states.

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

Lewis Smith Lake by Quintaped — Lewis Smith Lake lies about 20 miles northwest of Birmingham.

Maximum Depth: 264 feet (80 meters)
Surface Area: 21,200 acres

Alaska – Lake Clark

Maximum Depth: 1,054 feet (321 meters)
Surface Area: 81,920 acres

Arizona – Lake Mead

Maximum Depth: 532 feet (162 meters)
Surface Area: 158,080 acres

Arkansas – Lake Ouachita

Maximum Depth: 200 feet (61 meters)
Surface Area: 66,324 acres

California – Lake Tahoe

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

Colorado – Grand Lake

Summer holidays in the USA. Fishing on Grand Lake in Colorado — Grand Lake was formed by glaciers in what is now north-central Colorado.

Maximum Depth: 389 ft (119 meters)
Surface Area: 507 acres

Connecticut – Lake Lillinonah

View of Lake Lillinonah from Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford, Connecticut — Lovers Leap State Park is located along the northern edge of Lake Lillinonah.

Maximum Depth: 110 feet (33.5 meters)
Surface Area: 1,547 acres

Delaware – Horsey Pond

Delaware on the USA map — Delaware is the second-smallest U.S. state. It’s deepest lake is only nine feet deep.

Maximum Depth: 9 feet (3 meters)
Surface Area: 46 acres

Florida – Deep Lake

Map of Florida highlighting Collier County — Deep Lake is located in Collier County (red) in southern Florida.

Maximum Depth: 90 feet (27 meters)
Surface Area: 31 acres

Georgia – Carters Lake

Carters Lake Georgia — Carters Lake in Georgia is the deepest lake in the American South.

Maximum Depth: 450 feet (137 meters)
Surface Area: 3,200 acres

Hawaii – Halali’i Lake

Map of Hawaii highlighting Niʻihau — Halali’i Lake is located on Niʻihau (red), the westernmost of Hawaii’s main islands.

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