The Ten Largest Lakes in Minnesota

Minnesota is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, but there are actually 11,842 lakes that are 10 acres or more in size and 21,871 lakes that are over 2.5 acres in size.

The Ten Largest Lakes located within the borders of Minnesota are:

1. Red Lake (both “Upper” and “Lower”) – 288,800 acres
2. Mille Lacs Lake – 132,516 acres
3. Leech Lake – 111,527 acres
4. Lake Winnibigoshish – 58,544 acres
5. Lake Vermilion – 40,557 acres
6. Lake Kabetogama – 25,760 acres
7. Mud Lake (Marshall County) – 23,700 acres
8. Cass Lake – 15,596
9. Lake Minnetonka – 14,004 acres
10. Otter Tail Lake – 13,725 acres

NOTE: Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods are larger bodies of water than those listed above, but both lakes are only partially inside the borders of Minnesota. Lake Superior is 20,364,800 acres total, with 962,700 acres within the Minnesota borders. Lake of the Woods is 950,400 acres total, with 307,010 acres located within Minnesota.

(Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)