These Are The 10 Largest Lakes In The Land Of 10,000 Lakes

They don’t call our state the Land of 10,000 Lakes for nothing—but some of Minnesota’s lakes are in a size class all their own. From massive inland waters to quiet northern giants, these are the biggest lakes in the Bold North.

Like many Minnesotans, one of my favorite places to go is up north to the lake. While it's difficult to say just how many cabins, cottages, and lake homes currently exist here in our fair state, CBS News-Minnesota quoted the Minnesota Department of Revenue, which put the number between 122,000 and 135,000 different non-commercial 'seasonal recreational properties.'

Minnesota Has More Lakes Than You Might Think

That's likely because when it comes to lakes, it's tough to beat us here in Minnesota, right? And while our famous state slogan proudly proclaims that there are 10,000 lakes in this land, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) points out that there are actually 11,842 lakes here in the North Star State. Either way, it's still more bodies of water than Wisconsin claims to have.

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The Bold North defines a lake as a body of water that is 10 acres or bigger. (Wisconsin doesn't even have a minimum definition, which is why they often claim to have more lakes than we do.) The DNR says that Minnesota's 10 largest lakes have a combined surface area of more than 825,000 acres, account for about 40 percent of the annual statewide walleye harvest, and make a significant contribution to the $2.4 billion spent each year on fishing in Minnesota.

The 10 Largest Lakes in Minnesota by Size

So just which lakes are the biggest in the Bold North these days? And, no, we're not counting Lake Superior, as it's not contained within Minnesota's borders. The folks over at the DNR have compiled a list, and coming in at number one was Red Lake (Upper & Lower). That massive body of water spans nearly 290,000 acres!

See Which Minnesota Lakes Made the Top 10 List

After Red Lake, some familiar names round out the rest of the list of the 10 Largest lakes in Minnesota... take a look. And then keep scrolling to check out the 10 Most Common Lake Names in Minnesota, as well!

The 10 Biggest Lakes in Minnesota 

1. Red Lake (Upper & 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 acres
9. Lake Minnetonka – 14,004 acres
10. Otter Tail Lake – 13,725 acres

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