Lakes of the USA
The United States holds some of the largest lakes on Earth. In this map you fly to the great American lakes and learn to tell them apart.
The five Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario — form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world and lie along the border with Canada (Lake Michigan is the only one entirely inside the USA). Beyond them you will meet the Great Salt Lake in Utah and huge man-made reservoirs such as Lake Mead behind the Hoover Dam. A handy trick for the Great Lakes: the word HOMES spells Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior.
Discover every lake at your own pace — a clear, playful way to master America's waters, free in Toponauts.
▶︎ Play nowFrequently asked questions
What are the five Great Lakes?
The five Great Lakes are Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario — easy to remember with the word HOMES. They lie along the US–Canada border, hold about a fifth of the world's surface fresh water, and are so large they behave almost like inland seas.
Which Great Lake lies entirely within the USA?
Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake located entirely within the United States; the other four are shared with Canada. It borders Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, and the city of Chicago sits on its southwestern shore.
What is the largest lake in the USA?
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. Shared with Canada, it is famous for its cold, deep water and sudden storms, and holds more water than the other four Great Lakes combined.
What is the Great Salt Lake?
The Great Salt Lake in Utah is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. It has no outlet to the sea, so minerals build up and make it far saltier than the ocean. Its size shifts with drought, and nearby Salt Lake City is named after it.