What is the biggest lake in Alaska?

Iliamna Lake, at 648,000 acres.

What is the second biggest lake in Alaska?

Becharof Lake, at 290,000 acres.

Biggest lakes in Alaska: the top 10 by size

The ten largest lakes in Alaska, biggest first.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Iliamna Lake	648,000 acres	about 460 mi
2	Becharof Lake	290,000 acres	about 165 mi
3	Selawik Lake	259,000 acres	about 105 mi
4	Teshekpuk Lake	205,000 acres	about 160 mi
5	Naknek Lake	150,000 acres	about 215 mi
6	Dall Lake	about 111,000 acres	about 238 mi
7	Tustumena Lake	73,400 acres	about 71 mi
8	Lake Clark	66,000 acres	about 148 mi
9	Lakes Nuyakuk, Tikchik, Chauekuktuli	about 59,800 acres	about 123 mi
10	Imuruk Basin	57,600 acres	about 81 mi

1. Iliamna Lake

Iliamna Lake covers 648,000 acres. You will find it in Lake and Peninsula. It holds trout, lake trout and northern pike. It goes down to about 988 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Iliamna Lake is the largest lake in Alaska and home to one of the world's few populations of freshwater seals.

Iliamna Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Becharof Lake

Becharof Lake covers 290,000 acres. It lies in Lake and Peninsula. Like most lakes its size in Alaska, it should hold trout and lake trout. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Becharof Lake is the largest lake within the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System.

Becharof Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Selawik Lake

At 259,000 acres, Selawik Lake is a huge piece of water. You will find it near Kotzebue. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout and northern pike. Its bed shows a point drop-off and a sheltered cove worth a first look.

Selawik Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Teshekpuk Lake

Teshekpuk Lake is a natural lake of some 205,000 acres. The lake is in North Slope. It holds lake trout. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Teshekpuk Lake is the largest lake on Alaska's North Slope and the largest thermokarst lake in the world.

Teshekpuk Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Naknek Lake

Naknek Lake is a natural lake of 150,000 acres. You will find it in Lake and Peninsula. The fish here are trout, northern pike and lake trout. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Naknek Lake lies within Katmai National Park and is known for its sockeye salmon runs and trophy rainbow trout.

Naknek Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Dall Lake

At about 111,000 acres, Dall Lake is a huge piece of water. The lake is near Bethel. Like most lakes its size in Alaska, it should hold trout and northern pike. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Dall Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Tustumena Lake

Tustumena Lake spreads over 73,400 acres of water. You will find it about 73 miles northeast of Anchorage. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout, lake trout and northern pike. At about 950 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Tustumena Lake is the largest lake entirely within the Kenai Peninsula.

Tustumena Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Clark

At 66,000 acres, Lake Clark is a huge piece of water. You will find it in Lake and Peninsula. Like most lakes its size in Alaska, it should hold trout, lake trout and northern pike. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Lake Clark lies within Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska and drains into Iliamna Lake via the Newhalen River.

Lake Clark today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lakes Nuyakuk, Tikchik, Chauekuktuli

At about 59,800 acres, Lakes Nuyakuk, Tikchik, Chauekuktuli is a huge piece of water. You will find it about 60 miles south of Dillingham. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout, lake trout and northern pike. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lakes Nuyakuk, Tikchik, Chauekuktuli today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Imuruk Basin

Imuruk Basin covers 57,600 acres of water. The lake is near Nome. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout and northern pike. At about 20 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Imuruk Basin is a shallow estuary on the Seward Peninsula where several rivers meet tidal water.

Imuruk Basin today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.