Lakes are among the most fascinating geographical features, defined as sizable bodies of standing or slowly moving water contained within inland basins. While the boundaries between lakes, ponds and other water bodies often blur, lakes remain a cornerstone of ecological systems and recreational life across the United States.
Among the most famous in the country are the Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Together, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes globally, holding 20% of the Earth’s surface freshwater and stretching across eight states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and New York.
Beyond these iconic waters, the U.S. boasts a myriad of other lakes—natural and man-made, named and unnamed. Based on data from World Population Review and the Maryland State Archives, Newsweek has created a map showing the places with the most lakes.
Alaska
Alaska towers over all the other states with its staggering number of lakes—around 3.2 million in total. This …