In terms of area covered, the largest lake in California is the Salton Sea, a lake formed in 1905 which is now saline. In the case of reservoirs with more than one main dam holding it back (e.g. Smaller ones are often run by county water agencies or irrigation and flood control districts. Situated in the Sonoran Desert in southeastern California is the Salton Sea, the largest lake in the state. Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. As the largest alpine lake in North America, this aquatic adventureland is teeming with fun. [2] Tulare Lake in the San Joaquin Valley was larger, at approximately 690 sq mi (1,800 km2), until it was drained during the later years of the nineteenth century.[3]. Clear Lake. Clear Lake, the “Bass Capital of the West” Clear Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake located entirely within California, with 100 miles of shoreline and a surface area of 67 square miles. Tulare Lake (Spanish: Laguna de Tache, Yokuts: Pah-áh-su) is a freshwater dry lake with residual wetlands and marshes in the southern San Joaquin Valley, California, United States. The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake on the San Andreas Fault at the southern end of the U.S. state of California.It lies between, and within, the Imperial and Coachella valleys, all of which lie within the larger Salton Trough, a pull-apart basin that stretches to the Gulf of California in Mexico. The reservoir is located in Shasta County and is a critical source of water for Central Valley farms and the surrounding cities. For reservoirs, the areas at maximum water storage are indicated. New Melones Lake is the fourth largest reservoir in California, boasting a total water volume of 3 km3 (about 2.4 million acre-feet). Serene Lakes, named by Mark Twain. The state has more than one thousand major reservoirs, of which the largest two hundred have a combined capacity of over 41,000,000 acre feet (51 km3). Lake Baikal - 31,500 Square Kilometers. Eleven reservoirs have a storage capacity greater than or equal to 1,000,000 acre feet (1.2 km3); all of these except one are in or on drainages that feed into the Central Valley. [1] Most large reservoirs in California are located in the central and northern portions of the state, especially along the large and flood-prone rivers of the Central Valley. It occupies 376 square miles (970 km2) in the southeast corner of the state, but because it is shallow it only holds about 7.5 million acre⋅ft (2.4 trillion US gal; 9.3 trillion l) of water. California Lakes Shown on the Map: Buena Vista Lake, Clair Engle Lake, Clear Lake, Clear Lake Reservoir, Eagle Lake, Goose Lake, Honey Lake, Lake Almanor, Lake Havasu, Lake Oroville, Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake, Owens Lake, Salton Sea, San Luis Reservoir and Shasta Lake Mono Lake. In terms of area covered, the largest lake in California is the Salton Sea, a lake formed in 1905 which is now saline. This is a list of the largest reservoirs, or man-made lakes, in the U.S. state of California. For this reason, many of the surface areas tabulated below are very approximate. California shares its second-largest lake, Lake Tahoe, with Nevada; the 190-square-mile freshwater lake straddles the state border high in the Sierras. Flickr/ lostintheredwoods Located on the Trinity River, this lake is formed by a dam on the Trinity River and is one of the largest and most beautiful reservoirs in Northern California. What is the largest natural lake in USA? Not always applicable to off-stream reservoirs. But visitors can enjoy a variety of … It's located close in proximity to Lake Shasta but is much less crowded thanks to the long, winding road that visitors need to travel to access its shores. 2 of 3 Shasta Lake has 1,200 campsites, yet plenty of space amid 370 miles of shoreline, California's biggest reservoir and the state's No. Lake Berryessa, nestled into the heart of California's wine country, is the largest lake in Napa County. Lake Tahoe. Eagle Lake (California, USA) 24,000: Eagle Lake, located in Lassen County about 15 miles north of Susanville, California, is one of the largest natural lakes within the state boundaries. Geographic coordinates, approximate elevations, alternative names, and other details may be obtained by following the Geographic Names Information System links in the third column. Mono Lake. Lake Tahoe also claims the title as the United States’ deepest and largest lake by volume and the largest alpine lake in North America. Covering 43,663 acres, Clear Lake is California’s largest inland lake, with most of its … Lake Pueblo – 4,600 acres. In terms of volume, the largest lake on the list is Lake Tahoe, located on the California–Nevada border. There … Excellent (but cold) wake boarding, plenty of beach space, and the kind of view you’d expect from the June Lake Loop. 1 recreation lake. Eleven reservoirs have a storage capacity greater than or equal to 1,000,000 acre feet (1.2 … At just over 24,000 acres, the lake is an ideal environment to the native osprey and Bald Eagles, from which the natural reservoir got its name. Try Shasta Lake, Big Bear Lake, and Mammoth Lakes for even more water-fueled fun. In terms of both area and volume, the largest of these is Lake Shasta, which formed behind Shasta Dam in the 1940s. 10 Lakes In Los Angeles To Visit On A Lazy Day In California Below are the largest lakes in the US state of California. Huntington Lake, California. The Largest Lakes In California. Salton Sea. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built the Monticello Dam on Putah Creek in 1957 for flood control, municipal and industrial water supply, and irrigation water supply. It’s been a long while since we’ve been able to enjoy the beauty of our Southern California’s lakes due to the ongoing drought in the state. This includes those formed by raising the level of natural lakes, such as at Lake Tahoe. The Salton Basin has held various waters over the last three million years as the Colorado River changed its course and spilled over, filling up the basin with fresh water lakes that would eventually evaporate. Hike To The Largest Geothermal Lake In Northern California On The Boiling Springs Lake Trail Lassen Volcanic National Park is by far one of Northern California’s greatest treasures. Shasta Lake, one of the largest lakes in California, is an outdoor paradise of fresh blue water, awe-inspiring caverns, investigative trails, first class ... Shaver Lake: Also known as: Shaver Reservoir Sixty miles east of Fresno, hidden in the High Sierra Region, Shaver Lake is one of California's favorite recreation destinations. Huntington Lake in Fresno, California is the choice lake vacation spots for many couples, families, and professionals who want a quiet, relaxing vacation away from the noise of the city. It is also the largest freshwater lake by area, at 191 sq mi (490 km2), and the deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 1,645 feet (501 m). [1], In terms of area covered, the largest lake in California is the Salton Sea, a lake formed in 1905 which is now saline. The dam can impound 4.552 million acre⋅ft (1.483 trillion US gal; 5.615 trillion l) of water over 29,740 acres (46.47 sq mi; 120.4 km2). To sort on a different column, click on the arrows in the header row. Typical wet season storage is only about 20,000 to 45,000 acre feet (0.025 to 0.056 km, Lake Casitas is fed by Coyote Creek and water diverted from the, Clear Creek provides a significant portion of the reservoir inflow, but more water enters via the Clear Creek Tunnel, which diverts water from the, Most of the water supplying the reservoir is diverted from the, List of dams and reservoirs in California, List of largest reservoirs in the United States, "USGS Gage #11406800 on Lake Oroville near Oroville, CA (Water-Data Report 2008)", "Alphabetical List of California Dams (over 40,000 acre feet)", "USGS Gage #11446200 on Folsom Lake near Folsom, CA", "Legislation Introduced in Congress Allows Consideration for Increased Storage at Lake McClure", "Overview of the Isabella Dam Potential Failure Modes Workshop", "Camanche Reservoir at South Shore Recreation Area – Monitoring Site Information", "Central California Lake Fills To Capacity For First Time In Decades", "Point/Counterpoint: Hetch Hetchy Valley Restoration", "Lower Calaveras River Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Life History Limiting Factors Analysis", "USGS Gage #11277200 on Cherry Lake near Hetch Hetchy, CA", "Resolving Stakeholder Interests on the Lower Mokelumne River", "Case Study Report #27: Hell Hole Reservoir, Rubicon River", Alphabetical index of California reservoirs, California Department of Water Resources website with current reservoir levels, List of largest reservoirs in California at worldatlas.com, Visualization of current and historical reservoir levels, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_largest_reservoirs_of_California&oldid=991422272, United States-related lists of superlatives, Lists of buildings and structures in California, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 November 2020, at 00:04. All fifty-three reservoirs that contain over 100,000 acre feet (0.12 km3) of water at maximum capacity are listed. Lakes Lodge Ice Lakes Lodge Soda Springs, United States The Sierra’s best kept secret. Largest Reservoirs of California Six of California’s reservoirs have a capacity of more than 2 million acre-feet. one man can be overheard yelling in the video as the duck falls into the more than 200-foot-deep (18-story) artificial spillway in Lake Berryessa — the largest lake in Napa County. 9 Gorgeous Lakes In Southern California That You Must Check Out This Summer. At a surface elevation of 6,225 ft (1,897 m), it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. It occupies 376 square miles (970 km 2) in the southeast corner of the state, but because it is shallow it only holds about 7.5 million acre⋅ft (2.4 trillion US gal; 9.3 trillion l) of water. You can’t talk about California bodies of water without mentioning Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe also claims the title as the United States’ deepest and largest lake by volume and the largest alpine lake in North America. If you like to constantly be on the move, Lake Skinner is for you. Note: Lakes grow and shrink due to precipitation, evaporation, releases, and diversions. Among freshwater lakes entirely contained within the state, the largest by area is Clear Lake, which covers 68 square miles (180 km2). Clear Lake is California’s largest freshwater lake, having a surface area … Volume given is the maximum flood pool, not the operational or live storage capacity. Lake Skinner – Winchester. Grant Lake Marina Grant Lake Marina June Lake, United States One of my favorite spots for summertime lounging in the area. Clear Lake, Lake County. But it's not the product of the powers of nature, it's the product of a major engineering mistake over 110 years ago. Lake Baikal, also called “Nature’s Lake,” is a rift lake … Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. For those who plan on visiting a number of California’s lakes on their trip, Mono Lake … Most large reservoirs in California are owned by the federal Bureau of Reclamation and to a lesser extent the Army Corps of Engineers, many serving the Central Valley Project or State Water Project. The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California at around 970 square km. California shares its second-largest lake, Lake Tahoe, with Nevada; the 190-square-mile freshwater lake straddles the state border high in the Sierras. [5], Lake Elsinore, which covers 3,000 acres (4.7 sq mi; 12 km2), is billed as the largest natural freshwater lake in Southern California.[6]. Goose Lake. Shasta Lake, the largest reservoir in the state, has a capacity of over 4.5 million acre feet. The list is alphabetized by the name of the lake, with the words lake, of, and the ignored. Lake Tahoe also claims the title as the United States’ deepest and largest lake by volume and the largest alpine lake in North America.15 Mar 2018 It occupies 376 square miles (970 km 2) in the southeast cor Wikipedia list of lakes of California, U.S. Photo: Tom Stienstra / The Chronicle San Luis Reservoir receives most of its water from the, Diamond Valley Lake is the terminus of the, This lake is natural, but was raised about 10 feet (3.0 m) by, Castaic Lake receives most of its water from the West Branch, The reservoir behind Prado Dam is usually empty or close to empty because its primary purpose is flood control. Summertime out on the lake is one of my all-time favorite experiences in Southern California and something I look forward to every year. It holds roughly 36 cubic miles (150 km3) of water. 10 Beautiful Southern California Lakes With A Magical Aura About Them. Lake Pueblo is known for its fishing. Reservoirs used for flood control are seldom allowed to reach maximum storage. 2. World’s Largest Lake (by surface area): The salty Caspian Sea has the greatest surface area of any lake at 143,200 square miles (370,886 square kilometers). List of dams and reservoirs in California, List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area, "The Dried-Up Heart of California's Water Dilemma", "City of Lake Elsinore: Lake and Aquatic Resources", "Geology at Point Reyes National Seashore and Vicinity, California", "Abbotts Lagoon Information & Hiking Resources", "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (A-G)", "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (H-M)", "Belvedere Lagoon Property Owners Association", "Dams Owned and Operated by Federal Agencies", "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (N-S)", "Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California (T-Z)", "About Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area", "Environmental Isotope Investigation of Groundwater Flow in the Honey Lake Basin", "Hydrology and Water Quality of Lake Merced", "Naraghi family poses new plan for lake area, including fitness center", "Lakes: Marble Mountain Wilderness: Klamath National Forest", Alphabetical Index of California Reservoirs, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_lakes_of_California&oldid=994178766, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, former reservoir (Baldwin Hills Dam) breached in 1963, former natural lake drained in the mid 20th century, Natural lake, former name Lake Klamea name changed when dam was built (Copco No 1 Dam), natural lake (dammed by moraine) raised by Donner Lake Dam, flood-control reservoir (Eaton Wash Debris Basin Dam), Natural lake Fallen Leaf Dam raised level, flood-control reservoir (Hansen Recreational Lake Dam), former natural lake drained in the 19th century, former drainage reservoirs (1971) now wetlands, reservoirs (Big Dobe North Dam, Big Dobe South Dam), natural basin (endorheic rift) flooded since 1905, reservoir (Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir Dam), natural lake partly drained in the 19th century, natural lake raised by diversions and levees, former natural lake drained in the late 19th century, flood-control reservoir (Whittier Narrows Dam), This page was last edited on 14 December 2020, at 13:43.