Category: Nebraska Top List USA
Source: https://top-list.co/top-largest-lakes-in-nebraska-v2265.html
- Merritt Reservoir
- Lake McConaughy
- Lewis Lake And Clark Reservoir
- Harlan County Reservoir
- Carter Lake
- Lake Wanahoo
- Glenn Cunningham Lake
Merritt Reservoir
One of the largest lakes in Nebraska is Merritt Dam which is located in Cherry County, Nebraska.in the state’s north-central region. The Snake River, which flows along the southern border of the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest in the Sandhills, is impounded by the 126-foot earthen dam. As a Bureau of Reclamation of the United States project, Merritt Reservoir was constructed in 1964. With about 44 miles of sandy shoreline and 3,000 surface acres of water, the reservoir has a storage capacity of almost 75,000 acres.
The deep lake Merritt provides excellent boating and fishing options. At Merrit, you might be able to catch fish like walleye, crappie, white bass, and lunker catfish. For more details, consult the map of the public fishing areas provided by Nebraska Game and Parks. At Merritt, you can also pitch a tent! There are multiple campsites with a variety of camping options at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area.
Surface area: 75,000 acres
Location: Cherry, Nebraska, United States
Photo: visitnebraska.com
Photo: gowandering.com
Lake McConaughy
A reservoir on the North Platte River is called Lake McConaughy. It is situated next to Nebraska Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 26 about 14 kilometers north of Ogallala, Nebraska, in the United States. Charles W. McConaughy, a grain dealer and the mayor of Holdrege, Nebraska, who was a key proponent of the project, had the reservoir named in his honor.
Although he did not live to see the project’s completion, his determination and leadership finally led to a public irrigation and power project that assisted Nebraska in becoming one of the top agricultural states in the country.
Additionally, Lake McConaughy is a well-liked spot for camping, fishing, boating, water sports, and hunting. It is also a well-known diving spot and offers superb windsurfing, water skiing, and swimming. Along its waterfront, there are a number of excellent white-sand beaches and picnic places. Camping is an option for those who want to spend the night, or they can spend more money and stay at a lakeside resort.
Surface area: 35,700 acres
Location: Keith County, Nebraska
Photo: ilovelakemac.com
Photo: columbustelegram.com
Lewis Lake And Clark Reservoir
On the Missouri River, a 31,002 acres reservoir known as Lewis and Clark Reservoir divides the American states of South Dakota and Nebraska. The lake is around 40 km long, with a shoreline that stretches for about 140 km, and has a maximum depth of 14 m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is in charge of managing the lake, which is contained by the Gavins Point Dam.
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, the visitor center is open every day; the rest of the year, it is only open on weekdays.
One of the most popular activities in this area, especially for horse owners, is camping. There are lots of horse routes and places to camp with your horse. On the Nebraskan side of the lake, the Miller Creek Recreation Area is close to the very west end, while the Lakeview Golf Course is at the very east end. Along the Nebraskan side of the lake, there are a few more recreational spots.
Surface area: 31,002 acres
Location: Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming, US
Photo: wikipedia
Photo: recreation.gov
Harlan County Reservoir
The Harlan County Reservoir is a 13,248 acres reservoir with a dam in south-central Nebraska’s Harlan County. Its southernmost portion reaches Phillips County in northern Kansas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a dam on the Republican River, which originates in Colorado and flows into Kansas, creating the reservoir.
Republican City and Alma are the two nearby towns. Republican City has fishing equipment, boat rentals, dining options, and lodging. Alma is located on the lake’s shoreline and offers lodging, dining options, retail outlets, and places of worship when the lake is at a normal pool.
The lake’s shoreline is a paradise for wildlife sightings, including beavers, whitetail deer, tiny blue herons, and bald eagles, which photographers and nature enthusiasts will find. There are more than 500 campsites spread out over 120 kilometers of its shoreline. Fish species including walleye, white bass, wipers, catfish, crappie, and pike can be found in the Harlan County Lake. The reservoir is a good place to go ice fishing.
Surface area: 13,248 acres
Location: Harlan County, Nebraska
Photo: pinterest
Photo: ksnblocal4.com
Carter Lake
A suburb of Omaha, Nebraska, Carter Lake is located on the south and west sides of Eppley Airfield, the main airport serving the area. This gorgeous 1,100-acre reservoir is surrounded by 1,000 acres of public lands and is about three miles long and about one mile broad. It is practically an exclave because the Missouri River divides it from the rest of Iowa.
Being the sole Iowan community west of the Missouri River, Carter Lake is a prime example of the country’s boundary anomalies. A flood in March 1877 caused the river to change its course by 2 kilometers to the southeast. Saratoga Bend, an oxbow lake with the name Carter Lake, was created from the remains of the former river route. After the lake was created, the area quickly developed into a thriving recreation area. The lake was the setting for countless enjoyable rowing and fishing parties, and there was a boathouse at the base of Locust Street.
The park has walks, a gazebo, picnic spots, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, and football grounds. Boating, water skiing, and fishing are available on the lake itself.
Surface area: 1,100 acres
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Photo: larimer.gov
Photo: thedyrt.com
Lake Wanahoo
The 637-acre Lake Wanahoo is located north of Wahoo, Nebraska. A recreation area is part of the project in the Sand Creek Watershed, which is located directly north of Wahoo. This lake is one of the largest lakes in Nebraska.
Early in the 1990s, Lake Wanahoo was started in an effort to manage the serious flooding issues on the Sand and Wahoo creeks. At least since the middle of the 1960s, efforts have been made to discover solutions for the flooding issues, and several reports and studies have since verified the region’s need for flood control. But until 1993, when Wahoo, Saunders County, and the Lower Platte North Natural Resource District started taking the prospect of building a sizable reservoir close to Wahoo seriously, not much progress was accomplished.
The recreation area also has picnic areas and camping areas. The lake is surrounded by a route that is excellent for cycling and trekking. You’re in luck if you like to fish! The lake has been stocked with walleye, bluegill, blue catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, and northern pike, however, the latter two are catch-and-release only.
Surface area: 637 acres
Location: Saunders County, Nebraska
Photo: visitomaha.com
Photo: nrdnet.org
Glenn Cunningham Lake
A 390 acres reservoir known as Glenn Cunningham Lake may be found in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States. With entrances at State Highway 36, State Street, 96th Street, and Rainwood Road, the lake is situated along 96th Street. The lake is a section of Little Papillion Creek, which is a section of the watershed for Papillion Creek.
Glenn Cunningham Lake, named for former Omaha mayor and U.S. Congressman Glenn C. Cunningham, is situated in north central Omaha. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the lake project for flood control and pleasure, and it was made public in 1977. The lake’s surface size is 1.6 km2, and its maximum depth is roughly 7 m. The lake is surrounded by more than 4 km2 of parkland, including 1.8 km2 north of Nebraska Highway 36 which is a wildlife reserve.
The lake is surrounded by Glenn Cunningham Lake Park, which has trails for cycling, hiking, and equestrian riding. At the lake’s southern edge, there are also camping areas and a boat launch. This lake is one of the largest lakes in Nebraska.
Surface area: 390 acres
Photo: kiewit.com
