In North Dakota, the water landscape is defined by two massive entities: one born of a historic engineering feat and the other, a natural wonder known for its dramatic, often unpredictable temperament. Both lakes are vital to the State economy and offer some of the best recreation in the Great Plains.
The Man-Made Giant: Lake Sakakawea
Lake Sakakawea is the largest body of water in North Dakota and the third-largest artificial reservoir in the United States. Named for the Shoshone-Hidatsa woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the lake was created in the 1950s by the construction of the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River.
- Surface Area: Approximately 382,000 acres at maximum pool.
- Shoreline: Over 1,500 miles—longer than the entire coastline of California.
- Location: West-central North Dakota, stretching 178 miles from the Garrison Dam to near the city of Williston.
Lake Sakakawea is a powerhouse for recreation and natural resources. Its massive size and unique geology, featuring rugged badlands and steep-sided valleys, make it a premier destination for windsurfing, sailing, and trophy fishing. It is particularly famous for its walleye, northern pike, and chinook salmon. Because it is managed for flood control and hydroelectric power, its water levels can fluctuate, but its sheer scale ensures it remains a dominant feature of the North Dakota horizon.
The Natural Wonder: Devils Lake
While the Sakakawea is an artificial marvel, Devils Lake holds the title of the largest natural body of water in the state. This "terminal lake" is located in a closed basin, meaning it has no natural outlet to the sea, which has led to a fascinating and sometimes challenging history of flooding.
- Surface Area: Fluctuates wildly; it has grown from about 45,000 acres in the early 1990s to over 160,000 acres today.
- Location: Northeastern North Dakota, centered near the city of Devils Lake.
Devils Lake is legendary in the fishing world, often called the "Perch Capital of the World." Because the lake has expanded so significantly in recent decades, it has swallowed thousands of acres of former farmland and hundreds of buildings, creating a unique underwater forest landscape that provides incredible habitat for fish. The name is a loose translation of the Native American name "Miniwaukan," which early explorers interpreted as "Bad Spirit" or "Devils" Lake.
Two very different giants share North Dakota's "largest" titles. Lake Sakakawea is the State massive artificial anchor, providing 1,500 miles of shoreline and a deep-water sanctuary for the Missouri River. Devils Lake serves as the State natural leader, a sprawling terminal lake in the east that has more than tripled in size over the last thirty years, cementing its status as a world-class destination for anglers and a powerful example of nature's ability to reshape the plains.
