The lake trout is the largest species of char in the salmon family.
Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, are native to cold, deep freshwater lakes in northern North America. Their natural range includes the Great Lakes, Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northeastern United States. They prefer cold, well-oxygenated water and can live for decades.
The species is a char rather than a true trout in the strict taxonomic sense. It belongs to Salvelinus, the same genus as brook trout and Arctic char. Lake trout usually have a deeply forked tail and pale spots on a dark body, although coloration varies with habitat.
Lake trout are important sport and commercial fish. In some lakes, introduced populations have altered food webs by preying heavily on native fish, so management differs between regions.