Which Great Lake is the largest by surface area?

Lake Superior is the largest Great Lake by surface area.

It covers about 82,100 square kilometres, making it the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. Its water stretches between Ontario, Canada, and the U.S. states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Although Lake Superior is shared by four jurisdictions, most of its shoreline is in Canada and the United States.

The lake is also exceptionally deep and holds more water than any other Great Lake. Its immense size can make it resemble an inland sea, and storms can produce large waves far from the shoreline. The name “Superior” reflects its position north of Lake Huron and its higher elevation relative to Lake Michigan.

A common mix-up is confusing largest surface area with greatest volume. Lake Superior leads on both measures among the Great Lakes, while Lake Baikal is larger by volume among freshwater lakes worldwide.