6 Largest Ponds in the United States

Written by Nixza Gonzalez
Updated: April 20, 2023
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The United States has no shortage of freshwater lakes or ponds. The tricky part is deciphering what a “lake” and a “pond” are. Technically, there are no standard requirements for a pond or lake, so sometimes, the words are used interchangeably. Still, many people consider ponds as small bodies of water which are shallow compared to lakes. So, for the sake of this article, we’ve stuck to writing about small bodies of water with the word ‘pond’ in their name.

6 Largest Ponds in the United States infographic
6 Largest Ponds in the United States infographic

Keep reading to discover the six most extensive ponds in the United States and all they have to offer!

1. Great Pond

The largest pond by area in the United States is Great Pond in Maine. The pond’s surface area is 8,533 acres, while the catchment area is 82.9 square miles. This beautiful and refreshing pond is about 7 miles long and 4 miles wide. Its mean depth is about 21 feet, and the lake is an excellent spot for fishing. It’s located in Kennebec County. While the Pond is smaller than many lakes in the area, it still has several islands. Some of the more popular islands in Great Pond are Joyce Island, Oak Island, Hoyt Island, and Pine Island. Although the pond is glacial, it was formed during the development of the Great Pond Storage Dam on the Belgrade Stream.

Great Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine USA

Great Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine is the largest pond by area in the United States.

©Christopher Koshak Photos/Shutterstock.com

2. Assawompset Pond

The second largest Pond in the United States is Assawompset Pond, a reservoir or pond within Lakeville and Middleboro, Massachusetts. The pond is large and openly connected to Pocksha Pond. Assawompset Pond is also the largest natural lake or pond in the state. It covers about 2,404 acres, and its primary outflow is the Nemasket River. This pond is a popular fishing destination for many locals. It has a lot of large herrings. It’s so abundant with fish that the Nemasket River looks black during early spring, with fish quickly heading to the spawning area. You can also catch largemouth bass, yellow perch, channel catfish, and bluegill.

Assawompset Pond Massachusetts

Assawompset Pond is a reservoir or pond within Lakeville and Middleboro, Massachusetts.

©iStock.com/raularosa

3. Long Pond

The next largest Pond in the United States is Long Pond, located in Lakeville and Freetown, Massachusetts. Long Pond is near Assawompset Pond. The pond’s surface area is 1,721 acres. Long Pond is also about 9 feet deep, with the deepest recorded point being 12 feet. Long Pond sits at a surface elevation of 54 feet and is 4 miles long and 1 mile wide. This natural freshwater lake has three islands, Goat Island, Nelson Island, and Lewis Island. Interestingly, the pond wasn’t always like this. When the Assawompset Pond was dammed in 1894, Long Pond’s depth increased by 5 feet. This caused Sunken Island to disappear because of erosion and high water levels, leaving behind only some rocks near Lewis Island. When in Long Pond, it’s important to watch the water carefully as there are sharp and dangerous rocks throughout the pond, and some are hard to spot.

Long Pond, Lakeville Massachusetts

Long Pond is located in Lakeville and Freetown, Massachusetts.

©John Phelan / Creative Commons – License

4. Pawtuckaway Pond

The fourth largest pond in the United States is Pawtuckaway Pond in southeastern New Hampshire. It’s located in the town of Nottingham and the Piscataqua River drainage basin. Pawtuckaway Pond is sometimes also referred to as Pawtuckaway Lake. The Pond’s primary inflows are Back Creek, Mountain Brook, and Round Pond Brook. The north primary outflow is the tributary of the Bean River, while the south primary outflow is the Pawtuckaway River. Pawtuckaway Pond’s surface area is 784 acres. The average depth of the freshwater Pond is 9 feet, with a recorded maximum of 50 feet. Pawtuckaway Pond is also 3.5 miles long and 1.1 miles wide, with a surface elevation of 250 feet. The pond is large enough to encourage fishing and has multiple islands and islets.

Pawtuckaway Pond with cloud reflections and autumn colors

Pawtuckaway Pond, with cloud reflections and autumn colors, is in New Hampshire.

©Natalie Rotman Cote/Shutterstock.com

5. Brandy Pond

Next on our list is Brandy Pond, with a surface area of 740 acres. It’s located in Naples, Maine. This mesotrophic pond has a surface elevation of 268 feet. The shore length is 6.8 miles long, which leaves plenty of room for outdoor activities like fishing and swimming. Brandy Pond has an average depth of 14 feet and a maximum depth of 44 feet. Surrounding Brandy Pond is the commercial downtown area, including private homes and a golf course.

Scenic view of Brandy Pond from the bridge at The Causeway

Scenic view of Brandy Pond from the bridge at The Causeway in Naples, Maine.

©Marie Christiane/Shutterstock.com

6. Northeast Pond

The sixth largest Pond in the United States is the Northeast Pond, which is also located in Maine. This pond is on the border between Strafford County, New Hampshire, and York County, Maine. It’s a 645-acre pond with plenty of fishing opportunities. The Pond is 2.7 miles long and 0.9 miles wide. Northeast Pond is a shallow pond with an average depth of 7 feet. However, its deepest point is 40 feet. The Pond also sits at an elevation of 413 feet, and its shore length is 9.3 miles. At Northeast Pond, you can find healthy chain pickerel populations, horned pout, yellow perch, rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass.

Chain Pickerel underwater in the Richelieu River in Canada

At Northeast Pond in Maine, you can find healthy chain pickerel populations.

©RLS Photo/Shutterstock.com

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Christopher Koshak Photos/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Nixza Gonzalez is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics like travel, geography, plants, and marine animals. She has over six years of experience as a content writer and holds an Associate of Arts Degree. A resident of Florida, Nixza loves spending time outdoors exploring state parks and tending to her container garden.

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