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List of lakes of Arkansas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Arkansas is a state with lots of water! It has over 2,340 named lakes and reservoirs. These watery places are great for fun activities like swimming, fishing, and boating. But remember, not all lakes allow all activities, so it's always good to check first!

A lake is a natural body of water that is completely surrounded by land. Think of it like a big puddle, but much, much bigger and deeper! On Earth, we usually call a body of water a lake if it's inland, not part of the huge ocean, and larger than a pond.

A reservoir is like an artificial lake. People create reservoirs to store water for different uses. The word "reservoir" comes from an old French word meaning "storehouse." Reservoirs can be made by building a dam across a river valley. They can also be built by digging a large hole in the ground or using materials like brick or concrete.

Arkansas's Biggest Lakes

Arkansas has many large lakes and reservoirs. Here are some of the biggest ones, listed by their size:

Lake/reservoir Region Acreage Hectares
Lake Ouachita Southwest 66,324 26,840
Bull Shoals Lake Northwest 45,440 18,390
Lake Dardanelle Northwest 34,300 13,900
Greers Ferry Lake Northwest 31,500 12,700
Millwood Lake Southwest 29,200 11,800
Beaver Lake Northwest 28,220 11,420
Norfork Lake Northeast 22,000 8,900
Lake Jack Lee Southeast 15,000 6,100
DeGray Lake Southwest 13,400 5,400
Ozark Lake Northwest 10,600 4,300
Lake Maumelle Central 8,900 3,600
Lake Hamilton Southwest 7,460 3,020
Lake Erling Southwest 7,000 2,800
Lake Conway Central 6,700 2,700
Lake Chicot Southeast 5,300 2,100

Lakes by County

Arkansas has lakes and reservoirs in almost every county! Here is a list of links to learn more about the lakes in each county:

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List of lakes of Arkansas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.