US Lake Facts

• There are 41 million acres of lakes and reservoirs in the U.S.
• There are approximately 100,000 lakes larger than 100 acres in the U.S. excluding Alaska, which has several million.
• Beaches, rivers and lakes are the number one vacation choice for Americans, helping to support a flourishing recreation and tourism industry. Each year, Americans take over 1.8 billion trips to go fishing, swimming, boating, or to just relax around favorite water destinations.
• On average, the value of real estate along desirable water areas is nearly 30 percent greater than similar properties located inland.
• Annual sales for just three activities--fishing, boating, and viewing and hunting ducks and other birds--is estimated at nearly $45 billion.
• According to US EPA's National Water Quality Inventory, 1996 Report to Congress, 39% of surveyed U.S. lakes are impaired by pollution.
• Nutrients, metals and siltation are the most common pollutants.
• Agricultural runoff, sewage treatment plants, and urban runoff are the leading sources of pollution.

Canadian Lake Facts

• There are at least 3 million lakes in Canada. There are so many lakes that they haven’t all been counted.
• In some regions, there are as many as 30 lakes for every 100 sq. km.
• Canada has the world’s most unstudied and pristine great lakes - Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake. Great Slave Lake is the deepest in North America at 700m (2,297 ft.).
• Almost all of Canada’s lakes drain to the north, away from population centers.