Alabama, one of the largest states in the United States, boasts over 100 public lakes teeming with diverse fish species. These lakes serve multiple purposes, such as agriculture, water supply, and power generation. The Alabama department designates certain lakes for public entertainment, offering attractions and recreational opportunities.
Alabama covers around 52,000 sq miles of land with 3.20% of the water surface. Guntersville is the largest lake in Alabama with a surface area of 69,100 acres located in Guntersville, Tennessee Rivers forms the lake. Wheeler the second largest lake is a little smaller than Guntersville with a surface area of 68,300 acres located near Decatur town. Eufaula the third largest lake created by Chattahoochee River spread in 45,180 acres.
| Reservoirs/Lake | Nearby Town | River Basin | Surface(In Acres) |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Guntersville | Guntersville | Tennessee | 69,100 |
2. Wheeler | Decatur | Tennessee | 68,300 |
3. Eufaula | Eufaula | Chattahoochee | 45,180 |
4. Pickwick | Florence | Tennessee | 41,515 |
5. Martin | Alexander City | Tallapoosa | 39,000 |
6. Weiss | Centre | Coosa | 30,200 |
7. West Point | Lanett | Chattahoochee | 25,864 |
8. Smith | Cullman, Jasper, & Winston | Warrior | 21,200 |
9. Dannelly | Selma | Alabama | 17,200 |
10. Wilson | Florence | Tennessee | 15,930 |
11. Logan Martin | Talladega | Coosa | 15,260 |
12. Jones Bluff | Montgomery | Alabama | 12,510 |
13. Lay | Columbiana | Coosa | 12,000 |
14. Neely Henry Lake | Gadsden | Coosa | 11,235 |
15. R. L. Harris | Wedowee | Tallapoosa | 10,661 |
16. Demopolis | Demopolis | Tombigbee | 10,000 |
17. Bankhead | Hueytown | Warrior | 9,200 |
18. Warrior | Eutaw | Warrior | 9, 100 |
19. Coffeeville | Jackson | Tombigbee | 8,500 |
20. Aliceville | Aliceville | Tombigbee | 8,300 |
21. Jordan | Wetumpka | Coosa | 6,800 |
22. Gainesville | Gainesville | Tombigbee | 6,400 |
23. Claiborne | Monroeville | Alabama | 5,930 |
24. Tuscaloosa | Tuscaloosa | Warrior (North Branch) | 5,885 |
25. Bartlett's Ferry | Fairfax | Chattahoochee | 5,860 |
26. Mitchell | Clanton | Coosa | 5,850 |
27. Cedar Creek | Russellville | Tennessee | 4,200 |
28. Big Creek | Mobile | Escatawpa | 3,600 |
29. Holt | Tuscaloosa | Warrior | 3,296 |
30. Oliver | Phenix City | Chattahoochee | 3,000 |
31. Gantt | Andalusia | Conecuh | 2,747 |
32. Oliver | Tuscaloosa | Warrior | 2,220 |
33. Yates | Tallassee | Tallapoosa | 1,980 |
34. Upper Bear Creek | Haleyville | Tennessee | 1,850 |
35. Little Bear Creek | Red Bay | Tennessee | 1,560 |
36. Columbia | Columbia | Chattahoochee | 1,540 |
37. Inland | Oneonta | Warrior {Blackburn} | 1,536 |
38. Purdy | Birmingham | Cahaba | 1,050 |
39. Goat Rock | Phenix City | Chattahoochee | 1,000 |
40. Shelby | Gulf Shores | Gulf of Mexico | 862 |
Why Does Alabama Have So Many Large Lakes?
Alabama has no big natural lakes worth mentioning. Nearly every item on this list is the result of a river getting dammed, usually by Alabama Power or the Army Corps of Engineers, at some point between the 1910s and the 1970s. The state’s copious rainfall and river network made it a natural candidate for hydroelectric development, and the lakes were, in a sense, a byproduct of that infrastructure push.
This matters for visitors because water levels on these lakes can and do fluctuate for power-generation and flood-control reasons, not just rainfall. If you’re planning a boating trip, it’s worth checking current pool levels rather than assuming the lake looks the same year-round.
