Top 10 Largest Lakes in Texas by Surface Area

Texas' largest lakes are mostly **reservoirs** created by damming rivers. Rankings by surface area (acres):

1. Sam Rayburn Reservoir – 114,500 ac (Angelina River, Jasper/Zavalla counties)
2. Toledo Bend Reservoir – 113,500 ac (Sabine River, TX/LA border)
3. Lake Livingston – 90,028 ac (Trinity River, Polk/San Jacinto counties)
4. Lake Travis – 27,000 ac (Colorado River, near Austin)
5. Lake Texoma – 26,000 ac (Red River, TX/OK border)
6. Lake Buchanan – 24,000 ac (Colorado River, near Burnet)
7. Lake Conroe – 22,000 ac (San Jacinto River, near Houston)
8. Caddo Lake – 20,450 ac (Natural, TX/LA border—only natural lake in top 10)
9. Lake Amistad – 18,000 ac (Rio Grande, TX/MX border)
10. Lake Somerville – 17,000 ac (Yegua Creek, near Brenham)

Notes

• All except Caddo are flood-control/water-supply reservoirs.
• Surface area varies with rainfall and management.
• By *volume*, Toledo Bend often leads due to greater depth.

These lakes drive recreation, water supply, and regional economies across Texas.