While beaches might steal the summer vacation thunder, America also has some incredible lakes.
From famous names like Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada border, to hidden gems such as Oklahoma's Lake Tenkiller, here are the 20 most beautiful lakes in America, ranked.
20. Lake Eklutna, Alaska
Less than an hour outside Anchorage, Lake Eklutna is an under-the-radar destination that can be explored byhiking, biking, and even by ATV. Kayaking is also popular. It's located inside Chugach State Park, whichspans 495,000 acres of rugged Alaskan terrain.
19. Lake Ouachita, Arkansas
Lake Ouachita (pronounced Wash-ah-taw), the biggest manmade lake in Arkansas, boasts 40,000 acres of pristine water and is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and diving. Development was prohibited along the lake's 600-mile shoreline, leaving a tree-lined sanctuary that features a geo-float trail— the first water-based interpretive trail in the National Trails System — and one of the world's largest crystal veins.
18. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire's largest lake, spans 20 miles at the foot of the White Mountains. About 275 islands dot its surface.
On TripAdvisor, one user calls Lake Winnipesaukee the "most beautiful lake in New Hampshire," while others note that it's a great destination for activities such as kayaking, boating, and swimming.
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