Ohio's 10 biggest lakes that aren't Lake Erie cover thousands of acres across the state

Ohio has Lake Erie , and many parts of the Midwest touch the rest of the Great Lakes. But did you know Ohio is also home to several large natural lakes, apart from Lake Erie?

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources found that many of Ohio’s bodies of water count as natural lakes due to how deep they are, how they stratify thermally, and the waves they produce.

Here's what to know about Ohio's largest lakes that aren't Lake Erie.

What are the 10 biggest lakes in Ohio besides Lake Erie?

Ohio has 110 lakes larger than five acres of land, with a total surface area of over 4,500 acres. Twenty-one of Ohio's 88 counties have natural lakes.

Here are ten of the biggest natural lakes in Ohio and where they’re located.

1. Aurora Pond

• Acreage : 345 acres
• County : Portage County

Aurora Pond is a great place for those who love to fish, hike, or picnic with friends and family. Many fish, such as bass, sunfish and catfish, can be found in these waters, according to Snoflo .

Portage County (located between Akron and Youngstown) is also home to many other lakes, with nearly 1,500 acres of natural lakes.

2. Chippewa Lake

• Acreage : 324 acres
• County : Medina County

Boat lovers, get your engines ready. This lake is excellent for boating and kayaking, as well as many other outdoor activities, according to the Medina County website. The lake is located south of the city of Medina.

3. Turkeyfoot Lake

• Acreage : 318 acres
• County : Summit County

Love to swim? Turkeyfoot Lake has a 900-foot public swimming beach and is ideal for a day in the sun, according to the ODNR website .

4. Wingfoot Lake

• Acreage : 262 acres
• County : Portage County

Another lake in Portage County, Wingfoot Lake is perfect for outdoor lovers, with designated walking trails and picnic areas. This picturesque lake is surrounded by tall trees and grass. As a bonus, it provides a great view of Ohio aviation history with the Goodyear Blimp hangar on the southeastern shore

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5. Congress Lake

• Acreage : 200 acres
• County : Stark County

A little southeast of Wingfoot rests Congress Lake, another of Ohio's largest lakes.

For fishers, boaters, and those who love to socialize, Congress Lake is perfect for all three. According to the Congress Lake Club website , visitors enjoy spectacular views of Congress Lake while anglers can catch a variety of fish.

6. Springfield Lake

• Acreage : 200 acres
• County : Summit County

Known as the “kettle hole” lake, Springfield Lake is one of the few natural lakes in the state, according to the ODNR . It is a representative of melted glaciers from the last ice age and is fed by an underground spring. The area is great for fishing and boating for vehicles up to 250 horsepower.

7. Lake Hodgson

• Acreage : 190 acres
• County : Portage County

This lake is not only great for fishing and boating, but it also supplies water for the city of Ravenna, according to the city's website .

8. Lake Pippen

• Acreage : 143 acres
• County : Portage County

Are you a bird-lover? You came to the right place.

According to Birding Hotspots , Lake Pippen (located northeast of Kent) is a spot where you can find a variety of birds, from bald eagles to yellow-breasted chats.

9. Meyers Lake

• Acreage : 134 acres
• County : Stark County

Before this lake had an amusement park, Meyers Lake was a place for Native Americans to harvest ice and go fishing, according to Mix 94.1 . This historic lake eventually added an amusement park, but the park shut down in 1974 .

10. Bass Lake

• Acreage : 128 acres
• County : Geauga County

Also a remnant of an ancient glacier, Bass Lake is a shallow body of water near the Chagrin River south of Chardon and east Cleveland, per ODNR . This area is good for fishing and is surrounded by lots of extensive wetlands that have kept development to a minimum.

Odell Lake in Holmes County (107 acres), Punderson Lake, a few miles south of Bass Lake in Geauga County, at 101 acres and Summit Lake in Summit County (100 acres) are also some of Ohio's largest natural lakes that aren't Lake Erie.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio's 10 biggest lakes that aren't Lake Erie cover thousands of acres across the state