Ranked by surface area computed from USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) lake polygons — consistent federal geometry, not state-documented acreage; figures can differ modestly from traditionally cited ones.
The Great Lakes and border waters over 300,000 acres are excluded — this list ranks inland lakes.
Lakes whose mapped polygon could not be confidently matched are excluded rather than guessed.
Lakes under 50 acres are excluded from rankings.
Public access inventories are not yet tracked for Minnesota here, so access is never shown or ranked.
FAQ
Faribault County lake records
What is the biggest lake in Faribault County?
Rice Lake — Rice Lake in Faribault County is the biggest inland lake in Faribault County by USGS NHD surface area, at 979 acres.
Source data: USGS National Hydrography Dataset lake polygons as aggregated by LakeList. NHD-computed area can differ modestly from traditionally cited acreages.Lake outlines are shoreline shapes from LakeList and the USGS National Hydrography Dataset; they illustrate a lake's form and are not depth or navigation charts.