Mexico in Numbers: Mexico’s largest lakes

Earlier this year, MND published “Mexico in Numbers” articles on “Mexico’s largest and most populous islands” and “Mexico’s biggest and smallest states.”

Today, we’re turning our focus to Mexico’s largest freshwater lakes by surface area.

Let’s jump in!

* The data in this article comes from the National Water Commission and the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. 

1. Lake Chapala

Mainly located in Jalisco, but extending across the state border into Michoacán, Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest freshwater lake.

The lake has a surface area of 1,116 km2 and a water storage capacity of 8.126 billion cubic meters.

Did you know that a VW Beetle crossed Lake Chapala on Sept. 8, 1968? Click here to read the incredible story.

2. Lake Cuitzeo

Situated mainly in Michoacán, but extending across the state border into Guanajuato, Lake Cuitzeo is Mexico’s second largest freshwater lake.

The lake has a surface area of 306 km2 and a water storage capacity of 920 million cubic meters. Based on the surface area measure, Lake Chapala is around 3.6 times larger than Lake Cuitzeo.

Lago de Cuitzeo, as the lake is called in Spanish, has lost a lot of its water in recent years due to drought. The situation was particularly dire in 2021.

3. Lake Pátzcuaro

Located in the municipality of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Lake Pátzcuaro is Mexico’s third largest freshwater lake.

The lake has a surface area of 97 km2 and a water storage capacity of 550 million cubic meters. Based on the surface area measure, Lake Chapala is around 11.5 times larger than Lake Pátzcuaro.

Lake Pátzcuaro is home to an endangered species of salamanders known as achoques. The island of Janitzio, a popular Day of the Dead destination, is located in the lake.

4. Lake Yuriria

Located in Guanajuato, Lake Yuriria is Mexico’s fourth largest freshwater lake.

This artificial lake, called Laguna de Yuriria in Spanish, has a surface area of 80 km2 and a water storage capacity of 188 million cubic meters. Based on the surface area measure, Lake Chapala is around 14 times larger than Lake Yuriria.

Lake Yuriria is located in the municipality of Yuriria in southern Guanajuato. The town of Yuriria is a pueblo mágico.

5. Laguna Catemaco

Located in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, Laguna Catemaco (also known as Lake Catemaco) is Mexico’s fifth largest freshwater lake.

The lake has a surface area of 75 km2 and a water storage capacity of 454 million cubic meters. Based on the surface area measure, Lake Chapala is around 15 times larger than Laguna Catemaco.

The town of Catemaco is located on the northwestern shore of Laguna Catemaco. The town is famous for its sorcerers, or brujos.