Lakes / North Dakota / Stump Lake
Stump Lake, North Dakota
17,681 acres
Surface Area
77.1 ft
Max Depth
34.9 ft
Average Depth
91.3 mi
Shoreline
1,449 ft
Surface Elevation
Where It Sits, and How Deep It Goes
Locator - North Dakota
47.88 degrees N, 98.36 degrees W - Nelson County. State and county outlines drawn from Census boundary data; the lake marker is placed by its North Dakota Game and Fish coordinates, not by eye. Schematic - not a survey map.
Depth Profile - Stump Lake
Schematic cross-section drawn to one shared depth scale - not a survey or bathymetric map.
How Stump Lake Stacks Up
- The deepest natural lake counted in North Dakota - 77.1 ft at its deepest.
- Ranks #4 for surface area among the North Dakota lakes counted so far - 17,681 acres.
- The largest lake in Nelson County among those counted.
- Its average depth of 34.9 ft is more than 3 times a typical shallow North Dakota lake, which averages under 10 ft.
Fish Species
Yellow PerchWalleyeNorthern PikeWhite Bass
Species recorded for this lake. Presence only - no abundance ratings.
Facts and Figures
Waterbody ID143418975
CountyNelson
Coordinates47.8775, -98.3613
Deepest Natural Lakes in North Dakota
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stump Lake | Nelson | 17,681 acres | 77.1 ft |
| 2 | Devils Lake | Ramsey | 110,763 acres | 58.1 ft |
| 3 | Free Peoples Lake | Benson | 891 acres | 55.3 ft |
| 4 | Spiritwood Lake | Stutsman | 493 acres | 54.7 ft |
| 5 | Moon Lake | Barnes | 115 acres | 54.3 ft |
Largest Lakes in North Dakota
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Sakakawea | McLean | 350,520 acres | 180 ft |
| 2 | Lake Oahe | Emmons | 309,912.6 acres | 200 ft |
| 3 | Devils Lake | Ramsey | 110,763 acres | 58.1 ft |
| 4 | Stump Lake | Nelson | 17,681 acres | 77.1 ft |
| 5 | Long Lake | Burleigh | 16,934 acres | - |
Sources: North Dakota Game and Fish lake data (ID 143418975); USGS EPQS. Verified October 30, 2026.