Sol Neelman/The Oregonian

Oregon’s lakes are prized and pristine places, respites for paddles and fishers alike, where still waters reflect snow-capped peaks, feeding rivers that rush through every corner of the state.

And while this isn’t the land of 10,000 lakes (you can go to Minnesota for that), there are about 1,400 named lakes in Oregon, according to the Water Resources Department, found in the arid desert, the Cascade mountains, and even along the Pacific coast.

But how many of those lakes are actually real?

That’s “real” as in natural – not created or augmented by humans, using dams or dikes to back up rivers and creeks, unnaturally retaining bigger bodies of water. Some of the biggest and most popular lakes in Oregon – Detroit Lake, Wallowa Lake, Upper Klamath Lake, Lake Owyhee, Lake Billy Chinook – are, to some degree, artificial.

That’s no knock against those lakes. They’re all beautiful destinations and great places to enjoy nature. But in the name of natural authenticity, I’ve decided to highlight Oregon’s wild, untamed lakes instead. These are bodies of water formed by ancient glaciers, volcanic eruptions, and underground springs, naturally contained by old landslides, lava flows and dunes.

There are far more than 25 natural lakes around the state, so for this list I left out the ones that are small or remote, however lovely they may be. The end result represents the biggest and most beautiful real lakes in Oregon.

READ MORE: How Oregon's lakes got their names

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Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian

1. Crater Lake

The deepest lake in the United States, and the site of Oregon’s only full-fledged national park, Crater Lake is a phenomenal attraction. Its blue-hued water fills a crater nearly 2,000 feet deep, created by the eruption and subsequent collapse of Mount Mazama, a Cascade peak that once stood where the lake is today.

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Courtesy of Bureau of Land Management

2. Crump Lake

One of several lakes in the wetlands of the Warner Valley, Crump Lake can vary greatly in size, depending on the season, rainfall and snowmelt. The shallow alkali lake can cover nearly 9,000 acres, overflowing into neighboring Hart Lake in wet years, or can run almost completely dry. It is largely undisturbed and is a great habitat for migrating waterfowl.

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Courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

3. Cultus Lake

One of the dozen Cascade Lakes in the central Cascade Mountains, Cultus Lake is popular for summer recreation, found right off the Cascade Lakes Highway. The lake butts up against Cultus Mountain, a cinder cone to the south.

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Flickr/Bonnie Moreland

4. Davis Lake

Another of the dozen Cascade Lakes, Davis Lake is one of the youngest lakes in the Cascade Mountains, and could have formed as recently as 1,000 years ago when a lava flow impounded Odell Creek, which runs from the south end of the lake.

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Courtesy of Oregon State Parks

5. Devils Lake

One of the few lakes on the Oregon coast, Devils Lake formed as sand dunes and deposits blocked the lower end of the valley drained by the D River. Today, the 3-mile fresh water lake is the site of popular campgrounds and day-use areas, as well as local residences.

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Bill Monroe/The Oregonian

6. Diamond Lake

Nestled between Mount Thielsen and Mount Bailey, with Diamond Peak to the north and Crater Lake to the south, Diamond Lake is in a pocket of natural splendor – a fact not lost on the many fishers, boaters and snowmobilers who visit year-round.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

7. East Lake

East Lake, along with neighboring Paulina Lake, is a caldera inside Newberry Crater, created after the eruption and collapse of Mount Newberry. Now part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, East Lake is home to a resort, campground and natural hot springs.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

8. Elk Lake

Found just south of the Three Sisters, Elk Lake is a small, shallow lake named for the number of elk that used to be seen nearby. Like many of the other Cascade Lakes, it was created when a lava flow impounded the flow of several small streams.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

9. Floras Lake

A small lake on the southern Oregon coast, Floras Lake is cut off from the ocean by active sand dunes that encroach on its western shoreline. Only one mile of the shoreline is public, managed as Floras Lake State Park. That area remains popular among people fishing for both salmon and trout.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

10. Goose Lake

Straddling the Oregon-California border, Goose Lake is large alkali lake that covers more than 93,000 acres, but is only 24 feet at its deepest point. When full, it’s popular among water recreationalists as well as waterfowl, but many years the lake dries up completely.

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Courtesy of Ron Larson

11. Lake Abert

Lake Abert is one of several large alkali lakes in southeast Oregon, covering 57 square miles though only reaching a maximum depth of 11 feet. No fish live in the alkaline waters, but it supports a robust population of brine shrimp and is home to many migratory birds. In recent years the lake has been drying up, leading to concerns that it might disappear completely.

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Flickr/Michael McCullough

12. Lake of the Woods

In the shadow of Mount McLoughlin in southern Oregon, Lake of the Woods is a popular recreation spot, and is home to a resort, two public campgrounds and more than 200 homes. In the winter, it’s a destination for ice fishing.

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Randy L. Ramussen/The Oregonian

13. Lava Lake

Ancient lava flows from nearby Mount Bachelor formed the appropriately-named Lava Lake, which today is popular for trout fishing, and home to a lodge and campground on the southern shore. It’s one of the dozen lakes and reservoirs known as the Cascade Lakes.

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Faith Cathcart/The Oregonian

14. Lost Lake

One of the few sizeable natural lakes on the slopes of Mount Hood, Lost Lake also boasts one of the best views of Oregon’s tallest peak, seen from the resort and campgrounds that line its eastern shore. While its surface area is only 252 acres, it is extremely deep, reaching a depth of 175 feet.

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Mark Graves/The Oregonian

15. Malheur Lake

Located at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Oregon, Malheur Lake covers nearly 50,000 acres but only reaches about 5 feet at its maximum depth. The wetland lake is perfect habitat for migrating birds, which fill the refuge annually, though in recent years it’s also been home to an invasive population of carp.

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Flickr/Loren Kerns

16. Marion Lake

Found on the western edge of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Marion Lake is the largest lake in Oregon that isn’t accessible by car. Formed in a deep, glacial-cut basin, Marion Lake reaches a maximum depth of 185 feet. It has long been a popular destination for backpackers.

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Flickr/Milt Hill

17. Miller Lake

Miller Lake lies just northeast of Mount Thielsen and Crater Lake, nestled into a pretty forested setting on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. It’s regularly stocked with trout and kokanee, making it popular with anglers, and is located near the Pacific Crest Trail.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

18. Odell Lake

Willamette Highway passes along the northern shore of Odell Lake, which at 3,415 acres is one of the largest lakes in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. The lake fills a steep glacial trough that reaches 282 feet deep. There are two resorts at Odell Lake, one at the south end and another on the north end.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

19. Paulina Lake

Like its neighbor, East Lake, Paulina Lake is a caldera inside Newberry Crater, created after the eruption and collapse of Mount Newberry. Now part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Paulina Lake is also home to a lodge, several campgrounds and natural hot springs.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

20. Smith and Bybee Lakes

A pair of adjoining wetlands in north Portland, Smith and Bybee Lakes fluctuate based on the level on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, and are home to herons, eagles, beavers, turtles and other wildlife. While not easily accessible, the lakes can be seen on paved trails that make up a 2,000-acre nature park.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

21. Summer Lake

Another large alkali like in southeastern Oregon, Summer Lake runs 15 miles long and covers about 38,000 acres at its fullest, reaching a maximum depth of only five to seven feet. It sits directly underneath Winter Ridge and is home to large populations of migrating waterfowl.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

22. Suttle Lake

A small, but immensely popular lake found on the side of U.S. 20 near Sisters, Suttle Lake is home to several campgrounds as well as the recently-renovated Suttle Lodge at its northeastern tip. It's a popular destination for swimmers, boaters, fishers and kayakers.

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Wikimedia Commons/A'eron Blackman

23. Tenmile Lakes

Comprised of Tenmile Lake and neighboring North Tenmile Lake, the branching coastal lakes are fed by streams that enter at several arms stretching into the hills of the southern Coast Range. Most land in the drainage basin is owned by timber companies, and much of the shoreline of the two lakes is privately-owned, though there is a resort at the northwestern point of Tenmile Lake.

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Oregonian File Photo

24. Waldo Lake

Waldo Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Oregon, and the second deepest after Crater Lake. It’s also one of the most oligotrophic bodies of water in the world, meaning it’s low in plant nutrients and high in oxygen, making the water exceptionally clear and blue. There are several campgrounds on the northern and southern points of the lake.

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Flickr/Rick Obst

25. Woahink Lake

A large, deep lake just south of Florence on the Oregon coast, Woahink Lake is separated from the ocean by tall dunes. The lake is popular for boating, swimming and fishing, where anglers can catch trout, salmon, bass and perch. About 15 percent of the shoreline is part of Jessie M. Honeyman State Park.

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NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

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Low tide treasures: When the tide is low the treasures come out on the Oregon coast. Here are 10 things you can find.

Fossil bed sights: The Painted Hills are great, but there's so much more to see at the John Day Fossil Beds of central Oregon.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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