Maryland holds the distinction of being the only U.S. state without any natural lakes. All of Maryland’s “lakes,” such as Deep Creek Lake and Loch Raven Reservoir (and every other lake), are actually man-made reservoirs created by damming rivers.
The primary reason for this lack of natural lakes in Maryland is that the state was not extensively glaciated during the last Ice Age. Glacial activity is responsible for forming the vast majority of natural lakes in North America. While there’s evidence of a periglacial lake in Maryland’s past (Buckel’s Bog), it has long since dried up. Frequently asked questions are answered below, per the Maryland Geological Survey:
Q1: Is it true that Maryland does not have any natural lakes? A1: Yes, there are no natural lakes in Maryland. All of Maryland’s lakes are manmade by damming rivers. Some have been named lakes (e.g., Lake Habeeb in Allegany County and Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County), but most have been named reservoirs (e.g., Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County)…