) New Hampshire can thank the glaciers for the abundance of lakes that spread across the landscape, left as the ice receded and melted more than 15,000 years ago. The state officially lists 944 lakes, 17 of them larger than 1000 acres. The largest of all, Lake Winnipesaukee, covers more than 44,000 acres. In choosing the 10 lakes to include, considerations such as access, aesthetics, and activities were more important than size. NH has several larger lakes, including Ossipee Lake and Massabesic, which are not on this list. Some are lined by private cottages and have no public access or beaches; others are public water supplies that do not permit swimming, or otherwise limit public use.