This list of lakes in France roughly distinguishes three categories: the mountain lakes, sorted first by massif, and then by départements; the lakes in plains, sorted by river basin; and the coastal lakes.
Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), the largest in western Europe with 582 km2 (225 sq mi), partly in France, partly in Switzerland, is listed in Haute-Savoie for its French part.
Mountain lakes
The lakes of mountain massifs can be natural, often of glaciary origin (G), or volcanic (V), or artificial, generally built for hydraulic energy purposes (H) or flow regulation (F).
- Lac Achard in the massif de Belledonne
- Lac Besson in the massif des Rousses
- Lac Bramant in the massif des Rousses
- Lac Brouffier in the massif du Taillefer
- Lac du Chambon in the massif de l'Oisans
- Lac Claret in the massif de Belledonne
- Lac de la Coche in the massif de Belledonne
- Lac de Croz in the massif de Belledonne
- Lac du Crozet in the massif de Belledonne
- Lac de la Fare in the massif des Rousses
- Lac Faucille in the massif des Rousses
- Lac Fourchu in the massif du Taillefer
- Lac de Grand'Maison at the Vallon de l'Eau d'Olle
- Lac de la Grande-Sître in the massif de Belledonne
- Lac Guichard in the massif des Rousses
- Lac du Lauvitel in the massif des Écrins, 350,000 m²
- Lac Lérié in the massif de l'Oisans
- Lac Merlat in the massif de Belledonne
- Lac du Milieu in the massif des Rousses
- Lac Noir in the massif de l'Oisans
- Lac Noir in the massif des Rousses
- Lac Noir d'Emparis in the massif de l'Oisans
- Lac de Paladru (G)
- Lac du Plan in the massif de l'Oisans
- Lac du Pontet in the massif de l'Oisans
- Lac du Poursollet in the massif du Taillefer
- Lac Potet in the massif des Rousses
- Lac du Verney in the massif des Grandes-Rousses
