Borden Lake vs Round Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Round Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Borden Lake. Both are in Minnesota.
Both Borden Lake and Round Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Borden Lake versus Round Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Borden Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft.
Round Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Borden Lake | Round Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 10.5 ft | 14.5 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | 10 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 84 ft | 125 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 1,011 acres | 737 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 16 | 18 Better |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | oligotrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
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Verdict
Borden Lake and Round Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Borden Lake: 10.5 ft, Round Lake: 14.5 ft) and what you want from the lake. Borden Lake has fewer fish species than Round Lake.
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Where to stay near Borden Lake and Round Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Borden Lake and Round Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Borden Lake and Round Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.