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Round Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Okabena Lake. Both are in Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Okabena Lake and Round Lake are both in Minnesota — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Okabena 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.

Okabena Lake

Nobles County, Minnesota

Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility.

Round Lake

Jackson County, Minnesota

Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricOkabena LakeRound Lake
Water Clarity3.3 ft Better2 ft
Phosphorus166.5 µg/L77 µg/L Better
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)24.1 µg/L14.7 µg/L Better
Maximum Depth16 ft Better9 ft
Surface Area776 acres930 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species18 Better17
Trophic Stateeutrophiceutrophic

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.

Verdict

Okabena Lake and Round Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Okabena Lake: 3.3 ft, Round Lake: 2 ft) and what you want from the lake. Okabena Lake supports more documented fish species.

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Where to stay near Okabena Lake and Round Lake

Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Okabena 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 Okabena Lake and Round Lake

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.