The Lake a large area filled with water sourced by the river that runs through town in Animal Crossing. It is a prominent location in the town, serving as the site of several events throughout the year.
The lake is a distinct area of the town marked out on the map and features a small jetty and lily pads growing the center of the lake. A large open area lies next to the lake where numerous events are hosted, including the Fishing Tourney, Fireworks Show, Harvest Moon Festival and Countdown. Chip will set up a tent during the Fishing Tourney, Redd sets up a stall during the Fireworks show, and a board will be erected during Countdown to indicate the time left until the New Year. Reflections of fireworks and the moon can be viewed in the water during the events in which they occur.
A distinct set of fish can be found in the lake compared to the river, several of which can only be caught here. Fish caught in the lake have their habitat labelled in the encyclopedia as a pond, though this should not be confused with the isolated ponds that can appear throughout town.
Other games
A part of a river that resembles a lake in City Folk
In later games, the lake is no longer a distinct area. However towns will generate a section of river that widens significantly into a pool resembling a small lake, but containing river fish. In New Horizons, wide sections of river are no longer naturally generated, and all previous lake fish are now found in ponds. Many of the Mystery Island Tour destinations feature large bodies of water that resemble lakes but contain the same fish as ponds.
