Surface　sediments　were　collected　to　investigate　the　pollution　levels　and　ecological　risks　of　heavy　metals　(e.g.,　As,　Ni,　Pb,　Cu,　Zn,　Cr,　Cd,　and　Mn)　in　the　surface　sediments　covered　by　emerged　and　submerged　plants　in　the　main　areas　of　the　Baiyangdian　Lake.　The　results　showed　that　Pb　and　Cd　highly　exceeded　the　background　values　of　Hebei　Province　and　had　high　pollution　levels,　while　other　heavy　metals　exhibited　no　pollution.　With　the　exception　of　Mn,　there　was　no　significant　difference　in　the　concentrations　of　heavy　metals　in　surface　sediments　between　the　emerged-plant　and　submerged-plant　zones.　The　concentrations　of　heavy　metals　in　Zaolinzhuang　were　relatively　low,　while　those　in　Wangjiazhai,　Nanliuzhuang　and　Shaochedian　were　relatively　high.　In　the　two　plant　zones,　Cd　in　surface　sediments　posed　a　considerable　risk　at　all　sampling　sites　regardless　of　plant　zones,　followed　by　Pb　with　light　pollution　level.　Correlation　analysis　and　factor　analysis　results　showed　that　all　these　heavy　metals　generally　originated　from　three　different　sources　in　both　plant　zones,　of　which　As,　Cu　and　Zn　had　two　sources　in　the　emerged　plant　zones.　Our　findings　indicate　that　Cd　and　Pb　pollution　of　the　Baiyangdian　Lake　should　be　given　more　attention　to　contribute　to　the　environmental　control　and　ecosystem　conservation　of　the　lake.　©　2022　European　Regional　Centre　for　Ecohydrology　of　the　Polish　Academy　of　Sciences