The aims of current study are to asses the levels of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn, Co, Pb, and Cd) in sediments of lakes in Yangtze wetland and discuss the relationships between the sources and human activities. A total of 54 samples covering seven lakes along the Yangtze route in Anqing were selected. The concentrations of metals in lake sediments were (mg·kg^-1): Cr, 4.08~12.58; Cu, 22.40~74.36; Ni, 29.89~142.17; Fe, 22899.20~50956.40; Zn, 102.31~242.04; Co, 8.35~26.89; Pb, 23.38~88.77; and Cd, 0.29~2.95. The situation of Xizi Lake was the most serious among the seven lakes investigated. Geoaccumulation index (I_geo) analysis showed that overall risk of heavy metals in sediments was approximately in the order: Cd > Pb = Zn = Cu = Ni > Fe > Co = Cr. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) suggested the main sources of Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb on PC 1 were fuel combustion, metal smelting, industrial manufacturing, and other human activities, while Fe on PC 2 originated fromrock weathering and other geochemical processes.