Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in Georgia by altitude
While lake levels can flucuate frequently based on several circumstances, the altitude/elevation of a lake is based on its normal water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level. For a reservoir, this water level is also known as “full pond” or “full pool”.Low lake levels can occur due to deliberate seasonal draw downs for irrigation or impending snow melt, reduced water inflows, drought and evaporation, residential or commercial water demands, and hydropower generation. Some lakes’ minimum and maximum elevations are virtually the same. Lakes that generate hydropower may vary by several feet – according to power demand. Lakes whose primary purpose is to prevent flooding can seasonally vary by 100 feet or more. When some lakes reach their minimum elevation, their boat ramps may not be long enough to permit boat access – and boats docked on shallow parts of the lake may end up on dry ground. In those cases, kayakers and shore-based anglers may be among the few happy recreational users of the lake.
A lake’s highest water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level, that can occur during flooding. A lake’s highest possible maximum elevation is usually the top of the lake’s dam or spillway. At lakes that include residential development, government regulations usually forbid the construction of homes below a lake’s maximum elevation.
You can find many of the world’s highest-elevated lakes on LakeLubbers. Lakes with the lowest elevations (known by LakeLubbers) are shown on the final page of that list. Note: For some lakes, "Altitude/Elevation" data is unknown, so this table may display fewer lakes than the total 40 articles we have published for Georgia lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Georgia > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in Georgia, only the 40 Georgia lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Chatuge, GA/NC (Georgia, Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, US South Region, USA) |
1,928 ft | Also known as Chatuge Lake, Chatuge Reservoir Beautiful Lake Chatuge (pronounced “sha-toog”) spans 7200 acres and two states, stretching 13 miles from Hayesville, North Carolina, to Hiawassee, Geo … |
| Lake Burton, GA (Georgia, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, US South Region, USA) |
1,867 ft | Lake Burton is the first and largest reservoir in a series of lakes managed by Georgia Power Company, called the North Georgia Hydro Group. Its 2,775 … |
| Lake Seed, GA (Georgia, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, US South Region, USA) |
1,765 ft | Also known as Seed Lake, Lake Nacoochee If you’re looking for the perfect spot for a getaway vacation in the Northeast Georgia Mountain region, you need look no farther than Lake Seed. It’s … |
| Blue Ridge Lake, GA (Georgia, Historic High Country Region, GA, US South Region, USA) |
1,691 ft | Also known as Lake Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Reservoir Located some 90 miles north of Atlanta and near Blue Ridge, Georgia, Blue Ridge Lake has all the desirable qualities for lovers of outdoor excitement … |
| Lake Lanier, GA (Georgia, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, US South Region, USA) |
1,085 ft | Also known as Lake Sidney Lanier Lake Sidney Lanier, better known as Lake Lanier, stretches out over 38,000 acres and 692 miles of shoreline along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Moun … |
| Lake Allatoona, GA (Georgia, Historic High Country Region, GA, US South Region, USA) |
861 ft | Also known as Allatoona Lake Lake Allatoona, located northwest of Atlanta, is one of the most visited Army Corps of Engineers lakes in the United States. With a shoreline of 270 m … |
| Bear Creek Reservoir, GA (Georgia, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, US South Region, USA) |
702 ft | Also known as Bear Creek Lake Bear Creek Reservoir is an infant as far as reservoirs go; it was completed and dedicated in 2002. In August 2009 anglers and boaters finally had a pl … |
| Hartwell Lake, GA/SC (Georgia, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, South Carolina, The Upcountry, SC, US South Region, USA) |
666 ft | Also known as Lake Hartwell So large it covers parts of six counties in two states, Lake Hartwell draws millions of visitors a year to play on its 56,000 acres of water. With ple … |
| West Point Lake, AL/GA (Alabama, Georgia, Metropolitan Region, AL, Presidential Pathways Region, GA, US South Region, USA) |
641 ft | West Point Lake, located on the Alabama-Georgia border just north of I-85, stretches 35 miles along the Chattahoochee River. The 25,900-acre reservoir … |
| Lake Jackson, GA (Georgia, Historic Heartland Region, GA, US South Region, USA) |
530 ft | Also known as Jackson Lake Lake Jackson’s 4,750 surface acres are ideally located some 44 miles southeast of Atlanta, Georgia for a pleasant weekend or longer of fishing and boa … |
| Lake Oliver, AL/GA (Alabama, Georgia, Presidential Pathways Region, GA, River Heritage Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
337 ft | Located in west central Georgia in the Presidential Pathways region, Lake Oliver is a 2,150-acre lake that has one shoreline in Georgia and the other … |