Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in US Midwest Region 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 516 articles we have published for US Midwest Region lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in US Midwest Region, only the 516 US Midwest Region lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake McConaughy, NE (Nebraska, Prairie Lakes Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
3,270 ft | Also known as Big Mac Lake McConaughy, commonly called Big Mac, is Nebraska’s largest reservoir with 30,500 acres and 76 shoreline miles. Lake McConaughy is conveniently lo… |
| Merritt Reservoir, NE (Nebraska, Sandhills Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,956 ft | Deep in the heart of the Midwest, in the Sandhills region of Nebraska, lies the 2,906-acre Merritt Reservoir. This secluded lake is a paradise for tho… |
| Bowman Haley Lake, ND (North Dakota, Southwest Region, ND, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,777 ft | Also known as Bowman-Haley Lake Bowman Haley Lake, located in Southwestern North Dakota, was once a Sioux hunting ground. Bowman Haley Lake is now a 1,740-acre lake surrounded by rol… |
| Calamus Reservoir, NE (Nebraska, Sandhills Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,253 ft | Located in central Nebraska, the Calamus Reservoir is a wonderful place to relax, appreciate the beauty of nature, and enjoy some fun on the water. Th… |
| Sherman Reservoir (Nebraska, Sandhills Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,162 ft | Also known as Sherman Lake Sherman Reservoir adds great recreation value to the Sandhills region of Nebraska in addition to precious irrigation water for thousands of farm acres… |
| Harlan County Lake, NE (Frontier Trails Region, NE, Nebraska, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,974 ft | Harlan County Lake covers an impressive 13,250 acres in south-central Nebraska’s Frontier Trails region. Just seven miles from the Nebraska / Kansas s… |
| Lake Sakakawea, ND (North Dakota, Northwest Region, ND, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,854 ft | The second-largest reservoir by surface acreage in the United States (and third-largest in volume), Lake Sakakawea stretches 178 miles from Garrison D… |
| Waubay Chain of Lakes (Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region, SD, South Dakota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,802 ft | Also known as North Waubay Lake, South Waubay Lake, Hillebrands Lake, Spring Lake, Rush Lake, Bluedog Lake, Little Rush Lake, Minnewasta Lake Waubay Chain of Lakes, in the Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region of northeast South Dakota, is a stunning example of nature’s triumph over human settleme… |
| Lac Vieux Desert, MI/WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA, Upper Peninsula Region, MI, Wisconsin) |
1,685 ft | Also known as Lac Vieux Lake Lac Vieux Desert is the French name for this 4,260-acre lake of Michigan and Wisconsin. The name was given by French fur trappers who were among the f… |
| Star Lake WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
1,672 ft | Shaped more like a horseshoe than a star, Star Lake is a largely undeveloped 1,206-acre lake 10 miles north of Saint Germain in Vilas County, Wisconsi… |
| Otter Lake WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
1,625 ft | Also known as Eagle River Chain of Lakes Otter Lake is one of more than 1,300 lakes, 73 rivers and streams, and a half million acres of forest found within northeastern Wisconsin’s Vilas Coun… |
| Eagle River Chain of Lakes, WI (Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
1,625 ft | Also known as Cranberry Lake, Catfish Lake, Voyageur Lake, Eagle Lake, Scattering Rice Lake, Otter Lake, Lynx Lake, Duck Lake, Yellow Birch Lake, Watersmeet Lake. The Eagle River Chain of Lakes in far northeastern Wisconsin is known to fishermen as prime Musky water, but the lakes are also a prime vacation desti… |
