Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in Ontario, Canada 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 55 articles we have published for Ontario, Canada lakes.
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Below are lakes within Canada > Ontario, Canada > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in Ontario, Canada, only the 55 Ontario, Canada lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Saganaga Lake, MN / Canada (Canada, Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, Ontario, Canada, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,435 ft | The 13,832 acres of Saganaga Lake straddle the border of Northeastern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. Part of the well known Boundary Waters Canoe Area … |
| Rainy Lake, MN / Canada (Canada, Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, Ontario, Canada, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,109 ft | Rainy Lake’s sprawling 221,000 acres straddle the border of the United States and Canada. Known as a water sports lover’s paradise, Rainy Lake is loca … |
| Lake of the Woods, MN / Canada (Canada, Manitoba, Canada, Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, Ontario, Canada, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,062 ft | Spanning the border from Minnesota into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, Lake of the Woods is an enormous body of water over 68 miles l … |
| Kawartha Lakes (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
841 ft | Also known as The Kawarthas The Kawartha Lakes are a band of beautiful lakes in south-central Ontario, Canada that form the upper watershed of the Trent River. Although 14 lakes … |
| Lake Muskoka, ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
742 ft | Also known as Muskoka Lake, Muskoka Lakes Region Lake Muskoka, located in Ontario’s Muskoka Lakes Region, is one of Canada’s most famous lakes. Actually a chain of lakes, Muskoka joins Lake Joseph an … |
| Lake Timiskaming (Canada, Ontario, Canada, Quebec, Canada) |
587 ft | Also known as Lake Temiskaming, Lac Temiscamingue Large, scenic and inviting, Lake Timiskaming forms part of the border between Ontario and Quebec. A full 68 miles long, Lake Timiskaming is about 5 mi … |
| Bobs and Crow Lakes (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
535 ft | A perfect destination to savor the character of the Rideau Lake District is Bobs and Crow Lakes. Located 50 miles north of Kingston, Ontario, the two … |
| Upper Rideau Lake (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
409 ft | Also known as Rideau Lakes Upper Rideau Lake holds a prominent place in Ontario’s ‘other Cottage Country’. Although many think of the area around Lake Muskoka as Eastern Canada’ … |
| Newboro Lake (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
401 ft | Also known as Mud Lake, Rideau Lakes Newboro Lake, in Ontario’s Rideau Lakes Region is synonymous with water fun. The 4500-acre lake is home to cottages and fishing camps, islands large a … |
| Clear Lake ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
401 ft | Also known as Rideau Lakes One of the well-known smaller lakes on Ontario’s Rideau Waterway is Clear Lake. Often overshadowed by bigger lakes such as Big Rideau Lake, Clear Lake … |
| Indian Lake ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
401 ft | Also known as Rideau Lakes Every North American chain of lakes seems to have an Indian Lake; Ontario’s Rideau Waterway is no exception. The name no doubt came from the original … |
| Sand Lake ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
381 ft | Also known as Davis Lake, Rideau Lakes Sand Lake is one of the best-known lakes along the Rideau Waterway in Eastern Ontario. Sand Lake is the location of idyllic Birch Island and home to m … |