Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in 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 2151 articles we have published for lakes.
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Below are lakes within Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in , only the 2151 lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Owassa, NJ (New Jersey, Skylands Region, NJ, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
868 ft | A privately-owned association lake, Lake Owassa is located in Sussex County in the Culvers Gap Area of the Skyland Region. The lake is only 275-acres … |
| Skaneateles Lake, NY (Finger Lakes Region, NY, New York, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
863 ft | Skaneateles Lake, pronounced “skany-atlas” or “skinny-atlas,” is one of New York’s famous Finger Lakes. Its name means “long lake” in one of the local … |
| Silver Lake, MI (Michigan, Northwest Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA) |
862 ft | Pushing her kayak out into the water of Silver Lake, she glides through the early morning mist rising off the surface of the water. With steady, stron … |
| 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 … |
| Webster Lake, IN (Indiana, North Indiana, US Midwest Region, USA) |
855 ft | Also known as Boydston Lake For visitors of the Northern Tourism Region of the beautiful state of Indiana, Webster Lake is a wonderful stopover to enjoy the scenery, incredible f … |
| Lake Mendota, WI (Southern Savanna Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
853 ft | Also known as Yahara Chain of Lakes Sometimes called the “City of 4 Lakes,” Madison in Dane County is the capital of Wisconsin and its second largest city. Its “Lake, City, Lake” tradema … |
| Lake Monona, WI (Southern Savanna Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
848 ft | Also known as Yahara Chain of Lakes Originally called “Tchee-ho-bo-kee-xa-te-la” or Teepee Lake by the Winnebago Indians who lived in the area, Lake Monona is one of the lakes bordering … |
| Lake Waubesa, WI (Southern Savanna Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
847 ft | Also known as Yahara Chain of Lakes Dane County in south central Wisconsin has plenty of water for recreation. There are 37 lakes and 475 miles of streams and rivers including 14 miles o … |
| Lake Kegonsa, WI (Southern Savanna Region, WI, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
845 ft | Also known as Yahara Chain of Lakes Lake Kegonsa gets its name from “Ke-go-e,” the Chippewa word for fish, and it has been called the “Lake of Many Fishes.” The lake is in Dane County ne … |
| Senecaville Lake, OH (Ohio, Southeast Ohio, US Midwest Region, USA) |
843 ft | Also known as Seneca Lake Senecaville Lake, also known as Seneca Lake, is the third largest inland lake in Ohio with 3,550 acres. Senecaville Lake is conveniently located in so … |
| 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 … |
| Barbee Lakes, IN (Indiana, North Indiana, US Midwest Region, USA) |
840 ft | Also known as Big Barbee Lake, Little Barbee Lake, Kuhn Lake, Irish Lake, Sawmill Lake, Sechrist Lake, Banning Lake Seven interconnected, natural lakes comprise the Barbee Lakes chain in northeastern Indiana’s Kosciusko County: Big Barbee Lake, Little Barbee Lake, K … |