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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tippecanoe Lake, IN (Indiana, North Indiana, US Midwest Region, USA) |
839 ft | Also known as Lake Tippecanoe Located in northern Indiana, Tippecanoe Lake is the deepest lake in the state. It is part of the Barbee Lakes chain which is made up of seven intercon … |
| Parksville Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
837 ft | Also known as Lake Ocoee, Ocoee Lake Parksville Lake, also known as Ocoee Reservoir, is one of three reservoirs in Polk County near Cleveland,TN. Together the reservoirs run through some … |
| Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, TX (Hill Country Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
836 ft | Also known as Lake LBJ Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, also called Lake LBJ, is a 6,449 acre lake located in Llano and Burnet counties of the Texas Hill Country. The third of seven … |
| Lake Winnipegosis, MB (Canada, Manitoba, Canada) |
833 ft | Lake Winnipegosis is located in central Manitoba Province about 375 miles (by car) northwest of the major city of Winnipeg. It is one of the best outd … |
| Don Pedro Lake, CA (California, Gold Country Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
830 ft | Also known as Lake Don Pedro, Don Pedro Reservoir Don Pedro Lake, also known as Don Pedro Reservoir and Lake Don Pedro, is nestled into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. With a surface are … |
| Burnsville Lake, WV (Mountain Lakes Region, WV, US South Region, USA, West Virginia) |
825 ft | Also known as Burnsville Reservoir Beautiful Burnsville Lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to control flooding along the Little Kanawha River. The Corps began construc … |
| Blue Springs Lake, MO (Missouri, Northwest Missouri, US Midwest Region, USA) |
820 ft | Located in Jackson County, Missouri, Blue Springs Lake provides a relaxing retreat minutes from Kansas City’s urban setting. Lying within Jackson Coun … |
| Tellico Reservoir, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
815 ft | Also known as Tellico Lake About 30 minutes south of Knoxville, nestled in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, Tellico Lake is the lake that almost wasn’t. Extending 33 miles al … |
| Fort Loudoun Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
815 ft | Also known as Fort Loudoun Reservoir Named for a nearby 18th century British fort, Fort Loudoun Lake draws millions of visitors every year for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Loca … |
| Lake Manitoba, MB (Canada, Manitoba, Canada) |
813 ft | Lake Manitoba is located in central Manitoba about 45 miles northwest of the city of Winnipeg. It is one of the best fishing and outdoor natural lakes … |
| Lake District (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
807 ft | Also known as The Lake, Lakeland Holiday in England’s Lake District, and you will find sparkling lakes set amidst stunning mountain scenery, wild heather carpeting gently rolling hill … |
| Smith Mountain Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, Central Virginia, Southern Virginia Region, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
800 ft | Also known as Jewel of the Blue Ridge With emerald green shores, sapphire blue skies, topaz blue waters, and soaring surrounding mountains, it’s clear why Smith Mountain Lake is nicknamed … |