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 Nasser, Egypt (Egypt, Upper Egypt Region) |
642 ft | Also known as Aswah High Dam Reservoir Lake Nasser, in Egypt’s Upper Region, is a modern technological marvel with ancient roots. In Egypt’s extremely arid climate, the Nile and its annual … |
| 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 … |
| Ray Roberts Lake, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
640 ft | Also known as Ray Roberts Reservoir, Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Aubrey Sprawling across the prairie in the Texas Prairies & Lakes Region, Ray Roberts Lake is one of the newest lakes in Texas. Named after a Texas legislato … |
| Mark Twain Lake, MO (Missouri, Northeast Missouri, US Midwest Region, USA) |
640 ft | Mark Twain Lake spreads out over 18,600 acres in Ralls and Monroe Counties of northeastern Missouri. The lake and the 2,775-acre Mark Twain State Park … |
| Lake Texoma, OK/TX (Arbuckle Country, OK, Oklahoma, Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
640 ft | Also known as Texoma Lake An 89,000-acre jewel set into the landscape of Texas and Oklahoma, Lake Texoma is a sparkling wonder of deep blue water and beautiful green shores. Wi … |
| Lake Onalaska, MN/WI (Minnesota, Mississippi-Chippewa Rivers Region, WI, Southern Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA, Wisconsin) |
639 ft | Lake Onalaska is a popular year-round recreation destination on the upper Mississippi River, located between La Crosse, Wisconsin and La Crescent, Min … |
| Little Bear Creek Reservoir, AL (Alabama, Mountains Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
637 ft | Also known as Little Bear Reservoir Little Bear Creek Reservoir, located 13 miles southwest of Russellville in Franklin County in the Mountains Region of northwestern Alabama, is a 1,560 … |
| Beltzville Lake, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
636 ft | Also known as Beltzville Reservoir The Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains are spectacular for many reasons, and Beltzville Lake is one of them. Located in the southern foothills of these fam … |
| Nickajack Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
635 ft | Also known as Nickajack Reservoir Set against the spectacular scenery and steep walls of the Tennessee River Gorge, Nickajack Lake is the perfect place to relax on the water, fish, or … |
| Broken Bow Lake, OK (Kiamichi Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
628 ft | Also known as Broken Bow Reservoir Broken Bow Lake is nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of McCurtain County in southeastern Oklahoma. Covering more than 14,200 acres with 180 miles of s … |
| Lake Shelbyville, IL (Central Illinois, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
626 ft | Also known as Shelbyville Lake, Shelbyville Reservoir Seventeen miles and thousands of acres of water stretch out in front of power boaters leaving the dam at Lake Shelbyville. In addition to its wide exp … |
| McGee Creek Lake, OK (Arbuckle Country, OK, Kiamichi Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
614 ft | Also known as McGee Creek Reservoir McGee Creek Lake provides a rare surprise for visitors to southeastern Oklahoma. Hidden in the rugged, heavily-forested Ouachita Mountains, McGee Cree … |