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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pentwater Lake (Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA, West Central Michigan) |
582 ft | Also known as Pent Water Lake Oceana County, Michigan, is home to Pentwater Lake, a 483-acre natural freshwater lake with a very irregular shape. Pentwater Lake’s shoreline is 8.6 … |
| Lake Fort Gibson, OK (Green Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
582 ft | Also known as Fort Gibson Reservoir or Fort Gibson Lake Fort Gibson is a historic place in United States military history. It was significant to many military expeditions; it was a site of negotiations, int … |
| Norfork Lake, AR/MO (Arkansas, Missouri, Ozarks Region, AR, Southwest Missouri, US Midwest Region, US South Region, USA) |
580 ft | Locals describe Norfork Lake as “unspoiled, uncrowded, and unforgettable.” It is an apt description for this beautiful lake hidden in the Ozark Region … |
| Great East Lake, ME/NH (Lakes Region, NH, Maine, New Hampshire, Southern Coast Region, ME, US New England Region, USA) |
574 ft | Great East Lake is a paradise for anyone who enjoys a relaxing time. With over 1700 acres of water and 12 miles of shoreline, Great East Lake is known … |
| Lake Whitney (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
571 ft | Also known as Whitney Lake, Whitney Reservoir A welcoming oasis of water in the often dry Texas Prairies and Lakes Region, Lake Whitney draws visitors from some of the largest cities in Texas. Abo … |
| Gillham Lake, AR (Arkansas, Ouachitas Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
569 ft | Gillham Lake is known as “The Bright Spot of the Cossatot” due to its location on the Cossatot River, a challenging white water stream in Arkansas. Th … |
| Clearwater Lake MO (Missouri, Southeast Missouri, US Midwest Region, USA) |
567 ft | Shining in the middle of the Ozarks in southeastern Missouri, Clearwater Lake offers visitors more than 1,600 acres of water for boating, skiing, swim … |
| Lake Greeson, AR (Arkansas, Ouachitas Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
563 ft | Southwest of Little Rock, Arkansas in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, lies a hidden mountain treasure. Lake Greeson is one of the oldest rese … |
| Nolin River Lake, KY (Caves, Lakes & Corvettes Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
560 ft | Tucked into the hills of south central Kentucky, 5,795 acre Nolin River Lake shares residence among Edmonson, Grayson, and Hart counties. Created by t … |
| Dierks Lake, AR (Arkansas, Ouachitas Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
557 ft | Located on the Saline River, Dierks Lake is easy to access off of Highway 70, and with 1,360 acres of water there is plenty of room for boaters and wa … |
| Monroe Lake, IN (Indiana, South Central Indiana, US Midwest Region, USA) |
556 ft | Also known as Monroe Reservoir, Lake Monroe The largest lake in Indiana, Monroe Lake is also one of the state’s most scenic. Set among the rolling wooded hills, limestone bluffs overlook the 10, … |
| Suncook Lakes (Lakes Region, NH, New Hampshire, US New England Region, USA) |
555 ft | Also known as Lower Suncook Lake, Upper Suncook Lake The Suncook Lakes are two of the lakes that dot the countryside of the appropriately named Lakes Region of New Hampshire. The region is home to big, b … |