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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aquilla Lake, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
552 ft | Also known as Aquilla Dam, Aquilla Creek Reservoir Located in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas, lake enthusiasts will find a 3,280 acre, V-shaped reservoir called Aquilla Lake. The lake was forme … |
| Lake Dunlap, TX (Hill Country Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
550 ft | Also known as Dunlap Reservoir Lake Dunlap is one of several lakes formed by impounding the Guadalupe River with construction of dams along its course. Lake Dunlap is located near N … |
| Patoka Lake, IN (Indiana, South Indiana, US Midwest Region, USA) |
548 ft | Patoka Lake lies nestled within the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1965, the U.S. Army Corps of E … |
| Lake Tapps (Seattle & Puget Sound Region, WA, US West Region, USA, Washington) |
543 ft | Also known as Tapps Reservoir Located in the populous Seattle and Puget Sound Region of Washington, Lake Tapps delivers water supply, recreation and sound fish ecology to residents … |
| Lake Lewisville, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
537 ft | Also known as Lewisville Lake Lake Lewisville, a favorite spot in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for water sport enthusiasts, offers visitors a variety of recreational pursuits includi … |
| 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 … |
| Lake McQueeney, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
533 ft | Located in the Guadalupe River watershed, Lake McQueeney is about 7 miles southeast of New Braunfels in the Prairies and Lakes Region of Texas. Manage … |
| Lake Jackson, GA (Georgia, Historic Heartland Region, GA, US South Region, USA) |
530 ft | Also known as Jackson Lake Lake Jackson’s 4,750 surface acres are ideally located some 44 miles southeast of Atlanta, Georgia for a pleasant weekend or longer of fishing and boa … |
| Rough River Lake, KY (Kentucky, Kentucky Derby Region, KY, US South Region, USA) |
524 ft | Straddling the Grayson, Breckinridge, and Hardin County lines in south central Kentucky, Rough River Lake is a 5,100 acre reservoir completed in 1951 … |
| Lewis Smith Lake, AL (Alabama, Mountains Region, AL, US South Region, USA) |
522 ft | Also known as Smith Lake Lewis Smith Lake is a perfect place for an outdoor adventure. Tucked into a corner of the Bankhead National Forest in northern Alabama’s Mountain Regi … |
| Greenleaf Lake, OK (Green Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
510 ft | Greenleaf Lake is nestled in Oklahoma’s Green Country tourism region, an area that is home to over half of Oklahoma’s state parks. This artificial fre … |
| Cordell Hull Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
508 ft | Also known as Cordell Hull Reservoir One of the premier spots for water-based recreation in the Middle Tennessee region is Cordell Hull Lake. Built by the United States Army Corps of Engi … |