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 Greenwood, SC (Old 96 District, SC, South Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
505 ft | Lake Greenwood, located in the counties of Greenwood, Laurens, and Newberry, is one of South Carolina’s more popular lakes. Stretching 20 miles and wi … |
| J. Percy Priest Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
505 ft | Also known as J. Percy Priest Reservoir One of the most popular recreation sites in the Middle Tennessee region of J Percy Priest lake. Less than 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, the rese … |
| Lake Placid, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
503 ft | Lake Placid is a small reservoir on the Guadalupe River one mile southwest of Sequin, Texas in the Prairies and Lakes Region. Operated by the Guadalup … |
| Lake Wister, OK (Kiamichi Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
503 ft | Also known as Wister Lake, Wister Reservoir Lake Wister, in southeastern Oklahoma’s Kiamichi Country, is a reservoir created by damming the Poteau River — the only river that flows north in Okl … |
| Lake Waco, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
500 ft | Also known as Waco Lake Lake Waco, also known as Waco Lake, is located in the Prairies and Lakes region of Central Texas. Its boundary lies within the city limits of Waco in … |
| Lake Austin, TX (Hill Country Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
495 ft | Scenic Lake Austin snakes its way through the Austin Hill Country on the Colorado River in Central Texas. It is the sixth lake down the chain of the H … |
| Lake Sonoma, CA (California, North Coast Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
495 ft | In 1983 the US Army Corps of Engineers completed the Warm Springs Dam, and the almost limitless recreation opportunities of Sonoma County California e … |
| Calaveras Lake, TX (South Texas Plains Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
491 ft | Also known as Calaveras Reservoir Created in 1969 to be a power plant cooling pond, Calaveras Reservoir has developed into one of Texas’ premiere bass lakes. The manmade jewel is 20 mi … |
| Greers Ferry Lake, AR (Arkansas, Ozarks Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
487 ft | People who love the outdoors will love Greers Ferry Lake. The lake offers ample opportunities for hiking, biking, boating, hunting, and world class fi … |
| Ullswater (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
486 ft | Also known as Ullswater Lake, The Lake District Cumbria, in northwest England’s famous Lake District, is home to diverse natural features that attract visitors from near and far. Ullswater, a natura … |
| Pine Creek Lake, OK (Kiamichi Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
480 ft | Also known as Pine Creek Reservoir Pine Creek Lake, flowing north to south in the Kaimichi Region of Oklahoma, covers 3,750 acres of recreation and wildlife paradise. Authorized by the … |
| Folsom Lake, CA (California, Gold Country Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
480 ft | Folsom Lake lays magnificently nestled along the American River at the base of the Sierra foothills. It is surrounded by an abundance of striking scen … |