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 |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Rideau Lake (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
409 ft | Also known as Rideau Lakes Upper Rideau Lake holds a prominent place in Ontario’s ‘other Cottage Country’. Although many think of the area around Lake Muskoka as Eastern Canada’ … |
| Lake Fork, TX (Piney Woods Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
407 ft | Also known as Lake Fork Reservoir Lake Fork (also called Lake Fork Reservoir) covers an impressive 27,264 acres in northeast Texas, on the border of the Piney Woods and Prairies and La … |
| Pickwick Lake, AL/MS/TN (Alabama, Hills Region, MS, Mississippi, Mountains Region, AL, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, West Tennessee) |
407 ft | Also known as Pickwick Reservoir Pickwick Lake is a 43,100-acre reservoir created by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with construction of Pickwick Landing Dam across the Tennesse … |
| Indian Lake ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
401 ft | Also known as Rideau Lakes Every North American chain of lakes seems to have an Indian Lake; Ontario’s Rideau Waterway is no exception. The name no doubt came from the original … |
| Clear Lake ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
401 ft | Also known as Rideau Lakes One of the well-known smaller lakes on Ontario’s Rideau Waterway is Clear Lake. Often overshadowed by bigger lakes such as Big Rideau Lake, Clear Lake … |
| Newboro Lake (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
401 ft | Also known as Mud Lake, Rideau Lakes Newboro Lake, in Ontario’s Rideau Lakes Region is synonymous with water fun. The 4500-acre lake is home to cottages and fishing camps, islands large a … |
| Lake Quinsigamond, MA (Central Massachusetts, Massachusetts, US New England Region, USA) |
400 ft | Worcester, Massachusetts is well known for many things: John Adams taught school here before becoming the second President of the United States. Songw … |
| Wappapello Lake, MO (Missouri, Southeast Missouri, US Midwest Region, USA) |
395 ft | Also known as Lake Wappapello Wappapello Lake is a Missouri gem, located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in the southeastern region of the state. Although some larger Misso … |
| Sand Lake ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
381 ft | Also known as Davis Lake, Rideau Lakes Sand Lake is one of the best-known lakes along the Rideau Waterway in Eastern Ontario. Sand Lake is the location of idyllic Birch Island and home to m … |
| Beseck Lake, CT (Connecticut, Greater New Haven Region, CT, US New England Region, USA) |
375 ft | Also known as Lake Beseck Found in Connecticut’s beautiful Greater New Haven Region, Beseck Lake is a quiet residential lake. Ideally located in Middlefield near the center of … |
| Fern Ridge Lake, OR (Oregon, US West Region, USA, Willamette Valley Region, OR) |
375 ft | Also known as Fern Ridge Reservoir Fern Ridge Lake is the largest of thirteen flood control reservoirs in Oregon’s Williamette Valley. With 9000 acres of water, Fern Ridge Lake is a pre … |
| Nimrod Lake, AR (Arkansas, Ouachitas Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
373 ft | Also known as Lake Nimrod Arkansas’s State Scenic 7 Byway travels from the timberlands in southern Arkansas at the old oil boom town of El Dorado, and ascends through the mount … |