Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in Canada 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 164 articles we have published for Canada lakes.
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Below are lakes within Canada > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in Canada, only the 164 Canada lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Elevation in feet | Lake description |
---|---|---|
Lake Manitoba, MB (Canada, Manitoba, Canada) |
813 ft | Lake Manitoba is located in central Manitoba about 45 miles northwest of the city of Winnipeg. It is one of the best fishing and outdoor natural lakes… |
Lake Muskoka, ON (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
742 ft | Also known as Muskoka Lake, Muskoka Lakes Region Lake Muskoka, located in Ontario’s Muskoka Lakes Region, is one of Canada’s most famous lakes. Actually a chain of lakes, Muskoka joins Lake Joseph an… |
Lake Timiskaming (Canada, Ontario, Canada, Quebec, Canada) |
587 ft | Also known as Lake Temiskaming, Lac Temiscamingue Large, scenic and inviting, Lake Timiskaming forms part of the border between Ontario and Quebec. A full 68 miles long, Lake Timiskaming is about 5 mi… |
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… |
Alouette Lake (British Columbia, Canada, Canada) |
423 ft | Also known as Alouette Reservoir, Lillooet Lake (historic) Only an hour away from big-city Vancouver, Alouette Lake provides a wilderness experience and a mountain view of beautiful Golden Ears Provincial Park… |
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’… |
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… |
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… |
Lac Saint-Jean, QC (Canada, Quebec, Canada) |
327 ft | Also known as Lake Saint-John, Piekouagami Follow Quebec’s Saguenay River to Lake Saint John and you will follow a path carved by time and the impressive power of nature. The two waterways are… |
Charleston Lake (Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
274 ft | A natural haven awaits vacationers in Eastern Ontario along the shores of Charleston Lake. Balanced along the eastern edge of the Frontenac Arch geolo… |