Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in East Tennessee 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 16 articles we have published for East Tennessee lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Tennessee > East Tennessee > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in East Tennessee, only the 16 East Tennessee lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
1,975 ft | Also known as Lake Watauga Watauga Lake exudes independence, solitude, and nature’s bounty. If these traditional American values appeal to you, then you need to visit pristine W… |
| South Holston Lake, VA (Blue Ridge Highlands, VA, East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, Virginia) |
1,742 ft | Also known as South Holston Reservoir An impoundment of the South Fork Holston River, South Holston Lake is an exceptional place to fish and boat. Straddling the Virginia and Tennessee sta… |
| Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
1,263 ft | Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir is an impoundment of the South Fork Holston River near Kingsport, TN. Extending ten miles upstream from Fort Patrick Henr… |
| Cherokee Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
1,075 ft | Also known as Cherokee Reservoir Cherokee Lake: Artists stop at Clinch Mountain Overlook to paint it, and photographers to photograph it, and every year millions of people come from a… |
| Norris Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
1,034 ft | Also known as Norris Reservoir Just 25 miles north of Knoxville, Tennessee, Norris Lake is the first reservoir created by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Named for Senator George No… |
| Douglas Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
1,000 ft | Also known as Douglas Reservoir Douglas Lake, also known as Douglas Reservoir, stretches out over more than 28,000 acres and 500 shoreline miles in eastern Tennessee. Douglas Lake is… |
| Parksville Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
837 ft | Also known as Lake Ocoee, Ocoee Lake Parksville Lake, also known as Ocoee Reservoir, is one of three reservoirs in Polk County near Cleveland,TN. Together the reservoirs run through some… |
| Fort Loudoun Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
815 ft | Also known as Fort Loudoun Reservoir Named for a nearby 18th century British fort, Fort Loudoun Lake draws millions of visitors every year for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Loca… |
| Tellico Reservoir, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
815 ft | Also known as Tellico Lake About 30 minutes south of Knoxville, nestled in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, Tellico Lake is the lake that almost wasn’t. Extending 33 miles al… |
| Melton Hill Reservoir, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
796 ft | Also known as Melton Hill Lake Melton Hill Reservoir, also known as Melton Hill Lake, is an impoundment of the Clinch River. Located near Oak Ridge, TN, the reservoir extends 57 mil… |
| Nickajack Lake, TN (East Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
635 ft | Also known as Nickajack Reservoir Set against the spectacular scenery and steep walls of the Tennessee River Gorge, Nickajack Lake is the perfect place to relax on the water, fish, or… |