Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in US Mid-Atlantic Region 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 142 articles we have published for US Mid-Atlantic Region lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Mid-Atlantic Region > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in US Mid-Atlantic Region, only the 142 US Mid-Atlantic Region lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek Lake, MD (Maryland, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA, Western Maryland) |
2,462 ft | Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in Maryland, covering about 3,900 acres in the Allegheny Mountains of western Maryland. Since its… |
| Big Bass Lake, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,886 ft | Big Bass Lake is one of three lakes in the community of Big Bass Lake. Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, Big Bass Lake is a private gated community in… |
| Fulton Chain of Lakes, NY (Adirondacks Region, NY, New York, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,791 ft | Also known as Fulton Lakes, Fulton Chain The Fulton Chain of Lakes is a string of eight sparkling lakes located in the scenic Central Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. The chain begin… |
| Arrowhead Lake, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,674 ft | Tucked away in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Arrowhead Lake is a private gated community in the Northeastern Mountains region of Pennsylvania. Loads… |
| Indian Lake, NY (Adirondacks Region, NY, New York, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,651 ft | Surrounded by the grandeur of the Adirondack Mountains, Indian Lake, in northern New York’s Adirondack Vacation region, is a 4,365-acre lake well know… |
| Youghiogheny River Lake (Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh & Countryside Region, PA, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,470 ft | Also known as Yough Lake In the heart of the Laurel Highlands and spanning the Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland lays Youghiogheny River Lake. The U.S. Army C… |
| Lake Ariel, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,427 ft | For over 150 years people have been making their way to the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania to enjoy the beautiful waters of Lake Ariel.… |
| Allegheny Reservoir, NY/PA (Chautauqua-Allegheny Region, NY, New York, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Wilds Region, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,365 ft | Also known as Kinzua Dam Lake, Kinzua Lake, Lake Kinzua Flowing across tree-covered hills in northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York, the Allegheny Reservoir’s 12,080 acres provide an open invit… |
| Chautauqua Lake, NY (Chautauqua-Allegheny Region, NY, New York, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,310 ft | Also known as Lake Chautauqua Chautauqua Lake, located in idyllic Western New York state, has been a destination for vacationers for more than a century. At 1,308 feet above sea le… |
| Lake Wallenpaupack, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,187 ft | Lake Wallenpaupack is a prime recreation destination in northeast Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains region, nestled among the counties of Hawley, Pike,… |
| Cowanesque Lake, PA (Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Wilds Region, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,114 ft | Peacefully nestled between forested ridges in north central Pennsylvania lies Cowanesque Lake. Located near the New York state line, the name Cowanesq… |
| Swinging Bridge Lake, NY (Catskills Region, NY, New York, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,070 ft | Also known as Swinging Bridge Reservoir Swinging Bridge Lake is a Catskills lake located in southern Sullivan County, New York and was formed by the damming of the Mongaup River in 1926 for… |