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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prineville Reservoir, OR (Central Oregon, Oregon, US West Region, USA) |
3,257 ft | The 3,030-acre Prineville Reservoir is one of Central Oregon’s prolific fishing and outdoor recreation water bodies. The lake’s well-developed public… |
| Fuji Five Lakes (Chubu Region, Japan, Japan) |
3,217 ft | Also known as Fujigoko, Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Motosu, Lake Saiko, Lake Shoji, Lake Yamanaka Famous Mount Fuji and its five scenic lakes are the biggest tourist attractions in the Chuba Region of Japan. The five lakes ringing the northern slop… |
| Canales Reservoir (Andalusia Region, Spain, Spain) |
3,111 ft | Also known as Embalse de Canales Only a few miles east of Grenada, the Canales Reservoir is a relatively new lake in the Andalusia Region of Spain. The new reservoir is a refreshing t… |
| Lake Tuz (Turkey) |
2,969 ft | Also known as Tuz Golu, Salt lake Known as Turkey’s great salt lake, Lake Tuz is a sight every visitor to the Anatolia region (Asian Turkey) must see. Second-largest lake in the countr… |
| Gull Lake, AB (Alberta, Canada, Canada) |
2,958 ft | Surrounded by Alberta’s wide-open spaces and endless Canadian skies, Gull Lake is located in Alberta’s Central tourism region. Well situated between E… |
| Merritt Reservoir, NE (Nebraska, Sandhills Region, NE, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,956 ft | Deep in the heart of the Midwest, in the Sandhills region of Nebraska, lies the 2,906-acre Merritt Reservoir. This secluded lake is a paradise for tho… |
| Periyar Lake (India, Kerala Region, South India, South India) |
2,864 ft | Also known as Periyar Reservoir, Thekkady Lake Periyar Lake in India’s State of Kerala is one of the few places you can view Asian elephants and tigers in their natural habitat from the water. The… |
| Bowman Haley Lake, ND (North Dakota, Southwest Region, ND, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2,777 ft | Also known as Bowman-Haley Lake Bowman Haley Lake, located in Southwestern North Dakota, was once a Sioux hunting ground. Bowman Haley Lake is now a 1,740-acre lake surrounded by rol… |
| Lac de Serre-Poncon (France, Provence-Alps-Cote d'Azur Region, Southern France, Southern France Region) |
2,559 ft | Lac de Serre-Poncon in the Provence Region of France proves that mankind can create a treasure of nature while solving a problem. Building a dam acros… |
| 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… |
| Cedar Cliff Lake (Mountains Region, NC, North Carolina, US South Region, USA) |
2,330 ft | Nestled within the dramatic Blue Ridge Mountains, Cedar Cliff Lake is one of North Carolina’s most picturesque bodies of water. It is thin and elongat… |
| Lake Alan Henry, TX (Panhandle Plains Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
2,263 ft | Also known as Alan Henry Reservoir Lake Alan Henry, also known as Alan Henry Reservoir, is located in the Texas Panhandle Plains Region, about 45 miles south of Lubbock and four miles e… |