該保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)地理位(wei)置為(wei):東(dong)經126°35′~128°02′,北緯42°06′~43°51′。總(zong)面(mian)(mian)(mian)積(ji)(ji)約(yue)114.5萬公(gong)頃。其中林(lin)地82.3萬公(gong)頃,占總(zong)面(mian)(mian)(mian)積(ji)(ji)71.9%;水域5.7萬公(gong)頃,占總(zong)面(mian)(mian)(mian)積(ji)(ji)的5.0%。三湖保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)地處長白(bai)山(shan)(shan)(shan)余脈。四面(mian)(mian)(mian)環山(shan)(shan)(shan),西面(mian)(mian)(mian)是(shi)(shi)吉林(lin)哈達(da)嶺(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈,北面(mian)(mian)(mian)是(shi)(shi)老爺嶺(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈,東(dong)面(mian)(mian)(mian)是(shi)(shi)威虎嶺(ling)和(he)黃泥(ni)嶺(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈,南面(mian)(mian)(mian)是(shi)(shi)老嶺(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈。地勢(shi)東(dong)南高西北低。地貌多為(wei)中(高)山(shan)(shan)(shan)?低(丘)山(shan)(shan)(shan)?崗(臺)川(chuan)類(lei)。其面(mian)(mian)(mian)積(ji)(ji)比例(li)大致為(wei)七山(shan)(shan)(shan)二崗一川(chuan)。境(jing)內(nei)山(shan)(shan)(shan)巒起伏(fu),綿延不斷,溝壑縱橫,異峰突兀(wu)。海拔800米以上(shang)的山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰有(you)80余座(zuo),其最(zui)(zui)高為(wei)南樓山(shan)(shan)(shan),海拔1404.8米,在(zai)樺(hua)甸(dian)市(shi)常山(shan)(shan)(shan)境(jing)內(nei);最(zui)(zui)低為(wei)豐滿壩下,海拔約(yue)190米。該地區(qu)(qu)地質構成(cheng)多為(wei)玄武巖、石灰(hui)巖、土(tu)(tu)壤類(lei)型為(wei)暗棕(zong)(zong)壤、白(bai)漿土(tu)(tu)、草甸(dian)土(tu)(tu)、棕(zong)(zong)色森(sen)林(lin)土(tu)(tu)、泥(ni)炭(tan)土(tu)(tu)等。
三湖(hu)保護區(qu)處于北(bei)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)帶大陸性季(ji)風(feng)(feng)氣候區(qu)內(nei)。四季(ji)分明,年、日較(jiao)差大。春季(ji)干燥多(duo)風(feng)(feng)?夏季(ji)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)熱多(duo)雨?秋季(ji)晴(qing)爽(shuang)?冬(dong)季(ji)嚴寒?年平均氣溫(wen)(wen)(wen)在1.9℃~4.4℃之間?極(ji)端高(gao)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)36.6℃,極(ji)端低溫(wen)(wen)(wen)-45℃。年≥10℃積溫(wen)(wen)(wen)為(wei)1900℃~2800℃,并呈由南(nan)至(zhi)北(bei)增加(jia)趨勢?年日照時(shi)數(shu)2350~2450小(xiao)時(shi)?年降水量(liang)由南(nan)向北(bei)略(lve)有減少,為(wei)834~673毫米之間。無霜(shuang)期(qi)大致為(wei)110~130天(tian)。一月(yue)平均氣溫(wen)(wen)(wen)約(yue)為(wei)-18℃,七月(yue)平均氣溫(wen)(wen)(wen)約(yue)為(wei)20℃左(zuo)右(you)。該區(qu)夏季(ji)盛行西(xi)南(nan)風(feng)(feng),冬(dong)季(ji)盛行西(xi)北(bei)風(feng)(feng)。
保護區(qu)由于受到三(san)個湖(hu)泊(bo)及(ji)森林(lin)等(deng)因素(su)影響(xiang),又(you)具有湖(hu)泊(bo)氣(qi)候、谷地氣(qi)候和森林(lin)氣(qi)候的復合特(te)征。