該(gai)保護區地(di)理位(wei)置為(wei)(wei)(wei):東經(jing)126°35′~128°02′,北緯(wei)42°06′~43°51′。總面(mian)(mian)積約114.5萬(wan)(wan)公頃(qing)。其(qi)中(zhong)林地(di)82.3萬(wan)(wan)公頃(qing),占總面(mian)(mian)積71.9%;水(shui)域5.7萬(wan)(wan)公頃(qing),占總面(mian)(mian)積的5.0%。三湖保護區地(di)處長白山(shan)(shan)(shan)余脈。四面(mian)(mian)環(huan)山(shan)(shan)(shan),西面(mian)(mian)是吉林哈達嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈,北面(mian)(mian)是老(lao)爺嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈,東面(mian)(mian)是威虎(hu)嶺(ling)(ling)和(he)黃泥嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈,南(nan)面(mian)(mian)是老(lao)嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈。地(di)勢東南(nan)高西北低(di)(di)。地(di)貌多為(wei)(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(高)山(shan)(shan)(shan)?低(di)(di)(丘(qiu))山(shan)(shan)(shan)?崗(臺(tai))川類。其(qi)面(mian)(mian)積比(bi)例大致(zhi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)七山(shan)(shan)(shan)二崗一川。境內山(shan)(shan)(shan)巒(luan)起(qi)伏,綿延不斷,溝壑縱橫(heng),異峰突兀。海(hai)(hai)拔800米以上的山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰有80余座,其(qi)最(zui)(zui)高為(wei)(wei)(wei)南(nan)樓山(shan)(shan)(shan),海(hai)(hai)拔1404.8米,在樺甸市(shi)常山(shan)(shan)(shan)境內;最(zui)(zui)低(di)(di)為(wei)(wei)(wei)豐滿壩下,海(hai)(hai)拔約190米。該(gai)地(di)區地(di)質構成多為(wei)(wei)(wei)玄武巖、石灰巖、土壤(rang)類型為(wei)(wei)(wei)暗棕壤(rang)、白漿土、草甸土、棕色(se)森林土、泥炭土等。
三湖保(bao)護區(qu)處于北(bei)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)帶大(da)陸性季(ji)(ji)風(feng)氣候區(qu)內。四(si)季(ji)(ji)分明,年、日較(jiao)差大(da)。春季(ji)(ji)干(gan)燥(zao)多風(feng)?夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)熱多雨?秋季(ji)(ji)晴爽?冬季(ji)(ji)嚴寒?年平均(jun)氣溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)在1.9℃~4.4℃之(zhi)間?極(ji)端高溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)36.6℃,極(ji)端低(di)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)-45℃。年≥10℃積溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)為(wei)(wei)1900℃~2800℃,并呈(cheng)由南(nan)至北(bei)增(zeng)加(jia)趨(qu)勢?年日照時(shi)(shi)數2350~2450小時(shi)(shi)?年降水(shui)量由南(nan)向北(bei)略有減少,為(wei)(wei)834~673毫米之(zhi)間。無霜期(qi)大(da)致為(wei)(wei)110~130天。一月(yue)平均(jun)氣溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)約為(wei)(wei)-18℃,七月(yue)平均(jun)氣溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)約為(wei)(wei)20℃左右(you)。該(gai)區(qu)夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)盛(sheng)行(xing)西南(nan)風(feng),冬季(ji)(ji)盛(sheng)行(xing)西北(bei)風(feng)。
保護(hu)區由于(yu)受(shou)到三個湖泊(bo)及(ji)森(sen)林等因素影(ying)響,又具(ju)有湖泊(bo)氣候、谷地氣候和(he)森(sen)林氣候的復合特征。