Fontana Lake

Fontana Lake is a reservoir impounded by Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River located in Graham and Swain counties in North Carolina. The lake forms part of the southern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the northern border of part of the Nantahala National Forest. Depending on water levels, the lake is about 17 miles (27 km) long. The eastern end is the Tuckasegee River near Bryson City.[1] It has an average depth of 135 feet (41 m) and reaches a maximum depth of 440 feet (130 m), making it the deepest lake in North Carolina.[2] The lake has many inlets into coves and many islands formed from former mountain peaks, especially near the eastern end. As with most dam-impounded lakes, the steep banks are exposed when water levels are low. Many towns were submerged shortly after the creation of Fontana Lake, such as Proctor and Judson.

Fontana Lake
Fontana Lake
Fontana Lake
Fontana Lake
LocationGraham / Swain counties, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates35°27′10″N 083°48′18″W
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsLittle Tennessee River
Nantahala River
Primary outflowsLittle Tennessee River
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length17 miles (27 km)
Average depth135 ft (41 m)
Max. depth440 ft (130 m)
Surface elevation1,703 ft (519 m)

Short of a multi-day hike, Fontana Lake provides the only access into the most remote areas of the National Park. When the lake is at the normal summer level, a boat may be used to access remote trailheads such as Hazel Creek. From the observation tower on Clingmans Dome, on a clear day the lake can be seen nearly a mile below. While the maximum controlled elevation of the lake (top of dam gates) is 1,710 ft (520 m), the normal Summer surface elevation is 1,703 ft (519 m).[3] NC 28 roughly parallels the southern shore of the lake and US 19 between Bryson City and Wesser/Lauada briefly skims an inlet at the extreme southeastern edge.

Name

Fontana is named after a Montvale Lumber Company logging town that was once situated at the mouth of Eagle Creek on the lake's north shore. The name is derived from the Italian word for "fountain".[4]

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See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological survey 1983
  2. "Fontana Lake, North Carolina, USA Vacation Info - Lakelubbers". Lakelubbers. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  3. TVA Fontana Operating Guide
  4. Duane Oliver, Hazel Creek From Then Till Now (Maryville, Tenn.: Stinnett Printing, 1989), 69.
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