Fontana Lake is a reservoir impounded by Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River, and is 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.
Can you swim in Fontana Lake?
Swimming at the Finger Lake Day Use Area
At the “finger lakes” section of Lake Fontana, there’s a popular “beach” with shallow waters where families have been swimming for decades
. Do note that these swimming spots have no lifeguards present and you are expected to “swim at your own risk,” so be extra careful.
Why is Fontana Lake green?
Love Fontana Lake!
The greenish color of the water comes from the abandoned copper mines at the bottom of the lake that were mined before the dam was built
. If you want to spend some time at the lake you can even rent a houseboat.
What towns are under Fontana Lake?
Underneath Fontana Lake lies the lost town of
Proctor, North Carolina
, a once-booming lumber town on Hazel Creek, a tributary of the Little Tennessee River.
Why do they drain lake Fontana?
Each year thousands of gallons of water are drained from Fontana Lake
in order to perform routine maintenance on the dam
. This offers visitors to Bryson City during the months of December through March the unique ability to take a stroll on the bottom of the lake.
What’s under Fontana Lake?
Fontana Lake
Beneath the lake rests
the remains of the once-bustling town of Judson
. Judson had a population of around 600 people with a simple array of shops in town, including a sawmill and a post office.
What is the clearest lake in NC?
White Lake
Has The Clearest Most Pristine Water In North Carolina.
How deep is the deepest part of Fontana Lake?
440′
Is Fontana Lake dog friendly?
Fontana Lake should absolutely be on your list of activities when you are visiting Bryson City or Cherokee North Carolina. This pristine lake is best enjoyed by renting a pontoon, packing a picnic, and spending the day out on the water.
All of the marina’s offer boat rentals and each have dog friendly options
.
What animals are in Fontana Lake?
- Smallmouth Bass.
- Largemouth bass.
- Spotted Bass.
- White Bass.
- Rainbow Trout.
- Brown Trout.
- Yellow Perch.
Where can I fish in Fontana Lake?
- Alarka Marina. 7230 Grassy Branch Rd. Bryson City, NC 28713. 828 488-3841.
- Fontana Village Resort Marina. 40 Fontana Dam Rd. Fontana Dam, NC 28733. 828 498-2017.
- Prince Boat Dock Parking Marina. Robbinsville, NC 28771. 828 479-3704.
What happened to Fontana Lake?
Many families refused to be removed further from their newly established homes, but in the end
there were all forced to move
. The lake also submerged the only remaining road that could take them to the north shore. The land these people were forced from is now a part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Where is Hazel Creek North Carolina?
Hazel Creek is a
tributary stream of the Little Tennessee River in the southwestern Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina
. The creek’s bottomlands were home to several pioneer Appalachian communities and logging towns before its incorporation into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Is Fontana Lake Clear?
This is a huge lake created by the Fontana Dam.
The water is very clear
, and the lake is beautiful.
What towns did TVA flood?
Loyston, Willow Grove, Butler, Chota, and Tanasi
are just a few of the many Tennessee towns flooded by the TVA. Their goal was not to destroy the towns but improve the lives of Tennesseans in the future.
How many acres is lake Fontana NC?
The 29-mile long,
10,230-acre
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) lake has more than 240 miles of shoreline.
When was Fontana flooded?
Vance grew up in one of the mountain villages that were destroyed when the Tennessee Valley Authority began building Fontana Dam in
1942
. The communities were bulldozed and flooded under the huge 10,640-acre reservoir now known as Fontana Lake.
Is there a town under Lake James NC?
Legend has it that
beneath Lake James rests the lost mountain utopia of Fonta Flora
, a diverse community that farmed fertile land and lived in harmony. Getting to the truth behind the lore involves following family history, old maps, and really good beer.
Who owns Fontana Lake?
| Fontana Dam | Operator(s) Tennessee Valley Authority | Dam and spillways | Impounds Little Tennessee River | Height 480 feet (150 m) |
|---|
Was NC underwater?
About 600 million years ago, North Carolina was covered by a warm shallow sea
that was home to corals, jellyfish, and Pteridinium. This sea remained in place during the early part of the Paleozoic era and was inhabited by a variety of marine life forms, like those that left the trace fossil Skolithos.
What is the prettiest lake in North Carolina?
- Jordan Lake, North Carolina.
- Kerr Lake, North Carolina.
- Falls Lake State Recreation Area, 13304 Creedmoor Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587 +1 919 676 1027.
- Lake Norman, North Carolina.
- High Rock Lake, North Carolina.
- Lake Glenville, North Carolina 28723.
- Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina 28771.
Where is the bluest water in NC?
Shackleford Banks is home to turquoise water that rivals the Caribbean. Here’s more on how you can enjoy the bluest water in North Carolina.
What is the best lake to live on in North Carolina?
The best lake living in North Carolina is in
Lake Toxaway and Lake Glenville
. There’s no other place in North Carolina where you’ll be surrounded by small towns and charming locales. Lake Glenville is a hidden gem tucked away in the mountains of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.
What is the elevation of Fontana Lake?
1,703′
How was Fontana Lake formed?
Fontana Lake
The lake created by
damming the Little Tennessee River
has over 240 miles of rugged shoreline and covers over 11,000 acres.
Where does the Little Tennessee River start and end?
Tennessee River
