fontana lake dam

Fontana Dam is known for its mountain views and lake views. The design of the dam was unusual for TVA at the time. This 10,230-acre finger lake has 238 miles of shoreline and is 31 miles long from 480-ft-high Fontana Dam to Bryson City. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Fontana Dam, NC. Fontana Dam is 2,365 feet (721 m) long and 480 feet (146 m) high, making it the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. The Appalachian Trail crosses the top of the dam and the hot showers at a nearby trail shelter have led grateful hikers to dub it the Fontana Hilton The Little Tennessee River flows for 135 miles (217 km) from its source in the mountains of northern Georgia to its mouth along the Tennessee River opposite Lenoir City, Tennessee. Picnic tables and grills are also available. 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.Depending on water levels, the lake is about 17 miles (27 km) long. More than 90 percent of the land around the Lake is owned by either the National Park Service or the US Forest Service. Zillow has 23 homes for sale in 28702 matching Fontana Lake. Fontana Dam is unique for its restaurants. There is a shoreline of about 240 miles. With 360 degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains, Fontana Lake is the largest lake in Western North Carolina with the tallest dam east of the Rockies. â¦ Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Cable Cove: This 26-site campground is located in a beautiful hardwood forest only 4 miles from Fontana Dam and half a mile from Fontana Lake. Fontana Dam To Fire Tower: Name: Fontana Dam To Fire Tower Difficulty: Moderate Length: 9 Miles Elevation Change: ~2,400 feet. Fontana Dam is unique for its restaurants. The area around the crack was post-tensioned with steel tendons, and an expansion slot was made in 1976 to alleviate the stresses developed within the cracked area. Enjoy fishing areas you can walk to from the Fontana Marina or try a Fontana lake rental to get to that sweet spot youâve got your eye on. Fontana Lake is the fourth deepest man-made lake in the country. Out of that need the Fontana Dam, Fontana Lake, and Fontana Village were born. RECOMMENDED ROUTE ... Fontana Lake Hiking. When we were out on the lake we saw very few other people and it was very relaxing. Fontana Lake provides multiple benefits to the region, including flood control and recreational opportunities. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. People in the area had more appreciation for the effect of such construction on the environment and raised challenges; in addition, the NPS had difficulty securing sufficient funding for the road. Senator Jesse Helms finally secured funding for the road in 2000, and the NPS for the first time conducted a required environmental impact study of the project. Find homes for sale and real estate in Fontana Dam, NC at realtor.com®. Emergency wartime initiatives called for a drastic increase in aluminum production. Reservoir size is approximately 11,700 acres. When we were out on the lake we saw very few other people and it was very relaxing. The dam is 480 feet tall with over 10000 acres of water contained in Fontana Lake. [11], In 2007, Swain County accepted a $52 million cash settlement from the National Park Service and agreed to drop its demand for a new road along the North Shore. Turn right at the State Highway 28 turnoff. Fontana Dam is a 30-mile (48 km) drive from the three nearest cities — Maryville, Tennessee to the west, Bryson City, North Carolina to the east, and Robbinsville, North Carolina, to the south. Find the best campgrounds & rv parks near Fontana Dam, North Carolina. [1] The temporary village of Welch Cove (later renamed Fontana Village) was constructed just south of the dam to house the project's workers, whose numbers had reached 5,000 by 1943 in spite of nationwide manpower shortages. Dining in Fontana Dam. There is a shoreline of about 240 miles. Several rapid-flowing mountain streams— some of which drop several thousand feet from the crest of the Great Smokies in just a few miles— empty into Fontana's north shore. Which means it is an artificial lake, created by the formation of Fontana Dam. This a big clear lake surrounded by the mountains of a few different national park. [7] A visitor center operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is open from early May until late October. Cheoah, Chilhowee, and Tellico were all named for historic Cherokee towns. Walk or drive across the dam and learn about the construction during the 1940s in the Tennessee Valley Authority Visitor Center. Today, Fontana Dam provides a tremendous amount of necessary power but with an overlying negative stigma with an entire town lurking beneath the surface of the Reservoir. Fontana Dam Although it is known to most of us as Fontana Lake, it is actually Fontana Resevoir. May 4, 2017 - At 480 ft., Fontana Dam is the tallest concrete dam east of the Rocky Mountains. Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric facility. From mountain biking and hiking trails, to time spent out on the lake, our adventures and activities are united not by what makes them the same, but by the remarkable things that make them different. You can rent a boat, or put your own boat on the lake at Fontana Marina, â¦ Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric facility that stands 480 feet high and stretches 2,365 feet long. It is created by the Fontana dam, which is the first and tallest of the TVA dam system. January–March: 42°F The dam was built not only to provide power for the war effort at the Oakridge Nuclear Facility in Oakridge, TN but â¦ The dam is 480 feet tall with over 10000 acres of water contained in Fontana Lake. [12] The final installment of $35.2 million was paid on June 29, 2018. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Fontana Dam, NC. Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Little Tennessee River in Swain and Graham counties, North Carolina, United States. Today Fontana spans an astounding 10,230 acres and can reach a maximum depth of 440 feet. Book your hotel in Fontana Dam and pay later with Expedia. This 10,230-acre finger lake is 31 miles long, 400 feet deep, and has 238 miles of shoreline. Published in 2007, the EIS concluded that the road's construction would cause "major, adverse, long-term impacts to topography, geology, and soils" in the area. Over 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) along Fontana Lake's north shore were eventually transferred to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and several thousand acres along the south shore were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. [1] The town's name was derived from the Italian word for "fountain."[2]. Fontana is located 61 miles (98 km) above the mouth of the Little Tennessee, in a remote area where the westward-flowing river bends briefly to the south. Fontana Dam is a very popular attraction, located near Bryson City in Western North Carolina. The dam impounds the 10,230-acre (4,140 ha) Fontana Lake, which spreads across a scenic stretch of the Little Tennessee along the southwestern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fontana Dam - Shuckstack Fire Tower 9.2 mi 14.7 km • 2,371' Up 722.77 m Up • 2,371' Down 722.71 m Down. Fontana Lake is the fourth deepest man-made lake in the country. Reserve Your Lodging Today! Find homes for sale and real estate in Fontana Dam, NC at realtor.com®. In 1913, Alcoa purchased the Tallassee Power Company (now Tapoco), and by 1930 the two entities had completed Cheoah and Calderwood dams, as well as Santeetlah Dam on the Cheoah River. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in February. Cable Cove offers fishing access to a stream full of rainbow trout. Stay in hotels and other accommodations near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fontana Lake, and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Explore the homes with Waterfront that are currently for sale in Fontana Dam, NC. [4] This has been closed. A special spillway was thus designed that drains water out through two 34-foot (10.3 m) diameter spill pipes into a diversion tunnel equipped with a deflection system. Hey mike_s, I'm sure there's plenty of stuff leftover from the dam construction at Fontana but you're right it's a very deep lake (the dam is 480ft tall). A big bank deposit changed all that", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fontana_Dam&oldid=1003650778, Buildings and structures in Swain County, North Carolina, Buildings and structures in Graham County, North Carolina, Hydroelectric power plants in North Carolina, National Register of Historic Places in Graham County, North Carolina, Dams on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 January 2021, at 00:43. Fontana Lake provides multiple benefits to the region, including flood control and recreational opportunities. You're right though, they are very beautiful areas. Nestled in North Carolinaâs Smoky Mountains, Fontana Lake was created in 1942 when the Tennessee Valley Authority decided to dam up the Tennessee River in the area to produce hydroelectric power. Two generating units were placed in operation on January 20, 1945, in time to provide crucial energy for aluminum production in the closing months of World War II. Which means it is an artificial lake, created by the formation of Fontana Dam. It's claimed that the entirety of Fontana Lake and surrounding area is almost its very own ghost town. Fontana Dam To Fire Tower: Name: Fontana Dam To Fire Tower Difficulty: Moderate Length: 9 Miles Elevation Change: ~2,400 feet. Guests who stay at Fontana Village Resort see the world differently because they find inspiration in unexpected places. Fontana lake is located just outside of Bryson City, NC. To check availability and make a reservation: At Deals Gap, 11 miles (18 km) west of the dam, the road intersects U.S. Route 129, which continues westward to Maryville. Fontana Marina. The most notable of these streams — Eagle Creek and Hazel Creek — form substantial embayments just upstream from the dam. Fontana Village Resort Marina The Fontana Campground also includes a separate RV dump station, located off the entrance to the campground. We have reviews of the best places to see in Fontana Dam… You will enjoy beautiful scenery in the area. Packing for your Fontana Dam trip. Fontana Dam is located near Fontana Village Resort. Fontana Lake is unique in many ways. This 10,230-acre finger lake is 31 miles long, 400 feet deep, and has 238 miles of shoreline. It has three generating units with a summer net dependable capacity of 304 megawatts. Fontana Dam - Shuckstack Fire Tower 9.2 mi 14.7 km â¢ 2,371' Up 722.77 m Up â¢ 2,371' Down 722.71 m Down. North Carolina's U.S. Gorgeous Fontana Lake is the largest lake in Western North Carolina, surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains. Robbins…, NC. Beneath the lake rests the remains of the once-bustling town of Judson. May 4, 2017 - The 29-mile long, 11,700-acre Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) lake has more than 240 miles of shoreline. Explore the homes with Waterfront that are currently for sale in Fontana Dam, NC. Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weatherreports, maps & tropical weather conditions for the Fontana Dam area. Fontana Dam is the highest dam east of the Rocky Mountains at 480 feet tall and 2,365 feet across. Depending on water levels, the lake is about 17 miles (27 km) long. Lakeshore Trail. The last cuts were performed by Bluegrass companies in 2016.[8]. Fontana Lake. The Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) began investigating the Little Tennessee Valley around 1910 in hopes of finding a place for a water power source for the massive amounts of electricity needed at its aluminum production operations at nearby Alcoa, Tennessee. Lewellyn Branch – On Cheoah Lake, just below Fontana Dam. Fontana Lake rests along the southern border of the Great Smoky Mountains and the northern border of the Nantahala Forest. This 10,230-acre finger lake is 31 miles long, 400 feet deep, and has 238 miles of shoreline. Fontana Lake was formed between 1942 and 1945 when the Little Tennessee River was impounded by the formation and construction of the Dam. Fontana Dam, NC â Dock master Brandon Jones reports that the fish are biting on Fontana Lake right now! There are lots of buildings in the lake, and with the drought last year the lake level was so low that you could see some of them. Today Fontana spans an astounding 10,230 acres and can reach a maximum depth of 440 feet. Gatlinburg, TN Camp at Fontana Dam Campground (at the base of the dam), drive to the visitor center and learn about the project then cross the dam (you'll be on the AT as it crosses the dam at this point). 360 Miles 579 Kilometers of Trail 5 Recommended Routes 3 Easy Trails ; 24 Intermediate Trails ; … Search and filter Fontana Dam homes by price, beds, baths and property type. The building of Fontana Dam and its reservoir required the purchase of 68,292 acres (27,637 ha) of land, 5,125 acres (2,074 ha) of which were forested and had to be cleared. There is a shoreline of about 240 miles. Fontana Lake rests along the southern border of the Great Smoky Mountains and the northern border of the Nantahala Forest. Bryson City Gem Mine and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest are also within 32 mi (52 km). JanuaryâMarch: 42°F Fontana General Store, Fontana Dam: Address, Phone Number, Fontana General Store Reviews: 4/5 Save big on a wide range of Fontana Dam hotels! The eastern end is the Tuckasegee River near Bryson City. Reservoir size is approximately 11,700 acres. Go approximately 10 miles to turnoff on left for Fontana Dam. The U.S. Congress authorized funding on December 17, 1941, and construction of Fontana Dam began on January 1, 1942.[1]. Fontana Lake. The 480-ft. tall Fontana Dam is the highest dam east of the Rockies. The dam impounds the Little Tennessee River forming Fontana Lake and produces hydroelectric power. If you'd rather eat in, that's simple too, since most vacation rentals come with full-size kitchens. The dam impounds the Little Tennessee River forming Fontana Lake and produces hydroelectric power. At 480 feet (150 m) high, Fontana is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States; at the time of its construction, it was the fourth-tallest dam in the world. Best Dining in Fontana Dam, North Carolina Mountains: See 402 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 3 Fontana Dam restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. Fontana Reservoir provides 238 miles of shoreline and 10,230 acres of water surface for recreational activities. 360 Miles 579 Kilometers of Trail 5 Recommended Routes 3 Easy Trails ; 24 Intermediate Trails ; â¦ Fontana Dam is a TVA run hydroelectric facility. This 10,230-acre finger lake has 238 miles of shoreline and is 31 miles long from 480-ft-high Fontana Dam to Bryson City. Enjoy free cancellation on most hotels. It is created by the Fontana dam, which is the first and tallest of the TVA dam system. Fontana is the uppermost of five dams on the Little Tennessee River: Cheoah Dam is 10 miles (16 km) downstream, followed by Calderwood Dam, Chilhowee Dam, and Tellico Dam. [9][10] Proponents of the road argued that the environmental concerns were exaggerated. Fontana Lake was formed between 1942 and 1945 when the Little Tennessee River was impounded by the formation and construction of the Dam. Available for iPhone and Android devices . [13], Dam in Graham / Swain counties, North Carolina, United States, https://www.tva.gov/Newsroom/Good-Medicine-for-Fontana-Dam, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez6uGRp5BKM, North Shore Road Environmental Impact Statement, Section 4.2, North Shore Road Environmental Impact Statement, Section 4.3, "Supporters Say Critics Exaggerate Threats to Nature", "Feds to pay $52M to not build NC's road to nowhere", "Feds broke promises to NC county for 75 years. Turn left at State Highway 28. Fontana lake is located just outside of Bryson City, NC. [1] The dam and associated infrastructure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. In January 1945, when water first came through the dam to produce electricity for WWII industries, the 480-foot-high dam became the highest in the Eastern United States and the fourth highest in the nation. Lakeshore Trail starts across from Fontana Dam, and goes for 35 miles before reaching The Road to Nowhere. Pick a Lake: In 1972, additional cracks appeared and started to expand in 1973. Several marinas service the lake, including Fontana Marina, the nearest to the dam itself, which offers watercraft and equipment rentals including pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. Explore the waterfront in Fontana Dam with a trip to Fontana Village Resort Marina. Wander the riverfront or discover the mountain views in this romantic area. Fontana Dam. This 10,230-acre finger lake has 238 miles of shoreline and is 31 miles long from 480-ft-high Fontana Dam to Bryson City. 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