Fontana Lake

About Fontana Lake

Fontana Lake, located in the Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina, was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to provide hydropower to the surrounding area. This includes the Fontana power plant, the largest hydroelectric power plant in North America.

Lake Fontana is often referred to as the largest lake in North Carolina and the second largest in the United States. It is impossible to speak of it without mentioning the unique characteristics of the Fontana dam.

Unlike many other dams, water reaches the top edge and, by a technical miracle, reaches the sky. When the reservoir is filled and approaches its capacity, the water is drained into the lake. The Fontana Dam was built when the United States entered World War II, and served to generate the electricity and aluminum needed for the war.

The dam stretches from the Little Tennessee River to the east side of Fontana Lake, south of the town of Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the mountains.

If you want to say that you have walked the Appalachian Trail, Lake Fontana is the place to do it, and if you walk it, it is also a place where you have done it. With its 39 km of winding hiking trails, the mountain lake offers breathtaking views and incredible photo opportunities. The TVA has several hiking huts with hot showers, which earned them the nickname "Fontana Hilton" from grateful hikers. The Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Maine to Maine, also crosses the tip of Fontana Dam. With an impressive 10,230 hectares of water, Fontana Lake offers a variety of scenic views of the Little Tennessee River and its tributaries, as well as the river and mountains to the east.

The deep, cold water of the Fontana Dam offers the best conditions for fishing and hunting, as well as some of the most sought after fish.

In addition to this enticing information, many anglers say Lake Fontana is one of North Carolina's most popular fishing destinations. It appears that the lake has won Nutmeg and Walleye waters on its surface and has set several records. The reservoir reaches a maximum depth of 440 feet, with an average depth of 135 feet.

In 2001, the Fisherman's Bass Tournament Circuit agreed to hold its first ever tournament in North Carolina at Lake Fontana, and since 2001 it has been held at the lake every year.

One of the unique points of the lake is its incomparable natural beauty, which is one of the unique features of the lake. Surrounded by a tree-lined stretch of coastline and publicly owned, Fontana Lake is protected from overdevelopment by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (N.C.D.E.P).

This ensures the protection of wildlife and water quality, offers visitors the opportunity to truly return to nature, and offers visitors the opportunity for a day trip to one of North Carolina's most scenic lakes.

If you are lucky enough to be at a lake or reservoir like Fontana, you should take a dip in cool, clean water. On the lake there is a large public boat park where you can rent everything from kayaks to large houseboats. If you bring your own boat to the lakes, you can use the TVA public boats and berths free of charge. It is a pleasant pastime, and if you are as excited as I am to be on this lake or one of the reservoirs around Fontanas, then you really should take a dip in this cool and clean water.

The normal water level in the summer pool is 1,310 feet above sea level, but in winter the TVA lowers the water level to prepare for heavy spring rainfall. The demolition of this winter basin lowered the water level by about 50 meters and now stands at about 1715 feet at the bottom of the bath.

In droughts, the water level can drop even further, so check it before visiting, as marinas and boat moorings can be closed due to low water levels.

Tsali, located on the south-eastern shore of the lake, is known as a haven for nature lovers. Treat yourself to a day trip to the Tsali Nature Center, a nature park with a variety of natural activities.

Lake Fontana is a must-see on holiday at Lake Fontana, and your family members will love your holiday there. There is also a winding highway to Tsali, considered one of the most scenic roads in North Carolina. So pack your bags and get going! If outdoor activities are not your style, then take a day trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Bebe Lake, a recreation area named after a Cherokee leader who died in a dispute with federal soldiers, is a great place to get around.