Carters Lake (Blue Ridge Mountains) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carters Lake |
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 Carters Lake
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Carters Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Blue Ridge Mountains Gilmer & Murray counties, Georgia United States |
| Coordinates | 34°36′26″N 84°38′00″W / 34.6072°N 84.6332°W |
| Type | natural lake, reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Coosawattee River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 3,200 acres (13 km2) |
| Average depth | 200 ft (61 m) |
| Max. depth | 450 ft (140 m) |
| Water volume | 383,600 acre⋅ft (0.4732 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 62 mi (100 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,074 ft (327 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Carters Lake is a large, deep lake located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, United States. It's a special type of lake called a reservoir, which means it was created by people. Carters Lake is known for being the deepest lake in the state of Georgia. It's a popular spot for outdoor fun and also plays an important role in managing water.
About Carters Lake
Carters Lake is a man-made lake built on the Coosawattee River. It was named after Farrish Carter, who lived a long time ago in the 1800s. The lake covers about 3,200 acres (13 square kilometers) of water. It also has a long shoreline, stretching for about 62 miles (100 kilometers).
This lake is very deep! On average, it's about 200 feet (61 meters) deep. In some spots, it can be as deep as 450 feet (137 meters). That's like stacking more than 40 school buses on top of each other!
The United States Army Corps of Engineers owns and manages Carters Lake. They are a government group that builds and takes care of many water projects. Because the lake is managed by them, you won't find private docks or houses right along its edges. This helps keep the natural beauty of the area.
Building the Lake
Carters Lake was created by building a huge structure called Carters Dam. This dam was finished in 1977. It's the tallest earthen dam east of the Mississippi River. An earthen dam is a special kind of dam made mostly from packed earth and rock.
The main reasons for building Carters Dam and creating the lake were to control floods and to generate power. When there's a lot of rain, the lake can hold extra water to prevent flooding downstream. The dam also uses the power of the water to make electricity for homes and businesses.
Fun at the Lake
Carters Lake is a fantastic place for outdoor activities. Many people visit to enjoy nature and have fun. You can go fishing for different kinds of fish in its deep waters. It's also a great spot for water skiing.
If you love being on land, there are many trails for hiking and mountain biking. You can also go camping near the lake and spend a night under the stars. It's a wonderful place to explore the outdoors in Georgia!
Images for kids
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Snow-capped Springer Mountain view from Carters
