Douglas Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Douglas Lake |
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Douglas Lake
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 Douglas Lake
Location in Tennessee
Douglas Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jefferson / Cocke / Sevier / Hamblen counties, State of Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35°57′40″N 83°32′20″W / 35.96111°N 83.53889°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | French Broad River |
| Primary outflows | French Broad River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 60 mi (97 km) |
| Max. width | 3,527 ft (1,075 m) |
| Surface area | 44.41 sq mi (115.0 km2) |
| Water volume | 1,081,880 acre⋅ft (1.33448 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 513 mi (826 km) |
| Surface elevation | 876 ft (267 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Douglas Lake, also known as Douglas Reservoir, is a large lake in eastern Tennessee. It was created by building a dam across the French Broad River. This beautiful lake is just a few miles from popular tourist spots like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It's also very close to the famous Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Building Douglas Lake
Douglas Lake was formed by the Douglas Dam. This dam was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The TVA is a special government agency that helps manage rivers and provide electricity in the Tennessee Valley.
A Quick Build
The Douglas Dam was built incredibly fast. Construction started on February 2, 1942, and was finished by February 19, 1943. That's just over a year! This quick build was important during World War II to help the country.
Why the Dam Was Built
The main reasons for building Douglas Dam were to:
- Produce hydroelectric power. This means making electricity using the force of moving water.
- Control flooding. The dam helps stop the Tennessee River Valley from flooding downstream.
Rivers and the Lake
Douglas Dam is about 32 miles (51 km) upstream from where the French Broad River joins the Holston River to form the Tennessee River. Douglas Lake covers about 40 miles (64 km) of the French Broad River. It also covers small parts of the Nolichucky and Pigeon rivers.
Water Levels in Winter
During the colder months, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) lowers the water level in Douglas Lake. They do this for several reasons:
- To help prevent floods when heavy rains or snowmelt happen.
- To meet the demand for electricity.
- To manage the river system for other important uses.
If you plan to visit the lake in winter, it's good to know that the water level will be lower.
Towns Near Douglas Lake
Several towns are located around Douglas Lake.
- Baneberry is a resort town found on the northern side of the lake in Jefferson County.
- Dandridge, which is the main town in Jefferson County, is mostly on the northern shores. A small part of its downtown area is actually below the lake's normal water level. It is protected by a large earthen dam.
