Lake Oconee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Oconee |
|
---|---|
Location | Georgia |
Coordinates | 33°21′00″N 83°09′25″W / 33.350°N 83.157°W |
Type | reservoir |
Primary inflows | Oconee River, Apalachee River (Georgia) |
Primary outflows | Oconee River |
Basin countries | United States |
Max. length | 20 mi (32 km) |
Max. width | Less than 1-mile (1.6 km) |
Surface area | 19,071 acres (7,718 ha) |
Average depth | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
Max. depth | 225 feet (69 m) |
Shore length1 | 376 mi (605 km) |
Surface elevation | 434 ft (132 m) |
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. |
Lake Oconee is a large, man-made lake in central Georgia, United States. It's located near the towns of Greensboro and Eatonton. This beautiful lake was made in 1979. It was formed when a company called Georgia Power built the Wallace Dam across the Oconee River.
Lake Oconee stretches across three counties in Georgia: Morgan, Greene, and Putnam. The Wallace Dam also separates Lake Oconee from its nearby "sister" lake, Lake Sinclair. The name "Oconee" comes from an old town of the Creek people.
Contents
About Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee is a type of lake called a reservoir. This means it's a lake created by people, usually by building a dam across a river. Reservoirs are often used to store water for different purposes.
How the Lake Was Formed
The lake was created by building the Wallace Dam. This dam holds back the water from the Oconee River. The dam helps to create electricity for homes and businesses.
Size and Shape
Lake Oconee has a very long shoreline, stretching for about 374 miles. This is like driving from Atlanta to Jacksonville, Florida! The surface of the lake covers about 19,971 acres. That's a lot of water! The lake is mainly fed by the Oconee River and the Apalachee River (Georgia).
Life Around the Lake
Lake Oconee is a popular place for people to live and visit. Many communities have grown up around its shores.
Communities and Activities
The area around Lake Oconee is known for its golf courses. There are several golf communities here, like Reynolds Lake Oconee, Cuscowilla, and Harbor Club. There are also places for older adults to live, such as Del Webb at Lake Oconee. People enjoy boating, fishing, and other water sports on the lake.