Lake Oliver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Oliver |
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 Lake Oliver
Location in Alabama
Lake Oliver
Location in the United States
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| Location | Muscogee County, Georgia / Lee County, Alabama |
| Coordinates | 32°30′58″N 84°59′56″W / 32.516°N 84.999°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Chattahoochee River |
| Primary outflows | Chattahoochee River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,150 acres (9 km2) |
| Max. depth | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Shore length1 | 40 miles (64 km) |
| Surface elevation | 337 feet (103 m) |
| Settlements | Columbus, Georgia |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Oliver is a large, man-made lake in the United States. It covers about 2,150-acre (8.7 km2) of water. This lake is actually a type of lake called a reservoir. Reservoirs are created when a dam is built across a river. Lake Oliver was formed by the Oliver Dam and Generating Plant. This dam was finished in 1959 by a company called Georgia Power.
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About Lake Oliver
Lake Oliver is located on the Chattahoochee River. It sits just south of another dam, the Goat Rock Dam. The lake was named after James McCoy Oliver. He was an important person at Georgia Power when the dam was built.
Oliver Dam Details
The Oliver Dam is quite big. It stands 70 feet (about 21 meters) tall. The dam stretches for 2,150 feet (660 m) across the river. Inside the dam are four special machines called turbine units. These turbines help to make electricity from the flowing water.
The lake itself changes shape. At its southern end, Lake Oliver is wide. But as you go north, it gets much narrower. Near the Goat Rock Dam, it looks more like a river than a wide lake.
Lake Location and Access
Lake Oliver is special because it's completely inside the city of Columbus, Georgia. This means many homes and buildings are built along its shores. You can find houses on both the Georgia and Alabama sides of the lake.
Most people get to the lake through private areas. There is only one public marina. This marina is owned by the City of Columbus. A fancy neighborhood called Green Island Hills is also located right on the lake.
Fun on Lake Oliver
Lake Oliver is a very popular spot, especially in the summer. Many people come here for fun activities. You might see boats, jet skis, and people swimming.
During the other seasons, like fall, winter, and spring, the lake is quieter. It's a great time for fishing! Anglers often come to catch different types of sunfish. Besides being a fun place, Lake Oliver also provides drinking water for the city of Columbus.
River Features Near the Lake
The Oliver Dam is built near a special place on the Chattahoochee River. This place is called the Fall Line. It's where the land suddenly drops. Because of this, the river drops almost 100 feet (30 m) in height just a few miles downstream from the dam.
Lake Oliver is also the starting point for the Chattahoochee RiverWalk. This is a long path, about fifteen miles (24 kilometers) long. It's perfect for riding bikes or walking. The RiverWalk goes all the way south to Fort Benning.
