Lake Wateree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Wateree |
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 Lake Wateree
Location in South Carolina
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| Location | Kershaw / Fairfield / Lancaster counties, South Carolina, US |
| Coordinates | 34°24′40″N 80°47′32″W / 34.41111°N 80.79222°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Catawba River |
| Primary outflows | Wateree River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 13,864 acres (56.11 km2; 21.66 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 23 feet (7.0 m) |
| Max. depth | 19.5 metres (64 ft) |
| Residence time | 27 days |
| Shore length1 | 181 miles (291 km) |
| Surface elevation | 226 feet (68.9 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Wateree is a large, man-made lake in South Carolina, United States. It covers about 21 square miles (50 km2) across three counties: Kershaw, Fairfield, and Lancaster. This lake was created in 1919 when the Wateree River was dammed. It is one of the oldest man-made lakes in South Carolina.
Lake Wateree has a long shoreline, stretching for about 181 miles (291 km). It is home to Lake Wateree State Park, a special place for birds, and a recreation center for Shaw Air Force Base. The lake and the river were named after the Wateree people, a Native American tribe who lived in this area long ago. Their descendants later joined with the Catawba people.
Where is Lake Wateree?
Lake Wateree is surrounded by three counties in South Carolina: Kershaw, Fairfield, and Lancaster. It is located about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Columbia, which is the capital city. You can easily reach the lake from I-77 or SC 97.
How Lake Wateree Was Made
Lake Wateree was created by a company called Duke Power, which is now known as Duke Energy. In 1919, they built a large dam on the Wateree River. This dam helped to create electricity using the power of the water. When the dam was built, a big area of land was flooded, forming the lake we see today. The lake is usually about 23 feet (7.0 m) deep.
Animals and Fish
Lake Wateree is a great spot for fishing and seeing many different kinds of animals. The lake is full of fish like Largemouth bass, Striped bass, White perch, White bass, Crappie, Channel catfish, Arkansas Blue Catfish, Shellcrackers, and Bream.
Around the lake, you might spot many other animals. These include deer, fox, squirrel, and turtle. There are also many birds such as doves, turkeys, different types of duck, hawks, and eagles. You might also see egrets, Herons, and ospreys. Sometimes, you can even see alligators in the area.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Wateree para niños
