Lewis Smith Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lewis Smith Lake |
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Overhead satellite image taken in 2015 by Landsat 8 of Lewis Smith Lake located in North Alabama.
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 Lewis Smith Lake
Location in Alabama
Lewis Smith Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cullman / Walker / Winston counties, Alabama, US |
| Coordinates | 33°56′32″N 087°06′21″W / 33.94222°N 87.10583°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 21,000 acres (85 km2) |
| Max. depth | 264 ft (80 m) |
| Surface elevation | 510 ft (160 m) |
| Islands | Goat Island |
Lewis Smith Lake is a large, man-made lake, also known as a reservoir, located in northern Alabama. It was created on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River. This huge lake spreads across three counties: Cullman, Walker, and Winston.
Lewis Smith Lake is special because it's the deepest lake in Alabama. At its deepest point near the dam, it goes down 264 feet! The lake covers more than 21,000 acres (85 km2) of water. It has a very long shoreline, stretching over 500 miles (800 km), which is great for exploring. When the lake is full, its water level is about 510 feet (160 m) high.
Contents
Building Lewis Smith Lake
Lewis Smith Lake was created by a company called Alabama Power. They built a huge structure called the Lewis Smith Dam. This dam is one of the largest earthen dams in the eastern United States. An earthen dam is built mostly from natural materials like soil, sand, and rock.
Dam Construction Details
The Lewis Smith Dam is very impressive. It is 2,200 feet (670 m) long and stands about 300 feet (91 m) tall. Building this massive dam was a big project! Construction started on November 25, 1957, and the dam officially began working on September 5, 1961. The lake and dam were named after Lewis Martin Smith, who was the president of Alabama Power from 1952 to 1957.
Nearby Towns
Several towns are located near Lewis Smith Lake. In Cullman County, you can find Bremen, Cullman, Good Hope, Crane Hill, and Dodge City. In Walker County, there are Curry and Jasper. And in Winston County, you'll find Addison, Arley, Houston, and Double Springs.
History of the Lake
The idea for Lewis Smith Lake came about because of the need for coal transportation along the Black Warrior River. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, several locks and dams were built north of Tuscaloosa to help boats move coal. Local business leaders wanted a new dam on the Sipsey Fork to help control the water levels in these existing locks and dams.
Why the Lake Was Built
The planned lake would also do two other important things:
- It would provide extra electricity to the surrounding area, especially during busy times when a lot of power was needed.
- It would create a new place for fun activities and bring visitors to an area that didn't have many people living there.
Alabama Power officially applied to build the lake on July 27, 1954. The dam was formally opened on May 23, 1961. For the first 20 years, not many buildings or homes were built around the lake.
Growth and Recreation
However, in the 1980s and 1990s, Lewis Smith Lake became very popular for recreation. This was because it was easy to get to from larger cities like Birmingham and Huntsville.
Today, the lake is mostly used for fun activities like boating, swimming, and fishing. But during the summer, the power plant at the dam still helps provide electricity when it's needed most.
Fun Things to Do
Lewis Smith Lake is a great place for outdoor adventures! Some popular spots for visitors include:
- Indian Head Cliff Jump: A spot where brave people can jump from a cliff about 30 feet high into the water.
- Castle Rock: Another cliff jumping spot, a bit higher, ranging from 40 to 50 feet.
- The Castle: A unique rock formation that looks like a castle.
Images for kids
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Brush Creek, a tributary of Lewis Smith Lake.
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A scenic view of Lewis Smith Lake.
