Philpott Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philpott Lake |
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 Philpott Lake
Location in Virginia
Philpott Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Franklin / Patrick / Henry counties, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 36°46′53″N 80°01′39″W / 36.78139°N 80.02750°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,900 acres (1,200 ha) |
| Shore length1 | 100 mi (160 km) |
| Surface elevation | 974 ft (297 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Philpott Lake is a beautiful man-made lake located in the state of Virginia, in the United States. It was created by building a large wall, called Philpott Dam, across a river. This lake is a popular spot for outdoor fun and also helps control water levels in the area.
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Discover Philpott Lake
Philpott Lake sits high up, about 974 feet (297 m) above sea level. It's a pretty big lake, covering an area of about 2,900 acres (12 km2), which is like having over 2,000 football fields! The edge of the lake, called its shoreline, stretches for about 100 miles (160 km). That's a long way to explore!
Where is Philpott Lake?
This amazing lake is found in three different counties in Virginia: Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties. Around the lake, there are also huge areas of land, about 6,424 acres (26.00 km2), that are managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. They help take care of the lake and its surroundings.
Why Was Philpott Lake Built?
Philpott Lake and its dam were built for some very important reasons. One main goal was to help stop floods along the Smith River. When heavy rains come, the dam holds back extra water, protecting homes and farms downstream.
Another cool thing the dam does is make electricity! It uses the power of the water flowing through it to create clean energy. This is called hydroelectric power.
Finally, Philpott Lake was also created to be a fun place for people to visit. It offers lots of activities like boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. It's a great spot for families and friends to enjoy nature.
How Was It Built?
The construction of Philpott Dam started in 1948. It took several years of hard work to build this big structure. The dam was finally finished in 1952, and that's when Philpott Lake began to fill up and become the wonderful place it is today.
