R.L. Harris Dam facts for kids
The R. L. Harris Dam is a special kind of wall built across the Tallapoosa River in Randolph County, Alabama. It's a hydroelectric dam, which means it uses the power of moving water to make electricity. This dam is the fourth of four dams built on the Tallapoosa River.
The big lake created by the dam is called R. L. Harris Lake, but many people know it as Lake Wedowee. This lake was formed on April 20, 1983. It was named after Rother L. "Judge" Harris, who was an important person at Alabama Power, the company that built the dam. He helped manage their electricity operations.
About R. L. Harris Lake
R. L. Harris Lake is quite large! It covers about 10,600 acres (that's like 8,000 football fields!). The edge of the lake, called the shoreline, stretches for 271 miles. That's a really long way, like driving from one big city to another! The lake can hold a huge amount of water, about 426,000 acre-feet. The closest town to the lake is Wedowee, Alabama.
How the Dam Makes Electricity
The Harris hydropower facility has two big machines that work together to make electricity. These machines can create 135 megawatts of power. To give you an idea, one megawatt can power about 750 homes! So, this dam can power a lot of homes and businesses by using the natural flow of the river.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
R. L. Harris Lake is a fantastic place for outdoor fun, especially if you love fishing! Many different kinds of fish live here, including:
- Largemouth bass
- Spotted bass
- Bluegill and other sunfish
- Crappie
- Catfish
- Striped bass
- Hybrid and white bass
Alabama Power, the company that manages the dam, has made it easy for everyone to enjoy the lake. They have set up six public places where people can go to fish, launch boats, or just enjoy the beautiful water.
