Santeetlah Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Santeetlah Hydroelectric Development
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Santeetlah powerhouse on the Cheoah Reservoir
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Dam-Hwy NC 1247, Powerhouse-1277 Farley Branch Rd., near Robbinsville, North Carolina |
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| Area | 397 acres (161 ha) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Built by | Power & Engineering Group of Alcoa |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Tapoco Hydroelectric Project MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000466 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 2004 |
The Santeetlah Dam is a big structure in Graham County, North Carolina. It helps make electricity using the power of water. This special dam is part of a larger system. This system includes the dam itself, a long pipeline, and a powerhouse. Together, they are called the Santeetlah Development. The powerhouse is located near the Little Tennessee River.
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Santeetlah Dam: Making Clean Energy!
The Santeetlah Dam is a hydroelectric project. This means it uses the natural flow of water to create electricity. The dam was built on the Cheoah River. It is located about 5 miles (8 km) from the Cheoah Dam.
Building the Dam
Work on the Santeetlah Project began in 1925. It was finished just three years later, in 1928. The Tallassee Power Company built it. This company is now known as Tapoco.
Lake Santeetlah: The Big Lake
The Santeetlah Dam creates a large body of water called Santeetlah Reservoir. This lake covers about 2,881 acres. That's a huge area! Water flows into the lake from an area of 176 square miles (456 square kilometers). The lake stretches all the way to Robbinsville, North Carolina. The water level of Lake Santeetlah is about 1,941 feet (591 meters) high.
The dam itself is very tall, standing 212 feet (65 meters) high. It is also very long, stretching 1,054 feet (321 meters) across. The Santeetlah Dam was one of the first structures to use a special building method. This method helped make the concrete very strong and good quality.
How Water Moves Through the Dam
The dam has two special sections called spillways. These spillways can release a lot of water very quickly. On top of the dam is a concrete gatehouse. This gatehouse controls how much water flows into a 5-mile (8 km) long tunnel. This tunnel carries water to the Little Tennessee River.
The Santeetlah Dam and the Cheoah Dam have changed the flow of the Cheoah River. Most of the water from Lake Santeetlah travels through pipes. It goes to the Rhymer's Ferry generating facility. Any water that flows below the dam comes from smaller streams or from the reservoir overflowing.
Who Manages the Dam?
The Santeetlah facility is owned and operated by Tapoco. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) also helps manage the lake levels. This is because the water from Lake Santeetlah flows into Tapoco's Santeetlah Power House. This powerhouse is located near the Cheoah Dam and the Fontana Dam. If there's too much water, it overflows into the Cheoah River.
