Watauga Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Watauga Lake |
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View from Watauga Dam looking across the lake toward Rat Branch Boat Landing.
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 Watauga Lake
Location in Tennessee
Watauga Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Carter / Johnson counties, Tennessee, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°19′58.08″N 82°0′8.53″W / 36.3328000°N 82.0023694°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Watauga River, Elk River |
| Primary outflows | Watauga River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 16.3 mi (26.2 km) |
| Average depth | 16.0 m (52.5 ft) |
| Max. depth | 265 ft (81 m) |
| Shore length1 | 104.9 mi (168.8 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,959 ft (597 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Watauga Lake is a large lake in eastern Tennessee. It is also known as the Watauga Reservoir. This lake was created by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) when they finished building the Watauga Dam in 1948. The TVA is a special government agency that helps manage rivers and create electricity.
Watauga Lake is surrounded by the beautiful Cherokee National Forest. This forest covers a large area in northeast Tennessee. The TVA says this area is "some of the most beautiful country" in the region.
Contents
History of Watauga Lake
How the Dam Was Built
Work on the Watauga Dam started in 1942. But it was stopped later that year because of World War II. Many building efforts were focused on the war instead. Construction started again in 1946. The dam was finally finished at the end of 1948.
The dam holds back the waters of the Watauga River and the Elk River. It was built for several important reasons. These include preventing floods, making electricity, and helping boats travel on the Tennessee River system.
The Town Under the Lake
An old town called Butler, Tennessee used to be where Watauga Lake is now. When the lake was created, the old town was covered by water. A "New" Butler was built on higher ground nearby. This new town is above the lake's summer water level.
Other towns close to Watauga Lake include Hampton, Elizabethton, Roan Mountain, Mountain City, Johnson City, and Bristol. The lake itself is located in parts of Johnson and Carter Counties.
Facts About Watauga Lake
Lake Size and Depth
Watauga Lake is about 16.3 miles (26.2 kilometers) long. It has a very long shoreline, stretching about 104.9 miles (168.8 kilometers). When the lake is full in summer, its surface covers 6,430 acres (26 square kilometers).
The deepest part of Watauga Lake is near the dam, reaching about 265 feet (81 meters) deep. At its fullest, Watauga Lake is the highest of all TVA lakes. Its water level is 1,959 feet (597 meters) above sea level.
How Water Levels Change
Water from Watauga Lake is regularly released into a smaller lake called Wilbur Reservoir. This happens according to a schedule set by the TVA. The water levels in Watauga Lake change throughout the year. They can vary by about 9 feet (2.7 meters) in a normal year.
These changes help store water to prevent floods during rainy seasons. They also help keep water flowing during drier times. Watauga Lake can hold a lot of extra water to prevent floods.
Fun Things to Do at Watauga Lake
Outdoor Activities
More than half of Watauga Lake's shoreline is part of the Cherokee National Forest. This means that much of the land around the lake cannot be built on. This helps keep the area natural and beautiful.
Many people enjoy visiting Watauga Lake for outdoor fun. Popular activities include boating, fishing, water-skiing, and camping. There are no limits on how powerful a boat's engine can be. There are also no speed limits for boats on the lake. Several places offer public and private boat ramps to get onto the water.
River Adventures
When water is released from Watauga Dam and Wilbur Dam, it creates more fun activities downstream. The Watauga River below the dams is great for whitewater rafting. It is also a popular spot for trout fishing and kayaking.
The Cherokee National Forest has several recreation areas along the lake's shores. These spots are perfect for enjoying nature.
Annual Boat Parade
Since 2001, houseboat owners have held a big annual boat parade on Watauga Lake. This fun event happens every year on July 4th. The Watauga Lake boat parade usually starts at 2:00 p.m.
Weather at Watauga Lake
| Climate data for Watauga Lake at Hampton, Tennessee | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.7 (6.5) |
48.0 (8.9) |
58.9 (14.9) |
67.4 (19.7) |
75.2 (24.0) |
82.2 (27.9) |
84.6 (29.2) |
84.1 (28.9) |
79.1 (26.2) |
69.1 (20.6) |
58.2 (14.6) |
48.1 (8.9) |
66.6 (19.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.0 (1.1) |
37.4 (3.0) |
47.2 (8.4) |
55.2 (12.9) |
63.4 (17.4) |
71.1 (21.7) |
74.4 (23.6) |
73.6 (23.1) |
67.9 (19.9) |
56.7 (13.7) |
47.0 (8.3) |
38.2 (3.4) |
55.5 (13.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.3 (−4.3) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
35.4 (1.9) |
43.0 (6.1) |
51.6 (10.9) |
59.9 (15.5) |
64.1 (17.8) |
63.1 (17.3) |
56.6 (13.7) |
44.2 (6.8) |
35.9 (2.2) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
44.4 (6.9) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 3.2 (81) |
3.4 (86) |
3.7 (94) |
3.3 (84) |
3.8 (97) |
3.5 (89) |
4.3 (110) |
3.2 (81) |
3.3 (84) |
2.6 (66) |
2.9 (74) |
3.4 (86) |
40.7 (1,030) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.2 (13) |
4.2 (11) |
2.3 (5.8) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.05 (0.13) |
0.05 (0.13) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.05 (0.13) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
2.6 (6.6) |
15.6 (40) |
| Source: climate-zone.com | |||||||||||||
