Watts Bar Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Watts Bar Lake |
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View from just north of TVA Watts Bar in Decatur, Tennessee
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 Watts Bar Lake
Location in Tennessee
Watts Bar Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Meigs / Rhea / Roane / Loudon counties, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 35°37′15″N 84°46′54″W / 35.62083°N 84.78167°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Tennessee River, Clinch River, Emory River |
| Primary outflows | Tennessee River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 72.4 mi (117 km) |
| Surface area | 39,000 acres (16,000 ha) |
| Max. depth | 108 ft (33 m) |
| Surface elevation | 741 feet (226 m) |
Watts Bar Lake is a large, human-made lake in Tennessee, U.S.. It's a type of lake called a reservoir. This reservoir was created on the Tennessee River by the Watts Bar Dam. The dam and lake are part of a big system built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to help manage rivers and provide power.
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Where is Watts Bar Lake?
Watts Bar Lake is located in the state of Tennessee. It sits about halfway between the cities of Chattanooga and Knoxville. The lake starts where the Tennessee River flows below Fort Loudoun Dam. From there, it stretches for about 72 miles (117 kilometers) all the way to Watts Bar Dam.
Rivers and Islands
Several other rivers also flow into Watts Bar Lake. The Clinch River joins the lake near Kingston, Tennessee. Because of the lake, the Clinch River is wide enough for boats to travel on it for a long distance. Another river, the Emory River, also connects to the Clinch River nearby.
When you include the Clinch and Emory rivers, Watts Bar Lake has a very long shoreline. It has about 722 miles (1,162 kilometers) of shoreline! The lake also covers a huge area of water, more than 39,000 acres (160 square kilometers). You can find several large islands in the lake, like Thief Neck Island, Long Island, and Sand Island.
Fun Things to Do at Watts Bar Lake
Watts Bar Lake is a popular spot for many outdoor activities.
Fishing and Wildlife
If you love to fish, Watts Bar Lake is a great place to visit. It's known for excellent fishing, especially for fish like crappie, black crappie, and largemouth bass. These fish are often rated among the best in the whole TVA system. It's important to know that sometimes, local health advice suggests not eating fish from certain parts of the lake to keep you safe.
The area around the lake is also wonderful for birdwatching. You can see many different kinds of birds here. There are lots of great blue herons, which are large wading birds. More than 120 pairs of osprey (fish-eating birds of prey) build their nests here. You might even spot a few bald eagles living near the lake!
Parks and Camps
There are several parks and camps located along the shores of Watts Bar Lake. These places offer more opportunities for outdoor fun and learning. For example, the Boy Scout facility Camp Buck Toms is located here.
