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Lake Jocassee Location Northwest South Carolina Coordinates 35°0'N 82°56'W? / ?35°N 82.933°W? / 35; -82.933Coordinates: 35°0'N 82°56'W? / ?35°N 82.933°W? / 35; -82.933 Lake type reservoir Primary inflows Horsepasture, Toxaway, Whitewater, Thompson Rivers Primary outflows Keowee River Basin countries United States Surface area Lake Jocassee is a 7,500-acre (30 km2), 300-foot (91 m) deep lake located in northwest South Carolina created by the state in partnership with Duke Power in 1973[1]. The clean and cold Appalachian mountain rivers that feed the lake keep its waters cool year-round. The hydroelectric dam that formed the lake is 385 feet (117 m) high and 1,750 feet (530 m) long. The lake is home to Devils Fork State Park. Although most manmade structures were demolished prior to the creation of the lake, divers recently discovered the remains of a lodge which was left intact until the lake rose and now sits below 300 feet of water; a hilltop graveyard with headstones also remains more than 130 feet under the water.[2] Contents [hide] 1 Hydrology 2 Natural History 3 History 4 Fishing 5 Economy 6 Nearby Cities and Towns 7 References 8 See also 9 External links // Hydrology Lake Jocassee and the surrounding bodies of water. The waters of Lake Jocassee are supplied by a confluence of four rivers. The Whitewater River, is the The Jocassee Hydro Station, located in the southeast corner of Lake Jocassee, separates it from the beginning of Lake Keowee, also known as the Keowee River. Lake Keowee's furthest extent to the south brings it close to the city of Seneca, with the old mill town of Newry actually on it. Unlike Lake Jocassee, Keowee is heavily settled, primarily because the land adjacent to Lake Jocassee is owned by Duke Power and the State of South Carolina. Natural History Devils Fork State Park portion of Lake Jocassee A rare wildflower, the Oconee Bell (Shortia galacifolia), native to only a few counties in the Blue Ridge area, was discovered in the area in 1788 by French botanist Andre Michaux. The creation of Lake Jocassee is said to have caused the destruction of the heart of the species' range.[3] More recently, biologists have documented the occurrence of a number of rare, threatened and endangered species. The Eastatoee Gorge Heritage Preserve was transferred from Duke Power Company to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in 1979 due | ||||
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