Lake Chatuge

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Man created lake (TVA) used for power generation, boating, fishing and general water activity. It's proximity to Atlanta, GA makes this a fast growing area for a weekend or vacation destination. Chatuge Reservoir, located on the Hiawassee River in western North Carolina, is 13 miles long and extends southeast from the dam into north Georgia. The reservoir is named after a nearby Cherokee settlement.

Lake Chatuge spans parts of two states: the dam and lower reaches are located in North Carolina while the upper reaches of the lake are in Georgia. Nearby towns are Hayesville, North Carolina, and Hiawassee, Georgia. This scenic lake set amid the Appalachian Mountains has 132 miles of shoreline and 7,000 surface acres at normal summer pool levels.
Chatuge Dam is 144 feet high, 2,850 feet long and 980 feet wide at the base. The dam is made up of 21,900 cubic yards of concrete, and there was 362,466 cubic yards of earth excavation for the foundation.

Normal maximum pool for Lake Chatuge flood control holds 7,050 acre feet of water. Lake Chatuge has 1 enclosed water-cooled generator and a second generator that was added later.

The reservoir is operated for many uses but was mostly built for power generation and flood control. It is also beneficial for water quality, aquatic ecology and helps maintain navigation depth on the TVA ferment dam system. It provides good fishing opportunities for various species of bass, sunfish, and crappie.