Fontana Lake

Fontana Lake is a reservoir in western North Carolina stretching 27 kilometers across Graham and Swain counties. It reaches depths of 130 meters within the Appalachian range.

Building Fontana Dam in the 1940s formed this reservoir and submerged several mountain settlements including Proctor and Judson. Work accelerated during World War II because of power needs for aluminum plants in the area.

The Italian name recalls a former logging camp that Montvale Lumber Company established along Eagle Creek. Anglers and hikers now cross the water to reach trails that once passed through inhabited valleys.

North Carolina Highway 28 runs along the southern shore and provides access to several boat launches. Water levels peak in summer, making it easier to reach remote trailheads like Hazel Creek.

The water forms a natural boundary between Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Nantahala National Forest. Numerous island peaks rise from the surface in the eastern section, remnants of former ridges only partly covered during flooding.

Location: North Carolina

Elevation above the sea: 519 m

GPS coordinates: 35.45158,-83.78989

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28