Lake Strom Thurmond, Large reservoir at South Carolina and Georgia border, United States.
Lake Strom Thurmond is a man-made reservoir on the Savannah River at the Georgia–South Carolina border, held back by the J. Strom Thurmond Dam 22 miles upstream of Augusta, Georgia. At normal pool it covers about 71,100 acres with roughly 1,200 miles of shoreline, reaching up the Savannah, Little and Broad Rivers. Its dark open water meets low, tree-covered shores.
The dam was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers between 1946 and 1954 to control flooding and generate power. Once completed, it created one of the largest artificial bodies of water in the southeastern United States.
The lake carries two official names: the federal J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir and Georgia's Clarks Hill Lake, adopted by state resolution in 1989 after residents objected to the 1987 renaming. Georgia's state map still labels it Clarks Hill, and many people in both states use the older name in everyday speech.
Visitors reach the area through several entry points and find campgrounds, boat ramps, and picnic areas along the shore. Most facilities are accessible during warmer months, though some sections remain open year-round.
An original turbine from the first power plant stands on display near the dam today. The massive piece of machinery weighs around 59 tons and was replaced by lighter stainless steel versions.
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