Watauga Lake, Mountain reservoir in eastern Tennessee, United States
The Watauga Lake extends over 6,430 acres with 104 miles of shoreline, reaching depths of 265 feet near the dam structure.
The Tennessee Valley Authority constructed Watauga Dam between 1942 and 1948, requiring the relocation of the original town of Butler to higher ground.
The Butler Museum displays artifacts and documents from the submerged town, preserving the memory of the original settlement beneath the water.
Multiple boat ramps provide water access, while the Cherokee National Forest surrounds more than half of the shoreline with undeveloped natural areas.
The reservoir maintains the status as Tennessee's highest elevation lake and ranks as the third cleanest water body in the United States.
Location: Tennessee
GPS coordinates: 36.33280,-82.00237
Latest update: May 27, 2025 10:05
Tennessee contains natural areas and historical sites. The landscape includes caves, waterfalls, and lakes. Historical places feature plantations, Civil War sites, and Native American settlements. Parks display geological formations and natural habitats. Historical museums document life in the 19th century.
Sycamore Shoals
22.8 km
Roan Mountain State Park
18.7 km
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
18.8 km
South Holston Lake
22.6 km
Sugar Mountain
25.8 km
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area
22.4 km
Beech Mountain
19.7 km
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site
30.2 km
Rocky Mount, Tennessee
31 km
Elizabethton Covered Bridge
18.8 km
Grassy Ridge Bald
26.9 km
Sabine Hill
24 km
Big Yellow Mountain
24.9 km
Valle Crucis Episcopal Mission
24 km
Cove Creek High School
21 km
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
22.7 km
Simerly-Butler House
16.3 km
Butler House
23.7 km
John T. Wilder House
16.4 km
Avery County Jail
28.2 km
Elk Park School
19.2 km
Ward Family House
18.7 km
Thankful Baptist Church
31.3 km
Avery County Courthouse
28.2 km
Land of Oz
19.7 km
Shook Branch Swimming Area
11.7 km
Kettlefoot Fire Lookout Tower
16 km
Bonnie Kate Theatre
19.1 kmReviews
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