Fontana Dam, Hydroelectric dam in Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina.
Fontana Dam is a 480-foot-tall concrete structure stretching 721 meters across the Little Tennessee River, forming a massive reservoir with 10,230 acres of water surface. The lake's shoreline creates numerous coves and peninsulas throughout the valley.
The Tennessee Valley Authority built this dam between 1942 and 1944 to supply electricity for aluminum production during World War II. The project was essential to wartime manufacturing and became part of a broader regional development effort.
The dam's creation flooded Fontana, a town built on logging and copper mining, displacing over 1,000 families from their homes. The submerged community remains a memory tied to the landscape, shaping how locals view the reservoir.
A visitor center offers exhibits explaining how the facility generates power and shaped the region's development, helping guests understand the operation today. The site is accessible year-round with parking areas and walking paths around the structure.
The Appalachian Trail crosses directly over the dam, and a nearby shelter provides hot showers that long-distance hikers affectionately call the Fontana Hilton. This surprising comfort stops hikers used to basic backcountry stays.
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