Burnsville Lake, reservoir in West Virginia, United States
Burnsville Lake is a reservoir in Braxton County, West Virginia, created by a dam on the Little Kanawha River. The water covers between roughly 550 and 1,900 acres depending on the season, with a shoreline of about 30 miles and average depths of 20 to 25 feet.
The lake was constructed between 1972 and 1976 and became operational in 1978 to control flooding along the Little Kanawha River. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it has shaped water management in the region ever since.
The lake takes its name from the nearby town of Burnsville and serves as a gathering place for people seeking outdoor activities. The area around it is now used by visitors for fishing, boating, and walking on numerous trails throughout the region.
The lake has five boat launch ramps and two campgrounds at Riffle Run and Bulltown for overnight stays. Visitors should know that water levels vary significantly by season, with the lake dropping considerably in winter.
The lake has never reached its full capacity during its entire history, coming close only during a flood in 1996. This fact underscores its importance for flood control in a region that naturally experiences heavy rainfall.
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