Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee
Lake Jocassee is located in South Carolina
Lake Jocassee
Lake Jocassee
LocationOconee / Pickens counties, South Carolina, United States
Coordinates34°57′36″N 82°55′10″W / 34.96000°N 82.91944°W / 34.96000; -82.91944
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsHorsepasture, Toxaway, Whitewater, Thompson Rivers
Primary outflowsKeowee River
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area7,500 acres (30 km2)
Average depth158 ft (48 m) [1]
Max. depth326 ft (99 m) [1]
Shore length175 mi (121 km)
Surface elevation1,100 ft (340 m)
FrozenNo
IslandsDozen small islets
SettlementsClemson, Pickens, Salem, and Seneca
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Jocassee (/əˈkæsi/, /ˈkæsi/) is a 7,500-acre (30 km2), 300-foot (91 m) deep reservoir in northwest South Carolina. It was created in 1973 by the state in partnership with Duke Power. [2] The lake is known for the clean and cold Appalachian mountain rivers that flow into it, keeping its waters cool and clear year-round. The Jocassee Dam, which forms the lake, is 385 feet (117 m) high and 1,750 feet (530 m) long. The lake is within Devils Fork State Park.

Laurel Fork Falls
Looking toward Cashiers

Although most manmade structures were demolished before the lake was flooded, divers recently discovered the remains of a lodge that was left intact; it is now below 300 feet (91 m) of water. Mount Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery was a setting for a scene in the film Deliverance (1972), starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight, produced before the lake was flooded. The site is now covered by 130 feet (40 m) of lake water.[3][4][5]

Several waterfalls flow directly into the lake, including Laurel Fork Falls, Mill Creek Falls, Wright Fork Falls, and Moondance Falls.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b "southcarolinalakes.info".
  2. ^ "Jocassee History". Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  3. ^ Simon, Anna (2009-02-20). "Cable network to detail history of Lake Jocassee". The Greenville News. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  4. ^ Heldenfels, Rich (2009-11-05). "Body double plays banjo". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  5. ^ CNN.com: "Divers find hotel 300 ft. down", February 25, 2009; accessed February 25, 2009.
  6. ^ Copyright Eclectic Sun LLC - Paddle Sports, https://eclecticsun com (16 December 2019). "Kayak, Lake Jocassee, Paddle Board, Canoe, Waterfall, Boat Rental, Pontoon Boat, Lake Keowee, Eclectic Sun LLC, Devils Fork State Park, Salem, South Carolina". Eclectic Sun Paddlesports @ Lake Jocassee. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  7. ^ "Lower Whitewater Falls and Moondance Falls - Oconee County, South Carolina". www.ncwaterfalls.com. Retrieved 2020-08-23.