Tenkiller Ferry Lake

Tenkiller Ferry Lake
Tenkiller Ferry Lake and Dam
Location of Tenkiller Ferry Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Location of Tenkiller Ferry Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Tenkiller Ferry Lake
Location of Tenkiller Ferry Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Location of Tenkiller Ferry Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Tenkiller Ferry Lake
LocationCherokee / Sequoyah counties, Oklahoma, US
Coordinates35°39′29″N 94°59′31″W / 35.65806°N 94.99194°W / 35.65806; -94.99194
Lake typereservoir
Primary inflowsIllinois River
Primary outflowsIllinois River
Catchment area1,610 square miles (4,170 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length35 miles (56,327 m)
Surface area12,900 acres (5,200 ha)
Water volume677,000 acre⋅ft (0.835 km3)
Shore length1130 miles (210 km)
Surface elevation632 feet (193 m)
IslandsGoat Island
SettlementsMuskogee, Oklahoma
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Tenkiller Ferry Lake, or more simply, Lake Tenkiller, is a reservoir in eastern Oklahoma formed by the damming of the Illinois River. The earth-fill dam was constructed between 1947 and 1952 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for purposes of flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply and recreation. It went into full operation in 1953.[1] The lake and dam were named for the Tenkiller family, prominent Cherokees who owned the land and ferry that were bought for the project.[2] This is the 6th largest lake in Oklahoma, based on water capacity.[a]

  1. ^ Warner, Badger and Lage, 1973.
  2. ^ A Little History of the Tenkiller Lake Area. www.tenkiller.net Accessed May 4, 2013.


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