| Kerr Lake | |
|---|---|
 John H. Kerr Dam and Lake in Mecklenburg County, Virginia | |
  Kerr Lake  Kerr Lake  Kerr Lake | |
| Location | North Carolina–Virginia border, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°34′16.13″N 78°19′33.59″W / 36.5711472°N 78.3259972°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Roanoke River, Dan River |
| Primary outflows | Roanoke River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 50,000 acres (200 km2) |
| Average depth | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Max. depth | 100 ft (30 m) (at John H. Kerr Dam) |
| Surface elevation |
|
The John H. Kerr Reservoir (often called Kerr Lake in North Carolina and Bugg's Island Lake in Virginia)[1] is a reservoir along the border of the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the John H. Kerr Dam across the Roanoke River between 1947 and 1952 to produce hydroelectricity as well as for flood control. Kerr Lake is the largest lake in Virginia, with 850 miles (1,370 km) of shoreline located in Vance, Granville, and Warren counties in North Carolina, as well as Mecklenburg, Charlotte, and Halifax counties in Virginia. At its maximum capacity, it covers approximately 50,000 acres (200 km2) and is one of the largest reservoirs in the Southeastern United States. The name honors its Congressional sponsor, John H. Kerr, a North Carolina Democrat who supported creation of the lake. The lake supports recreational tourism in North Carolina and Virginia as described below.
- ^ "Wilmington District > Locations > District Lakes and Dams > John H. Kerr". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2016.