17 Lake Norman Facts: Amazing Artificial Body Of Fresh Water!
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If you're planning to spend a day on the lake campus away from the hustle and bustle of the city of Charlotte, Lake Norman has everything you need to enjoy!
Lake Norman is a fun place for both adults and kids alike. Be it boating, fishing, golfing, or any other activities, you are sure to have an exciting vacation on Lake Norman.
With many recreational activities going on, not many are aware of the interesting facts of this artificial lake. Lake Norman is rich in historic landmarks and sites, giving you a sneak peek into how people thrived centuries back in this region. It's a haven for tourists as it provides different points of attraction all year round.
Physiography Of Lake Norman
Popularly known as the Inland Sea of North Carolina, Lake Norman is the largest among the numerous lakes in this state. Covering a full pond length of 33.6 mi (54 km), it displays a surface area of more than 32,000 ac (12,950 ha) at full pond.
The lake is a breathtaking reservoir that has the capacity to hold 3.4 trillion gals (15.4 trillion l) of water. Lake Norman further drains into the Mountain Island Lake on the south with a drainage area that spans about 1,790 sq mi (4,636 sq km).
It features a shoreline length of 520 mi (837 km), which is more than the combined length of North and South Carolina, all thanks to the vast number of bays and inlets.
The bottom of Lake Norman contains numerous plastic and clay soils and has an average depth of around 33 ft (10 m). The deepest points of this lake reached all the way down to 112 ft (34 m) in depth.
Catawba River:
Being an incredible source of both ecological and economic resources, Lake Norman is fed by the Catawba River with abundant underwater life.
Lake Norman spans four counties in North Carolina:
- Catawba County.
- Lincoln County.
- Mecklenburg County.
- Iredell County.
Hydroelectrical Development
The water from Lake Norman is used for producing electricity in the North Carolina region. It helps in providing a dependable source of power to the main three generating plants on this reservoir:
- The hydroelectric station at the Cowans Ford Dam.
- The coal-burning generating station at the Marshall Steam Station.
- McGuire Nuclear Station, to cool the steam generators that drive the turbines.
General History Of Lake Norman
Around 60-70 years ago, the land around the Catawba River area was bought by the Duke Power Company to build the Cowans Ford Dam. Lake Norman is an artificial freshwater reservoir created by the Duke Power Company, now known as Duke Energy.
Cowans Ford Dam:
The dam's plan was brought forth by an engineer who worked on the Niagara Falls dam during the 1890s. In 1905, the engineer proposed damming the Catawba River to James Buchanan Duke to generate hydroelectricity. Duke Power created the artificial Lake Norman to carry out the proposal, named after the former president of Duke Energy - Norman Atwater Cocke.
The Climate Around Lake Norman
The four distinct seasons of Lake Norman make this Piedmont region of North Carolina a must-visit attraction. The best time to visit this place is during the pleasant climatic months - May, September, and October.
Summers in this place allow you to enjoy the waterfront and soak in the sunset. With July being the hottest month, the temperatures soar up to 80 degrees F (27 degrees C). The temperatures reach an extreme low during January, where the average temperature is 26 degrees F (-3 degree C).
Did You Know?
Lake Norman is significant for its rich biodiversity that consists of multiple species of mammals, plants, birds, and fishes.
This lake is the perfect spot for kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, boating, and many other activities.
Lake Norman was artificially created between 1959 and 1964 for the purpose of building the dam.
The lake has an elevation point at the full pond of 760 ft (232 m) above mean sea level with a width of 9 mi (14.5 km).
The waterfront is open for fishing, hiking, pinching, and camping in tents or cabins, either large groups or families.
It has a water volume of 1,093,600 acft (134,893.5 ha m).
Alligators did not seem to exist in this region; however, during the late 2000s, two alligators were spotted in this waterfront on one site.
The lake supplies water to most areas, including Iredell County, Charlotte, Lincoln County, and even other towns in Mecklenburg County.
Two main highways, the North Carolina 150 and Interstate 77 cross Lake Norman at various points.
The hydroelectric power station at the Cowans Ford Dam is the largest power station owned by Duke Energy and has a capacity of 350 MW.
Lake Norman is an abode to multiple wildlife species such as snapping turtle, eastern box turtle, soft-shell turtle, and eastern rat snake.
The prime location of Lake Norman makes it easy to explore any place and requires only a short drive to reach Charlotte.
During winters and after rainfall, it's not a great time to visit as the water clarity might be poor and not suitable for water activities.
In addition to the vibrant sunsets at the waterfront, you might come across sightings of the Lake Norman monster, Normie.
Once you have played enough in the water, it won't take more than a few minutes to reach uptown Charlotte.
Underneath the pond, there lie the remains of the old city that once existed around the Catawba River. The digital archive from Davidson College has a compilation of the historic sites the pond covers.
Lastly, the vast shoreline makes it a perfect spot to catch the beautiful sunset of Lake Norman.
After taking a walk through the beautiful Waterfront Park, you might want to learn more about Lake Norman and the surrounding land areas.
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