SUMMARY
A popular destination for boaters, campers, hikers, and families – Lake Keowee has a little bit of something for everybody. This large man-made lake not only provides recreation and rest for the residents of the region – but it also provides power through its hydro-electric dams and drinking water for the Upstate area of South Carolina.
ARTICLE
Lake Keowee is a man-made lake in the Upstate region of South Carolina. It was created by Duke Energy Corporation when they built the Keowee Dam and the Little River Dam on the Keowee and Little Rivers. The lake itself covers over 18,000 acres and sports more than 300 miles of beautiful shoreline among the foothills of the Upstate region. The lake serves a number of power and water purposes and is a popular recreation destination for residents of the surrounding areas and states.
The lake receives its name which means “Place of Mulberries” from the Cherokee word Keowee. At one time, Keowee Town was located on the banks of the Keowee River and was the capital of the Lower Cherokee Nation. The site of the town is now covered by Lake Keowee. Geographically – the lake is located mainly in Oconee County, SC – but also extends into Pickens County, SC.
Over 23 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point – Lake Keowee is a popular destination for boaters, fisherman, hikers, and campers. There are a number of different fish species that are popular to fisherman in the lake – including bass and trout. In 1979, the South Carolina state record Yellow Perch was pulled from Lake Keowee by D. Scarborough and weighed in at 3 lbs. 4 oz.
Lake Keowee includes a number of very high quality lakefront subdivisions; some lots offer spetacular view of the lake and nearby mountains. Lake lots and homes command premium prices. The lake enjoys clearer water and because the lake serves as a cooling source for a Duke Power Generating station, water levels are kept relatively stable.
Water from the lake flows into the Seneca River which is a tributary to the larger Savannah River. Water from Lake Keowee is also pumped into the surrounding region, including Greenville, SC – as drinking water. It also provides cooling water for the three nuclear reactors of the Oconee Nuclear Generating Station.
Updated: January, 2010