The ten Largest Lakes in Georgia

Georgia is well-known for its beautiful pure magnificence. It boasts completely different local weather zones, starting from the Mediterranean to subtropical, and pure surroundings, together with seas and excessive mountain settings, deserts, vineyards, forests, and glaciers. However one of many causes Georgia is a spot to go to is its magnificent our bodies of water.

Dams created lots of Georgia’s lakes, and many of the lakes on our checklist aren’t any exception. These lakes present wonderful fishing and leisure boating alternatives, starting from small, quiet lakes to large celebration lakes. Since most of those lakes’ building was below the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, which was signed into legislation by Franklin D. Roosevelt, every lake has its distinct historical past. Plenty of the lakes have villages and even bridges hidden beneath their serene waters. Under, we’ll discover the ten greatest lakes in Georgia. 

The ten Largest Lakes in Georgia

    10. Lake Allatoona

Lake Allatoona is a reservoir constructed by the US Military Corps of Engineers on the Etowah River in Georgia’s northwest area. The ruins of Etowah’s city at the moment are on the backside of the lake. Flood management, hydroelectric energy era, water provide, high quality, fish and wildlife administration, and recreation are all doable makes use of of Lake Allatoona. With 270 miles of shoreline and 12,000 acres (48.6 km2) to discover, this large lake is ideal for boating and fishing.

Not solely is Allatoona stunning, however it is usually one of many cleanest lakes within the state that provides pure consuming water to the encircling communities. Tenting, boat ramps, marinas, and parks abound on Lake Allatoona. You possibly can go to the swimming areas, hire a ship, have an excellent picnic, or go fishing whereas admiring the magnificent Georgia surroundings.

    9. Lake Sinclair

Located within the historic heartland of Milledgeville, Georgia, you will see that the gem of Lake Sinclair. Operated by Georgia Energy, Lake Sinclair got here to life in 1953. It’s a man-made lake encompassing 15,300 acres (62.04 km2) of winding coves and several other huge stretches of open water, boasting 417 miles of shoreline. It’s a prime location for fishing, tournaments, swimming, boating, and tenting and even affords a number of marinas for the comfort of locals and guests. Since Lake Sinclair is likely one of the cleanest lakes in Georgia, there aren’t any consuming restrictions on the fish caught out of it. The readability of the water on Lake Sinclair varies relying on the place you go. This lake has mud, sand, and all-time low and isn’t as pristine as mountain all-time low lakes.

    8. Lake Oconee

Lake Oconee is a reservoir on the Oconee River close to Greensboro and Eatonton in central Georgia, United States. This huge lake covers a floor space of 19,071 acres (77.09 km2) and has 374 miles of shoreline. Those that want to fish from the financial institution or a ship can discover numerous fishing holes on the lake. Right here you’ll discover crappie, catfish, white bass, bluegill, stripers, hybrid striped bass, and sunfish. Only a river connects Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair. Up the river is Lake Oconee—a family-friendly spot with native present outlets, on-site lodging, picnic areas, and choices for boating, fishing, and {golfing}. The chances at Lake Oconee are just about limitless, from markets to boutiques, breweries, eating places, and eateries. It’s a must-see attraction in your subsequent journey to Georgia Lake.

    7. West Level Lake

West Level Lake is a 35-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama-Georgia state line that we share with our Alabama neighbors. Maintained by the US Military Corps of Engineers (USACE), it’s the smallest of the 4 main USACE lakes, containing 25,864 acres (104.8 km2) of water and has the second shortest shoreline at 604 miles. Nonetheless, it nonetheless offers wonderful alternatives for fishing, tenting, boating, and different leisure actions for households and pets. Many animals, a few of that are dangerous to folks, reside in and across the lake. Two venomous snakes that thrive within the space are the copperhead and cottonmouth. The bluestripe shiner, southern brook lamprey, and excessive scale shiner are three fish on this checklist. Though there are American alligator sightings, they’re exceedingly uncommon.

    6. Richard B. Russell Lake

Richard B. Russell Lake (identified to locals as merely “Lake Russell”) is a man-made reservoir constructed by the US Military Corps of Engineers by the development of Richard B. Russell Dam on the Savannah River bordering Elbert County, Georgia, and Abbeville and Anderson counties in South Carolina. It affords a rural, pristine, and quiet setting with 21 public recreation areas the place guests get pleasure from leisure actions, together with water sports activities, searching, mountaineering, picnicking, tenting, and fishing. The lake consists of 26,650 acres (108 km2) of water and 540 miles of shoreline, which has a few state parks that present boating entry and picnic spots. Lake Russell is distinctive in that it maintains a habitat for a various assemblage of warm-water, cool-water, and even cold-water sport fish. Bass, catfish, crappie, trout, sunfish, perch, and striped bass thrive right here.

    5. Lake Lanier

Lake Sidney Lanier, also known as Lake Lanier, is a reservoir that stretches out over 37,000 acres (150 km2) and 692 miles of shoreline alongside the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeast Georgia. There’s an excessive amount of to do in Lake Lanier in a single weekend, from buying to fishing to tubing to dozens of various kinds of lodging; you’ll have to return to finish the enjoyable. Lake Lanier is legendary amongst striper anglers due to its wonderful striped bass fishing. The lake has wholesome populations of catfish, bass, crappie, sunfish, walleye, perch, and gar. Nonetheless, due to its murky water coated with tree trunks and different particles that may simply entangle swimmers, Lake Lanier will be harmful.

    4. Lake Seminole

Lake Seminole, situated close to the Florida border, is nearer to the town of Tallahassee than some other metropolitan space in Georgia. Spanning 37,500 acres (152 km2), it’s the excellent spot for fishing, boating, and birding. Though the realm is well-known for its wonderful goose searching, it is usually identified for its number of wildlife. Uncover nature trails main previous gopher tortoise burrows, and you may additionally spot osprey and bald eagles.

Sadly, there isn’t a secure swimming space within the lake due to the notorious alligators. The fish embrace largemouth bass, crappie, chain pickerel, catfish, striped bass, and different species. Picnic areas, campers, and cottages present stunning views and quick access to the water. Seminole State Park surrounds a cove. Due to this, visitors usually get pleasure from easy waters for water snowboarding and tubing actions.

    3. Walter F. George Lake

Walter F. George Lake (Lake Eufaula) is a forty five,000-acre (182.8 km2) lake on the Chattahoochee River alongside the state line of Alabama and Georgia. Often called the “Large Bass Capital of the World,” it’s a common year-round location for fishing, boating, and different out of doors sports activities. Bass and sunfish love to cover amongst boat docks and bush, and the shoreline of Lake Eufaula has sufficient of each.

Bass use this shallow cowl for feeding and spawning within the spring, then migrate to outer constructions reminiscent of factors, islands, ledges, and creek channels in the summertime. There are 800 miles of shoreline to discover, together with sandy swimming seashores, excessive cliffs, and vibrantly wooded areas teeming with wildlife. There’s by no means a boring second with out of doors actions reminiscent of boating, snowboarding, swimming, four-wheeling, fishing, searching, and two state parks to discover.

    2. Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell is the second largest lake within the state, with roughly 56,000 acres (226.6 km2) of water! Encompassing elements of the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca rivers, Lake Hartwell has a 978-mile shoreline situated on the border of Georgia and South Carolina. Hartwell is a good place to go fishing and boating. Abounding with largemouth and noticed bass, Hartwell additionally boasts hardy populations of striped bass, hybrid bass, black crappie, bream, trout, and stocked walleye. You’ll by no means really feel crowded right here due to the vastness, however you would possibly really feel misplaced. There are quite a few marinas and lakeside eating places across the lake, and there are fishing tournaments, boat rallies, and different occasions. Lake Hartwell is just a little farther from Atlanta, but it surely affords extremely affordable lake residing options and isn’t as crowded as different lakes.

    1. Clarks Hill Lake

Lake Strom Thurmond, formally designated J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir on the federal degree, and Clarks Hill Lake in Georgia, is a man-made reservoir on the border between Georgia and South Carolina within the Savannah River Basin. It tops our checklist at 71,000 acres (290 km2) and is the third-largest synthetic lake east of the Mississippi River. Its 1,000+ miles of shoreline supply loads of fishing, boating, and Corps leisure areas. A whole bunch of campgrounds, residing villages, and engaging tiny cities can be found to discover. Largemouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, bass, and crappie fishing are prevalent at Clarks Hill, and the lake additionally has wonderful shellcracker fishing in the course of the late spring spawn and a few large catfish.