How Deep Is South Carolina’s Lake Jocassee?

Written by Patrick MacFarland
Published: February 5, 2024
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The United States has many beautiful lakes and rivers. Located throughout the entire country, we can see the magnificence of the landscapes of what the US is. One such beautiful lake is Lake Jocassee, which is located in South Carolina. It was a man-made creation that started in 1973 as a dam. Thus, there is a hydropower station that is located at one end of the lake. But the question that we ask ourselves is how deep is South Carolina’s Lake Jocassee. Let’s take a look at how deep the lake is and other fun facts. 

Location of Lake Jocassee

Lake Johnson is a reservoir that is a whopping 7,500 acres and it is located in northwestern South Carolina. The Jocassee Dam forms the lake and there is a hydropower station on one end of the lake, dividing it with Lake Keowee, another man-made creation. The lake is part of Devil’s Fork State Park. Let’s take a look at where Lake Jocassee is on the South Carolina map.

How Deep Is Lake Jocassee?

beautiful scenic views at lake jocassee south carolina

Lake Jocassee is part of Devil’s Fork State Park.

©digidreamgrafix/Shutterstock.com

Lake Jocassee is the deepest lake in South Carolina. But how deep exactly is it? The average depth of the lake is 158 feet, however, the maximum depth of Lake Jocassee is 326 feet. Furthermore, four rivers flow into the reservoir — the Horsepasture, the Toxaway, the Thompson, and the Whitewater Rivers. There is one river that flows out of the reservoir, which is the Keowee River.

Animals Around Lake Jocassee

Rainbow trout swimming in natural underwater habitat, shallow depth of field.

There is an abundance of animals living in and around Lake Jocassee including several species of fish like the rainbow trout.

©Henrik A. Jonsson/Shutterstock.com

Animals are abundant in Lake Jocassee. The fish that live in the lake’s waters include spotted bass, brown trout, red-eye bass, and rainbow trout. Cottonmouth snakes also make their home in the lake and surrounding areas. Among the land animals that live near the lake include white-tailed deer, beavers, groundhogs, river otters, black bears, and mourning doves, among others.

What Is Lake Jocassee Known For?

Lake Jocassee is the deepest lake in South Carolina.

One of the scenes in the 1972 movie

Deliverance

with Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds was filmed here.

©digidreamgrafix/Shutterstock.com

Lake Jocassee is known for the rivers that come from the Appalachian Mountains that make their way down to the lake. There is a dam called the Jocassee Dam, which outlines how the lake is formed. It is 385 feet high and a whopping 1,750 feet long. Lake Johnson is also known for being part of Devil’s Fork State Park. There is also a cemetery that is now underwater, but it was used as a background scene for the movie Deliverance. Lastly, the lake is popular for fishing and other water activities, too.

Conclusion

And there you have it, that is how deep South Carolina’s Lake Jocassee is. It is a man-made reservoir that has provided water and electricity for many people living in the area. It is also popular for fishing. So if you come to visit the lake, make sure you have fun fishing and take time to admire the natural landscape of Lake Jocassee.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Wirestock/iStock via Getty Images


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About the Author

Patrick Macfarland is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering travel, geography, and history. Patrick has been writing for more than 10 years. In the past, he has been a teacher and a political candidate. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SDSU and a Master's Degree in European Union Studies from CIFE. From San Diego, California, Patrick loves to travel and try new recipes to cook.

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