About Lake Norman

Lake Norman, the largest man-made lake in North Carolina, was created in the early in the 1960’s as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam. Duke Energy broke ground on the dam in September, 1959 and construction took five years with the official dedication taking place in September, 1964. The new lake, christened Lake Norman in honor of former Duke Power President Norman Atwater Cocke, took nearly two years to fill to capacity.

Lake Norman stretches over 34 miles from Cowans Ford Dam on the southern end to the tailrace of Lookout Lake at the northern end and is 9 miles across at its widest point. Lake Norman boasts over 520 miles of picturesque shoreline and holds a capacity of 3.2 trillion gallons of water. Bordering Lake Norman are four counties: Mecklenburg, Catawaba, Lincoln and Iredell which are home to more than 25,000 residents.

There are three generating plants on Lake Norman: Cowan's Ford, the original power station; Marshall Steam Station, a coal-burning steam-electric generating station on NC 150; and the William B. McGuire Nuclear Station near the east abutment of Cowan's Ford Dam. Together, these three plants supply the Charlotte metropolitan area with the majority of its power.

Activities abound in the Lake Norman region. The area has more than 20 golf courses with breathtaking views. Lake Norman is famous for its bass fishing and water sports and features several access areas, while nearby Lake Norman State Park offers hiking and mountain biking trails, camping, facilities, and swimming. There are many other fun and educational things to do in the Lake Norman area.

Lake Norman Facts:

• Area: 32,510 acres
• Length: 34 miles
• Width: 9 miles
• Shore: 520 miles
• Maximum Depth: 110 feet
• Average Depth: 33 feet
• Capacity: 3.2 trillion gallons
• Elevation: 760 ft. above mean sea level.
• Lake level: Fluctuates on a daily and seasonal basis to accommodate electricity generation.