Lake Norman

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Lake Norman is an artificial fresh water lake located in southwestern North Carolina, approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of Charlotte. Created between 1959 and 1964 as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam by Duke Energy, it is the largest man-made body of fresh water located entirely within the state. The lake is named after former Duke Power president Norman Atwater Cocke. Spanning over 50 square miles (130 km2) with 520 miles (840 km) of shoreline, Lake Norman borders four North Carolina counties: Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg. Fed by the Catawba River, the reservoir serves as a critical infrastructure hub for the Piedmont region, providing cooling water for the McGuire Nuclear Station and Marshall Steam Station, driving generators at the Cowans Ford hydroelectric plant, and supplying drinking water to surrounding municipalities. The creation of the lake submerged historical farmlands, mill towns, and Native American settlement sites associated with the Catawba people. Following the completion of Interstate 77 in the 1970s, the surrounding area transitioned from a rural agricultural district into a rapidly growing suburban corridor. Today, Lake Norman is a major regional center for recreation, supporting sportfishing, boating, and Lake Norman State Park.