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1983 Map of Fontana Lake

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Fontana Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Fontana Lake and the surrounding high country of the Great Smoky Mountains define this 1983 Tennessee Valley Authority compilation. The map captures a landscape shaped by massive hydroelectric projects, including Santeetlah Lake and Nantahala Lake, alongside the extensive Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Nantahala National Forest. It provides a clear view of the Qualla Boundary and the Cherokee Indian Reservation, illustrating the intersection of federal, tribal, and state lands in the early 1980s.

Transportation networks are anchored by the Southern Railway and a series of US Highways connecting settlements like Bryson City, Franklin, and Waynesville. For researchers, the map details the terrain across the Plott Balsams and the Cowee Mountains, while noting institutions like Western Carolina University. Significant wildlife management zones, such as the Standing Indian Wildlife Management Area, reflect the region's managed wilderness character at this time.