2019 Map of Unaka

About this map

Hiwassee Lake dominates the southern landscape of this region, where the fingers of the reservoir reach into deep mountain valleys. The topography is defined by the high ridges of the Nantahala National Forest and Cherokee National Forest, which meet along the state border between North Carolina and Tennessee. Evidence of long-standing mountain communities is found in the distribution of family and community burial grounds, such as Lenderman Cem near Hamby Bend and New Prospect Cem further west. Smaller settlements like Unaka and Ogreeta are situated along the complex drainage network of Beaverdam Creek and Johnson Creek. The map documents the high-elevation transition from summits like Beaverdam Bald down to the water's edge at Fowler Bend, reflecting a landscape shaped by both federal forest management and hydroelectric development.