2022 Map of Watauga Dam

About this map

Watauga Lake dominates this mountain landscape, a reservoir that reshaped the local geography of the Iron Mountains within the Cherokee National Forest. The map documents the high-elevation settlements and family landmarks of eastern Tennessee, where ridges like Mays Ridge and Sheffield Ridge divide numerous hollows. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds through the terrain, passing landmarks such as Firescald Knob and Bear Stand. Cultural history is well-preserved through a dense concentration of family burial grounds, including the Matherly Cem, Wagner Cem, and Cochran Cem near the town of Butler. This geography illustrates the complex relationship between the natural water systems of the Watauga River and the rural communities like Fish Springs and Little Milligan that persist along the shoreline and deep within the surrounding gaps.