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2003 Map of Watauga Dam

Name: 2003 Topographic Map of Watauga Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2004
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2004

About this map

Watauga Lake dominates this mountain landscape, its intricate shoreline carving into the Iron Mountains and Cherokee Mountains. Controlled by the massive Watauga Dam and its adjacent Power Intake Tower, the reservoir transformed the geography of the local communities. The settlement of Butler sits at the northern reaches where Cobb Creek joins the Watauga River, serving as a gateway to the Cherokee National Forest.

High-elevation terrain defines the southern half of the map, where the Appalachian Trail traverses the ridges of the Pond Mountain Wilderness. Numerous family cemeteries such as Cochran Cem, Matherly Cem, and Nidiffer Cem are scattered across the slopes, marking the deep ancestral ties of the rural valleys. Evidence of former industry remains at the Ore Bank Mine and Strip Mine, while modern recreation is represented by sites like the Watauga Point Recreational Area and Watauga Lakeshores Resort.