Hartwell Dam is located on the Savannah River, approximately eight miles east of the city of Hartwell, Georgia, on U.S. Hwy. 29. The lake was designed and built for flood control and to provide a constant supply of water for all those downstream on the Savannah River. The dam is also used as a hydroelectric facility to generate power during peak demand times, thus helping to give local residents low cost electricity.

It is the second-largest US Army Corps of Engineers lake in Georgia with 962 miles of shoreline and nearly 56,000 acres of surface water.

Each year, Hartwell Lake is visited by more than 11 million people who come to pursue a variety of outdoor recreational experiences. These visitors make it one of the three most popular Corps lakes in the nation.

Fast Facts about Hartwell Lake

At a glance, here are fast facts about Hartwell Lake:

• Home to Tugaloo State Park and Hart State Park
• 56,000 acres of water
• 962 miles of shoreline
• Created by damming the Savannah River
• Authorized by Congress with the Flood Control Act of 1950
• Construction began in 1955
• Opened in 1962
• 10 Million visitors annually
• 80 parks and recreation areas
• 13 campgrounds with more than 700 campsites
• Five marinas with gas docks, pump-outs, restaurants, boat docks, shops stores
  
  Most Corps of Engineers facilities are handicapped accessible.