Lake Norman, created in 1963 as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam by Duke Power, is the largest manmade body of fresh water in North Carolina. It is fed by the Catawba River. It was named after former Duke Power president Norman Cocke. Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as the "inland sea"; it offers 520 miles of shoreline and a surface area of more than 50 square miles. Full pond elevation at Lake Norman is 760 feet. 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... The Cowans Ford Dam is a dam completed in 1963 along the Catawba River on the border between Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties in North Carolina. ... Duke Power, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is an electrical power company with more than 2 million customers in North and South Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River, approximately 220 mi (354 km) long, in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. ...

Lake Norman provides electricity to the Piedmont region of the Carolinas. It powers the generators at the hydroelectric station at Cowans Ford and is used by Marshall Steam Station and McGuire Nuclear Station to cool the steam that drives their turbines. The lake supplies water to Lincoln County, Mooresville, Charlotte (and other towns in Mecklenburg County, particularly Davidson and Huntersville.) The Carolinas is a collective term used in the United States to refer to the States of North and South Carolina together. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... Marshall Steam Station is a coal power plant located in Terrell, North Carolina, United States and owned by Duke Energy. ... The McGuire nuclear power plant is located about 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Charlotte, North Carolina, on a 32,500 acre (132 km²) lake, created in 1963 by Duke Power for the Cowens Ford Hydroelectric Station. ... Lincoln County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. ... Mooresville is a town in Iredell County, North Carolina, U.S.A. The population was 18,823 at the 2000 census. ... Nickname: The Queen City, Hornets Nest Location in Mecklenburg County in the state of North Carolina Coordinates: Country United States State North Carolina Counties Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Government  - Mayor Pat McCrory, (R) Area  - City  280. ... Mecklenburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. ... For Davidson County, North Carolina, click here Davidson is a town in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, lying right along the southern edge of the Iredell and Mecklenburg County line. ... Huntersville is a town located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. ...

Duke Power partnered with the state of North Carolina to establish Lake Norman State Park. It has also built two bank fishing areas and eight public boating access areas along the shoreline. One site is leased to Mecklenburg County and one to Iredell County. Popular game fish in Lake Norman include catfish, crappie, bluegill and yellow perch, as well as striped, largemouth, and white bass. Lake Norman is also home to "Normie" the Lake Norman Monster, with many reported sightings. Lake Norman State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of North Carolina. ... Location in the state of North Carolina Formed 1788 Seat Statesville Area  - Total  - Water 1,546 km² (597 mi²) 56 km² (21 mi²) 3. ... Families Akysidae Amblycipitidae Amphiliidae Ariidae Aspredinidae Astroblepidae Auchenipteridae Bagridae Callichthyidae Cetopsidae Chacidae Clariidae Claroteidae Cranoglanididae Diplomystidae Doradidae Erethistidae Hypophthalmidae Ictaluridae Lacantuniidae Loricariidae Malapteruridae Mochokidae Nematogenyidae Pangasiidae Parakysidae Pimelodidae Plotosidae Schilbeidae Scoloplacidae Siluridae Sisoridae Trichomycteridae Catfish (order Siluriformes) are a diverse group of fish. ... Species - white crappie - black crappie Pomoxis [Rafinesque, 1818], is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (family Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. ... Binomial name Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819 The bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a species of freshwater fish. ... For the unit of measurement, see pole. ... Binomial name Morone saxatilis (Walbaum, 1792) Commonly known as a striper, rockfish or just rock, the striped bass is a member of the temperate bass family, which includes white perch, white bass, and yellow bass. ... Binomial name Micropterus salmoides The Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a species of fish. ... Binomial name Morone chrysops (Rafinesque, 1820) The white bass or sand bass (Morone chrysops) is a freshwater fish of the temperate bass family Moronidae. ...

Lake Norman has done much to contribute to the area's economy; many communities have sprung up on the lake's shores, with vacation and primary residences bringing many people into the area. Many farming communities have turned to chic residential neighborhoods, including, on the south end of the lake, the upper-reaches of the Charlotte suburban zone.

Lake Norman is also the location for one of the International Jet Sport Boats Association (IJSBA) tour stops. Team Tweek (www.teamtweek.com, www.pwcracers.com), a race team headquartered in Mooresville helps promote and coordinate the event.

See also

• Lake Norman State Park