Jocassee (Oconee)

Lake Jocassee in Oconee County, South Carolina

This lake has 8 Layers or 15 Layers for HD Version

Lake Jocassee is a stunning 7,500-acre reservoir nestled in the northwestern corner of South Carolina within Oconee and Pickens Counties, created in 1973 through a partnership between the state and Duke Energy for hydroelectric power generation and flood control. Reaching depths of 300 feet and fed by four pristine Appalachian mountain rivers—the Whitewater, Thompson, Toxaway, and Horsepasture—this remarkable lake boasts some of the cleanest and clearest waters in the Southeast with visibility ranging from 20 to 50 feet, often drawing comparisons to Caribbean waters. The massive Jocassee Dam stands 385 feet high and 1,750 feet long, impounding the lake at a surface elevation of 1,100 feet above sea level within the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. The lake's name derives from a Cherokee legend meaning "Place of the Lost One," honoring Jocassee, a Cherokee maiden who, according to tradition, walked across the water to meet her slain lover's ghost. The historic Jocassee Valley, once the heart of Cherokee Nation homelands including the ancient town of Keowee, now lies 300 feet beneath the lake's surface, while the Mount Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery, famously featured in the 1972 film Deliverance, rests under 130 feet of water near the lake's northern reaches.

Lake Jocassee is renowned as South Carolina's premier trout fishing destination, holding state records for five species including redeye bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, brown trout, and rainbow trout, with the cool mountain-fed waters maintaining year-round temperatures ideal for salmonid populations. The lake's 75 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline remain protected, as Duke Energy and the State of South Carolina maintain ownership of surrounding lands, preserving the pristine natural character that makes Devils Fork State Park the sole public access point to this mountain jewel. Spectacular waterfalls cascade directly into the lake from steep, forested slopes, accessible only by boat, while the surrounding 50,000-acre Jocassee Gorges Wilderness Area protects one of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in the eastern United States and serves as habitat for the rare Oconee Bell wildflower. The lake's exceptional clarity and depth have made it a premier scuba diving destination in the Southeast, where divers explore submerged structures including an intact lodge resting 300 feet below the surface, old-growth forest remnants, and numerous dive sites ranging from 30 to 70 feet deep. Visitors enjoy boating, kayaking, swimming, waterfall tours, and camping at Devils Fork State Park, which offers fully-furnished villas and multiple campgrounds including primitive boat-in sites, all surrounded by the majestic scenery that earned Lake Jocassee features in National Geographic and recognition as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

Dimensions:

Small: 8"x12"

Medium: 12"x18"

Large: 16"x24"

Extra Large: 20"x30"

XX Large: 24"x36"

Gigantic 30"x45"

HD Extra Large: 20"x30" - 15 Layers

HD XX Large: 24"x36" - 15 Layers

HD Gigantic 30"x45" - 15 Layers

The difference between standard and HD maps is the number of layers. Standard maps have 1 land layer and 7 water layers. " The HD lake maps have 1 land layer and 14 water layers. So twice the detail. The HD Maps are limited to Extra Large, " XX Large, and Gigantic sizes only. On the smaller sizes the depth change of the wood is too extreme and you end up losing detail."