Tenkiller Ferry Lake
| Tenkiller Ferry Lake | |
|---|---|
Tenkiller Ferry Lake and Dam | |
| Location | Cherokee / Sequoyah counties, Oklahoma, US |
| Coordinates | 35°39′29″N 94°59′31″W / 35.65806°N 94.99194°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Illinois River |
| Primary outflows | Illinois River |
| Catchment area | 1,610 sq mi (4,170 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 35 mi (56,327 m) |
| Surface area | 12,900 acres (5,200 ha) |
| Max. depth | 132 ft (40 m) |
| Water volume | 677,000 acre⋅ft (0.835 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 130 mi (210 km) |
| Surface elevation | 632 ft (193 m) |
| Islands | Goat Island |
| Settlements | Muskogee, Oklahoma |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Tenkiller Ferry Lake, or more simply, Lake Tenkiller, is a reservoir in eastern Oklahoma formed by the damming of the Illinois River. The earth-fill dam was constructed between 1947 and 1952 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for purposes of flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply and recreation. It went into full operation in 1953. The lake and dam were named for the Tenkiller family, prominent Cherokees who owned the land and ferry that were bought for the project. This is the 6th largest lake in Oklahoma, based on water capacity.