Fontana Dam
Dam · Fontana Dam, North Carolina
At four hundred and eighty feet, the tallest dam in the eastern United States, and when it was finished in 1944 the fourth tallest in the world. The Tennessee Valley Authority built it in about three years flat out, working around the clock, to make electricity for the aluminium the war effort needed - and, though the workers were not told, for Oak Ridge. The Appalachian Trail crosses the crest, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park begins on the far side.
Fontana Dam Road, Fontana Dam, North Carolina, 28733, United States
FREE. The overlook, the dam crossing and the grounds are generally open daily in daylight, year round. THE VISITOR CENTER IS SEASONAL, typically spring to autumn, with reduced or no winter opening. ⚠ ACCESS ACROSS THE DAM CREST HAS BEEN RESTRICTED AT TIMES for security and maintenance, and the Appalachian Trail route over it can be affected - check before relying on crossing. The approach roads are winding.