Every Lake
Cherokee Lake
TVA closed Cherokee Dam on the Holston River in 1941; 177 miles of shoreline followed.
- 17 ft · first step
- 34 ft
- 51 ft
- 68 ft
- 85 ft
- 102 ft · bottom
About Cherokee Lake
Cherokee Lake formed when the Tennessee Valley Authority dammed the Holston River, closing Cherokee Dam near present-day Jefferson City in December 1941 and completing power operations by 1942. The project was built for flood control, hydroelectric generation, and navigation, part of the broader TVA system built across East Tennessee in the 1930s and 1940s. The dam backed water up the Holston valley, submerging farmland and creating a long, branching reservoir bordered by the towns of Rutledge, White Pine, and Jefferson City.
Cherokee Lake became known as a bass fishing destination, drawing tournament anglers to its deep river channel and shallow creek arms. Panther Creek State Park sits along its southern shore, and the lake supports a mix of full-time lake residents, weekend boaters, and houseboat owners drawn to its long, narrow shape. The lake lies within commuting distance of Knoxville, and its shoreline runs through several East Tennessee counties, giving it a mix of developed marina coves and quieter, undeveloped stretches upriver.
- 24 shore towns named, with a star on each
- 4,682 roads engraved around the shore, 0 of them labeled
- 6 depth layers, each step engraved with its depth in feet
- Compass rose, title block with coordinates, max depth and area; keyhole hanger on the back
Turn it in your hands
Live 3D of the actual cut files — drag to orbit, pinch to zoom. Every road you see is engraved on the real thing.
Viewer not showing? Open it full screen.
Cherokee Lake depth chart, in wood
This is a Cherokee Lake depth chart you can hang: 6 stacked layers of birch, each one a depth contour — 17 ft, 34 ft, 51 ft, 68 ft, 85 ft and deeper, down to the deepest hole at about 102 ft. The lake covers about 32.8 square miles, and 4682 shore roads are engraved around it. The shape of the bottom is the real one from published soundings, so anglers recognise their drop-offs and points.
A Cherokee Lake map for the wall — or a gift
Most of these go to a cabin wall, a lake house entry, or a home office; a lot are gifts — the family that has been on Cherokee Lake for three generations, the retirement move, the first boat. The 12-inch is the desk-and-shelf size; the 24- and 30-inch boards read across a room. Add a line under the title and star your place on the shore, and it becomes the map of your Cherokee Lake.
Cherokee Lake map — the details
How big is the map?
Four sizes: 12, 17, 24 and 30 inches on the long side, from $149. Every size is cut from the same depth data of Cherokee Lake; the bigger boards carry more shoreline roads and place names.
Is it made from real depth data?
Yes. Cherokee Lake is cut layer by layer from published bathymetric soundings — each layer of birch is a depth contour, so the shape of the bottom is the real one, not decorative.
Can I add my own place on it?
Yes. At checkout you can add a line under the title (a family name, a cabin name, a year) and star the spot on the shore that matters to you.
How long does it take?
Made to order in Waterford, Pennsylvania and shipped in 7–10 days; shipping is free in the lower 48.
Can you make a lake that isn't listed?
Any lake in the United States — we hold depth data for 104,419 of them. Search for yours; if it isn't built yet we build it when you order.
- 6 depth layers down to 102 ft
- 32.8 square miles of water
- 4682 shore roads engraved
- Title block, compass rose and depth markers
- Birch plywood, keyhole hanger, made in Waterford, PA
