Commercial Truck Insurance in Norris, TN

Tennessee has some of the most spectacular mountains, lakes, rivers, and ponds in the country. There are over 100,000 small lakes and ponds alone in the state! But which one is the clearest? Follow along to discover the clearest lake in Tennessee.

What is the Clearest Lake in Tennessee?

The clearest lake in Tennessee is Norris Lake. This lake is also known as Norris Reservoir. It’s also one of the clearest lakes in the United States. The lake is cool, refreshing, beautiful, and sparklingly clear! The lake’s average temperature in summer is 72 °F, perfect for a relaxing dip. Norris Lake is about 206 miles long, with a maximum width of 1.3 miles. The surface area of the lake is 53.875 square miles. This lovely lake’s depth varies, however, the average depth is 75 feet, with the maximum depth being 210 feet. This massive lake also has 809 miles of shore length.

So, why is this lake so clear? Norris Lake has clean and clear water with 25 feet of visibility. This is likely because no other dam feeds water into it, meaning there is less likeliness for debris.

The History of Norris Lake

Norris Lake hasn’t always existed, so what’s the history behind this beautiful and refreshing clear lake? It first starts with an underwater ghost town. Loyston, Tennessee was a city in Union County that was inundated in 1936. Loyston was first settled by German immigrant Henry Sharp in the 1780s. The community though didn’t expand until John Loy built a foundry in the area. The community went by many names, including “Loy” and “Loy’s Crossroads.” Sadly, this town didn’t last long as it was submerged in 1936. TVA and the University of Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s extension service relocated the families in the area to nearby farms.

At the time of the Norris Dam’s completion, there were 70 residents living in the town. This small ghost town is now underneath the widest part of the lake. However, many parts of the lake and dam have been named Loyston, including the “Loyston Sea.”

Things to Do in the Clearest Lake in Tennessee

You’ll never get bored when visiting Norris Lake as there are many recreational activities to do. For example, you can hike many walking trails along and near the lake and fish from the long shore. Apart from fishing, there are also boating and swimming opportunities. A great way to bird-watch and view the lake at many points is by walking the Norris Dam Lakeside Loop Trail.

Animals in and around Norris Lake

Norris Lake is surrounded by lush forests, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to see animals. In the same area, there is also the Big Ridge State Park. Listed below are some animals you may see while visiting Norris Lake, the clearest lake in Tennessee.

The first animal on our list is the red fox. While it doesn’t live in the lake, it’s a common animal in the forest. Red foxes are found throughout the northern hemisphere. They’ve been introduced to Australia and are considered one of the worst invasive species in the country. Although red foxes are one of the largest fox species, they have short limbs and faces. These animals though, despite their short appearance, can jump impressive lengths up to 6 feet and 7 inches. While uncommon, some states in the U.S. allow people to own red foxes as pets. In Tennessee though, it’s illegal to own a red fox.

Another animal you can find near the clearest lake in Tennessee is the bobcat. This medium-sized wild feline has a short bobbed tail and is a great climber and jumper. Bobcats are native to North America and have a stable population. Bobcats are vulnerable to coyotes and other large predators. These medium-sized cats though are predators themselves and mainly consume small mammals like rabbits. Famers consider bobcats a pest as they hunt for small livestock like ducks, geese, and chickens.

A fish species you can find in Norris Lake is the largemouth bass. This bass is common throughout North America. It’s native to parts of the United States but is mostly stocked in popular fishing lakes and ponds. Largemouth bass are easiest to catch in water no deeper than 10 feet. In this lake, you can also find a healthy amount of smallmouth bass and walleye.

The yellow-rumped warbler is a favorite for many birdwatchers in Tennessee. This small bird has beautiful yellow and grey feathers and is the only warbler to consistently overwinter in the state. This tiny bird typically weighs about 0.4 ounces. It also has a wingspan of 7.5 to 9.4 inches. These lovely birds are loud and call a 4–7 syllable song.

Where is Norris Lake, TN Located on a Map?

Norris Lake, which is also referred to as Norris Reservoir, is a Tennessee-based reservoir. It was formed in 1936 by the Tennessee Valley Authority at the Cove Creek Site on the Clinch River through the construction of Norris Dam.

Here is Norris Lake, TN on a map:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/epantha

An angler fishing near Norris Lake Monday got the catch of his lifetime when he reeled in a nearly 4-foot-long alligator.

Union County Wildlife Officer Rick Roberts received a call at 5 p.m. Monday about the alligator in Dotson Creek, in the area called Butcher Hollow above Highway 33, said Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesperson Matthew Cameron.

"He thought the guy was joking," Cameron said.

The angler had the alligator pinned to the ground when Roberts arrived, holding the alligator behind its head, Cameron said. The angler told Roberts that he caught it on swim bait.

At first, Roberts was unsure if the animal was a cayman, which are legal to possess in Tennessee. But after researching it, he determined it was an alligator. The 3- to 4-foot-long reptile was taken to the Little Ponderosa Zoo, a nonprofit zoo and rescue facility outside Clinton.

According to Cameron, the rescue facility will hold the animal temporarily, until a permanent home can be found.

Where did the alligator come from?

Authorities suspect the alligator was a former pet that had been released into the wild. Cameron estimated it was 3 to 4 years old, given its size; alligators grow about a foot a year, he said.

"We're not sure how it got there," Cameron said, speculating it might have been a Spring Break impulse capture that was quickly regretted. "It did not get there on its own."

While alligators are naturally expanding their range into Tennessee from the southern border states, they are not likely to be found in East Tennessee.

"This is not good alligator habitat," Cameron said. "They love swampy land and warm water ... The winters here get extremely cold ... and they don't prefer deep, clear water. I suppose it could survive here, but it would not be a great habitat for an alligator to thrive in."

Some facts about alligators

Alligators are opportunistic feeders that prey on fish, turtles, snakes, frogs and waterfowl, TWRA said. Occasionally they will feed on larger animals such as possums, raccoons and deer.

Alligators can survive Tennessee winters by going into a hibernation-like dormancy called brumation, Cameron noted. They can withstand periods of ice by sticking their snout out of the water before it freezes, which allows them to continue breathing.

Alligators are a protected species and catching or shooting one is a violation of the law, TWRA warned. Alligators are considered a Class 1 wildlife species, which are considered inherently dangerous to people. These animals can only legally be possessed by permitted exhibitors or commercial propagators in Tennessee. People also need a permit to obtain Class 2 animals.

Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email liz.kellar@knoxnews.com.

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UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) — Social media has been abuzz since a young angler on Norris Lake caught an alligator Monday. The incident has raised questions about the animal’s origins, lake safety and more. WVLT News asked the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Matt Cameron for answers.

The call came around 5 p.m., Cameron said, prompting TWRA Officer Rick Roberts to investigate the scene. When Roberts arrived, he found the angler certainly did have an alligator on the shore.

“Sure enough, the angler had an alligator pinned to the ground,” Cameron said.

So, where did the alligator come from? Cameron said it was likely brought into the state illegally.

“Someone brought it from another state and turned it loose in Norris Lake,” Cameron said, adding that while alligators do occasionally make their way into the Volunteer State, they’ve only been seen naturally in southwest parts of the state.

Cameron also said it’s illegal to own or bring an alligator into Tennessee, calling it an invasive species. He said Tennessee isn’t a good place for alligators to be.

“East Tennessee is not a good alligator habitat,” Cameron said. “They like swampy areas, warmer climates. Here in Tennessee, the winters get extremely cold and they don’t prefer deep-water lakes.”

When it comes to safety, Cameron said most people don’t need to worry about alligator-infested Tennessee waters, but anything is possible.

“Are there going to be alligators out there? Probably not, but it is possible that someone brought another one illegally into Tennessee and illegally released it,” Cameron said.

At only three or four years old, the alligator caught on Norris Lake wasn’t a major threat to human safety either, Cameron said, but a wild animal is still a wild animal.

“One this size is not a big threat to safety, but it does have teeth and can bite,” Cameron said.

Cameron’s message to people who see an alligator in Tennessee? Stay away and call TWRA. He also said the agency wants calls from anyone with an alligator in their possession so officers can retrieve it and take it to a habitat or organization better suited for it.

There’s still the question of where the alligator will end up. As of now, it’s at Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue in Anderson County, but it won’t be staying there. Like Cameron said, East Tennessee’s climate is not friendly to alligators.

Corbin Cox, director at Little Ponderosa, said he couldn’t believe it when he got the call from TWRA.

“I’m like ‘Surely it’s a caiman.’ You know, we’ve had this before, but he’s the real deal,” Cox said about the gator.

Cox and the crew at Little Ponderosa are caring for the alligator until they can find it a more suitable home. Cox said they don’t have the space or the adequate equipment to care for an alligator properly.

“Right now, we’re trying to get him warmed up,” Cox said. “We’re hoping to get him going until we can move him on to the place that can really do a good job for him.”

So far, though, the places Little Ponderosa has reached out to doesn’t have any more capacity.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said alligators are a Class 1 wildlife species and are considered inherently dangerous to people.

UNION COUNTY, Tenn. — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said it received a call Monday afternoon about an angler who caught an alligator in Dotson Creek, on Norris Lake.

It said Rick Roberts, the Union County Wildlife Officer, responded and went to the scene. The TWRA said the angler had the alligator pinned to the ground when Roberts arrived, holding the alligator behind its head. The angler told Roberts that he caught it on swim bait while fishing on the lake.

"Officer Roberts thought he was joking. And the guy said, 'No, I'm serious,'" said Matthew Cameron, a spokesperson with the TWRA.

Roberts arrived at Datsun Creek on the lake, which is just above the Highway 33 bridge. The angler had the gator pinned to the ground, and at first, Roberts suspected it was a caiman.

"He did some research and the best of his knowledge, he says it was an alligator. We've had several other people look at it, and we believe it to be an actual alligator," Cameron said.

Justin Wyrick, 16, said he caught the alligator. He was at the lake to catch some bass.

"I threw my bait in there and it, it turned. Like, I didn't expect it to be an alligator," he said. "I fought it for, like, 30 minutes, and I got it out to the bank."

Credit: TWRA

TWRA said it was between 3 feet and 4 feet long. Wildlife officers took it to the Little Ponderosa Zoo in Anderson County.

Wildlife officers said they believe someone brought the gator in from another state and turned it loose into Norris Lake.

"While the origin of the alligator is unclear, it is evident that it was being illegally held in captivity and possibly released into Norris Lake," Cameron said. "TWRA would like to remind the public that it’s illegal to possess an alligator in Tennessee and furthermore, releasing them into the wild poses safety and biological threats to humans and the ecosystem."

Cameron said Little Ponderosa Zoo doesn't normally house alligators, so the zoo is holding it temporarily until they can find a permanent home for it.

Credit: WBIR

The TWRA said alligators are considered a Class 1 wildlife species, which are species considered inherently dangerous to people. These animals can only legally be possessed by permitted exhibitors or commercial propagators in Tennessee. People also need a permit to obtain Class 2 animals.

"We try to manage our wildlife responsibly here in Tennessee. We don't need inherently dangerous animals loose in the wild out there that are threatening to humans and a threat to our native wildlife species. So, just you know, please don't do that," Cameron said.

People in East Tennessee were captivated by news of the Norris Lake alligator, much like the legends of the Knoxville Tiger. Unlike the "tiger," this gator was the real deal — but Maynardville Mayor Ty Blakely joked there may be other bizarre creatures lurking out there.

"Y’all just wait till people find out that we’re hiding Big Foot at Big Ridge State Park. I don’t think Ponderosa Zoo will take Ole Hairy," he said.

The story about a man catching a four-foot long alligator Monday while he was fishing in Norris Lake in East Tennessee has drawn a lot of attention this week.

The gator was caught near Highway 33 in Dotson Creek in Union County and turned over to nearby Little Ponderosa Zoo.

It is suspected that the alligator was a former pet that was released into the lake.

Here are a few things to know about Norris Lake.

Where is Norris Lake in Tennessee where alligator was caught?

Also known as Norris Reservoir, the lake is just off Interstate 75, about 20 miles north of Knoxville in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains.

The lake, which is about 230 miles from Nashville, spans five East Tennessee counties — Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger and Union and is situated in the Clinch and Powell Valleys. Cities and towns in the area surrounding the lake include Clinton, Cumberland Gap, Huntsville, Lafollette, Luttrell, Maynardville, Norris, Oneida, and Rocky Top.

Easttnvacations.com says it’s “where the mountain meets the water. The lake is surrounded by wooded land and three state parks.

How did the alligator end up in Norris Lake?

Nobody can say for sure, but authorities told Knox News the alligator likely was a 3- to 4-year-old pet that had been released into the lake.

Alligators have been migrating into Tennessee from the south but not as far as where this one was caught.

"This is not good alligator habitat," Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesperson Matthew Cameron told Knox News. "They love swampy land and warm water ... The winters here get extremely cold ... and they don't prefer deep, clear water. I suppose it could survive here, but it would not be a great habitat for an alligator to thrive in."

How big is Norris Lake?

According to easttnvacations.com, the lake has 800 miles of shoreline, more than 50 islands and spans 34,000 acres. It holds around 830 billion gallons of water and is as deep as 200 feet in some places.

What is there to do at Norris Lake?

Adventureanderson.com reports there are 22 marinas on the lake and activities such as boating, fishing, hydrobiking, swimming, dining and camping are offered.

Who owns Norris Lake?

Mostly the Tennessee Valley Authority. According to norrislakemarinas.org, TVA owns 86% in some capacity, with the remaining 14% privately owned flowage easement land.

What is the history behind Norris Lake?

Norris Lake was created by the Norris Dam and, like the city of Norris, are named after George W. Norris, a former U.S. Senator from Nebraska who authored the legislation that created TVA, according to norrislakemarinas.com. The dam was the first TVA project and building began in 1933 and finished in 1936.

Reporter Liz Kellar contributed to this report.