Lake Moultrie is the third largest
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
in
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
. Created in the 1940s by a state utility project to dam the
Cooper River, it covers more than . It provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing.
Location
Lake Moultrie is located in
Berkeley County,
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
. It is fed by the
Cooper River through
Lake Marion and a diversion canal.
Nearby towns include
Moncks Corner
Moncks Corner is a town in and the county seat of Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,885 at the 2010 census. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Moncks Corner is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-S ...
,
Bonneau,
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...
, and
St. Stephen
Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ''Stéphanos'', meaning "wreath, crown" and by extension "reward, honor, renown, fame", often given as a title rather than as a name; c. 5 – c. 34 AD) is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first ...
.
Origin
Lake Moultrie was created in the early 1940s by the South Carolina Public Service Authority. It was formed by construction of
Pinopolis Dam
Pinopolis Dam is a dam in Berkeley County, South Carolina.
The earthen and concrete dam was completed in 1941 by Santee Cooper, the state-owned electric and water utility also known as South Carolina Public Service Authority. The dam is 138 feet ...
on the
Cooper River, as part of a flood control and hydroelectric power project. It covers about . It was named for Governor
William Moultrie
William Moultrie (; November 23, 1730 – September 27, 1805) was an American planter and politician who became a general in the American Revolutionary War. As colonel leading a state militia, in 1776 he prevented the British from taking Charle ...
. The reservoir or lake offers extensive recreational opportunities as well.
Fishing
Lake Moultrie offers a varied fishing environment. It has areas of shallow swamps, black water ponds, thousands of tree stumps and live cypress trees, as well as large open areas of water. This lake does not form ice in the winter. A world record
channel catfish
The channel catfish (''Ictalurus punctatus'') is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States, the ...
weighing was caught from this lake. The lake also holds the state record for
black crappie
The black crappie (''Pomoxis nigromaculatus'') is a freshwater fish found in North America, one of the two types of crappies. It is very similar to the white crappie in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black sp ...
(5 lbs).
See also
*
Lake Marion
*
List of lakes in South Carolina
This is a list of lakes and reservoirs in the state of South Carolina in the United States. All major lakes in South Carolina are man-made.
Lakes in South Carolina
* Alcohol and Drug Abuse Lake
* Lake Blalock
* Lake Bowen
*Lake Brown
* Lake Gre ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Protected areas of Berkeley County, South Carolina
Moultrie
Santee River
Bodies of water of Berkeley County, South Carolina
1940s establishments in South Carolina