LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Fontana Dam

Learn about the history of the Tennessee Valley Authority and hydroelectric power at Fontana Dam.

Preview your trip on the web: Fontana Dam

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The highest dam in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) system, Fontana ranks among the most beautiful in the world. It is surrounded by the extraordinary beauty of the Smoky Mountains, the adjacent national forests, and deep river gorges. The Visitors Center at Fontana Dam is designed to offer an entertaining and educational introduction to hydroelectric power, and the history associated with the building of Fontana. The Powerhouse, reached by Fontana’s Incline Tram, is open for tours, and both the Observation Deck and the Overlook provide exceptional views of the dam, the unusual discharge tunnels, and the mountain scenery. For more information, please call 1-800-467-1388.

For information on the history of Fontana Dam, and photos, and maps, see: this pdf from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

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