Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

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Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Location: North Carolina, USA
Nearest city: Apex, North Carolina
Coordinates: 39°39′59″N, 79°03′33″W
Area: 46,768 acres (186 km²)
Established: 1973
Governing body: North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is a state park of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located near Apex, North Carolina, it includes the over 46,768 acre (186 km²) Jordan Lake.

[edit] History

Northwest-Oriented photo of Jordan lake from a marina situated on it.
Northwest-Oriented photo of Jordan lake from a marina situated on it.

The New Hope River Valley, now home to the corporate world of Research Triangle Park, has been the site of a broad range of cultures for more than 10,000 years. Archaeologists have explored the remains of 450 prehistoric and historic sites in the area and have uncovered many Native American artifacts. The land was settled by Scottish Highlanders in the 1740s, and it saw action in both the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

Following a disastrous hurricane, which struck the Cape Fear River Basin in 1945, Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a comprehensive study of water resource needs in the area. The project, then known as New Hope Lake, was authorized in 1963 and construction began in 1967. In 1973, the name of the project was changed to B. Everett Jordan Dam and Lake in honor of the former senator from North Carolina.

Jordan Lake's 46,768 acres are not only a popular source of recreation. They also provide the water supply for surrounding cities, flood and water quality control, and fish and wildlife conservation.

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