Lake Keowee was constructed by Duke Power Company for the purpose of  generating hydroelectric power. The word Keowee, means "Place of the Mulberries," Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto visited the area when he traveled through in 1540.

 Lake Keowee is considered by many as one of the most beautiful and clearest lakes in South Carolina. The mountain views from various sections of the lake are simply breathtaking. It's 18,500 acres of water and 300-mile shoreline make this large lake and the surrounding areas popular for fishing, swimming, tubing, water skiing, boating, camping, day trips, and picnics. It can be quite warm in the summer months, but still remains cool enough to be refreshing for swimming and water sports. This lake is known to be about 297 feet deep, with an average depth of about 52 feet..

Lake Keowee is located about 90 minutes from Atlanta, 45 minutes from Greenville, SC , and around 2 hours from Charlotte.  Only 15 or so minutes away is the town of Clemson – home of Clemson University and the Clemson Tigers. This lake is mostly in Oconee County, but it also reaches into Pickens County.

Lake Jocassee (pronounced "joe-kas-ee") - 83,400 acres of land were purchased from private land owners and the Singer Corporation in 1963. In 1967, Duke Power Company began the Keowee Toxaway Project, which culminated in the construction of Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee using several rivers including the Whitewater, Thompson, and Toxaway Rivers. Lake Jocassee is approximately 7565 pristine and beautiful acres with about 75 miles of shoreline. Completed in 1973, the dam on Lake Jocassee is 385 feet high, and impounds four rivers. Lake Jocassee's is known to be 325 feet deep or more, with an average depth of about 157 feet..

Surrounded by mountains, Lake Jocassee is one of the most scenic lakes in South Carolina. The area is of such beauty that it is worthy of being captured in paintings and on film.  The water is usually crystal clear, and the shoreline includes beautiful rock cliffs, sandy beaches, and forests galore.  The shoreline of Lake Jocassee has had very little development and remains quite natural.  Plans are to keep it that way for the future. Wildlife is abundant, and includes bears, eagles, hawks, beavers, and lots of other animals. In addition, the waters of Jocassee are full of life and many fish, including Bluegill, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Rainbow Trout, and Smallmouth Bass. Lake Jocassee is one the most popular lakes in Upstate South Carolina. Many people love it especially for fishing.

 The main way to access Lake Jocassee is through Devils Fork State Park. This park was developed and is managed by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Lake Jocassee is located in both Oconee County and Pickens County.

Lake Hartwell - One of the top 3 recreation lakes in the United States, this lake is located in two states, Georgia and South Carolina, involving 6 counties Hart, Franklin, Stephens Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties.
A very large lake, Hartwell consists of 962 miles of beautiful shoreline and 56,000 acres of water. Lake Hartwell is approximately 185 feet deep, with an average depth of about 45 feet. Fishing and boating are very popular activities on this lake. Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Hybrid Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, and White Bass can all be found in Lake Hartwell. The lake and surrounding areas, are also home for 40 species of mammals, over 250 species of birds, and many aquatic, amphibian, and reptilian species.

Hartwell Dam was created by the US Army Corps of Engineers under the Flood Control Act of 1950. These days, this lake is well known as a great recreation spot. The number of visitors has steadily increased over the years, making Lake Hartwell the third most popular Corps project in the nation.