Tenkiller Ferry Lake, or more simply, Lake Tenkiller, is a reservoir in eastern Oklahoma formed by the damming of the Illinois River. The earth-fill dam was constructed between 1947 and 1952 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for purposes of flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply and recreation. It went into full operation in 1953. The lake and dam were named for the Tenkiller family, prominent Cherokees who owned the land and ferry that were bought for the project. The 6th largest lake in Oklahoma, based on water capacity, it is one of Oklahoma's 'Big Three' lakes, along with Lake Eufaula and Grand Lake o' the Cherokees.
Geography
thumb|220px|alt=Release of floodwater in 2015|Release of floodwater in 2015
The lake covers and has a shoreline of over in the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains of Cherokee and Sequoyah counties, about northeast of the town of Gore and from the intersection of I-40 and the Muskogee Turnpike.
The distance from major cities include: east of Oklahoma City, west of Fort Smith, Arkansas, southeast of Tulsa and from Muskogee. Scuba divers can even see the ruins of old communities that were flooded by the lake, such as the original town of Cookson. This lake is the venue of several fishing tournaments including the popular Bassmaster series championship.
Other than the goats, many other animals inhabit the area including Canada geese, white tail deer, ducks, monarch butterflies, warblers, otters, mink, beaver, bear, mountain lion, wild hogs, wild turkey and bald eagles.
Tenkiller State Park, Cherokee Landing State Park, and several Corps parks are among the parks bordering the lake.
Wildlife Management Area
The Tenkiller Wildlife Management Area consists of on the southwest shoreline of the lake, a mixture of upland and riparian habitat. The upland portion is covered with oak and hickory. The riparian portion contains mostly willow, sycamore, hackberry, elm, ash, and birch.
In popular culture
- The 1986 slasher film Terror at Tenkiller was set and shot around the lake
- Singer Tom Waits mentions the lake in the song 'Swordfishtrombone' off of his 1983 studio album Swordfishtrombones