America’s deepest man-made lakes were created by flooding ancient river valleys behind massive dams; here’s the list

Deepest man-made lakes in the United States were not created by nature but by engineering on an enormous scale. Before these reservoirs existed, many were steep river valleys and rugged canyons carved over thousands of years. During the 20th century, massive dams blocked flowing rivers, allowing water to fill these landscapes and form deep reservoirs that now provide drinking water, generate hydroelectric power and help control flooding. Their depth is not fixed, however. Water levels rise and fall with changing weather, drought and demand, meaning the deepest point is reached only when the reservoirs are full. Measuring them at maximum capacity offers the clearest picture of which artificial lakes are truly the deepest in the country.Explore the 10 deepest man-made lakes in the United States, according to WorldAtlas. List of America’s deepest man-made lakesRankReservoirState/locationMaximum depth1Lake OrovilleCalifornia690 feet2Dworshak ReservoirIdaho650 feet3New Bullards Bar ReservoirCalifornia620 feet4Lake PowellArizona and Utah583 feet5Lake MeadArizona and Nevada532 feet6Shasta LakeCalifornia517 feet7Carters LakeGeorgiaMore than 450 feet8Fontana LakeNorth Carolina440 feet9Flami...