Editing Oconee County, South Carolina (section)

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q513833|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Oconee County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|673.57|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|626.56|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|47.01|sqmi}} (6.98%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_45.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Three large man-made lakes provide residents with [[sport fishing]], [[water skiing]], and [[sailing]] as well as [[hydroelectric]] power. The largest lake is [[Lake Hartwell]], built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963. [[Lake Keowee]] is the second-largest lake and the [[Oconee Nuclear Station]] operates by the lake. [[Lake Jocassee]] is the third-largest and is a source of [[hydroelectric energy]], but is also popular for its scenery and numerous [[waterfalls]].

Bad Creek Reservoir, located in the mountains above Jocassee, is also used for generating electricity during peak hours. The water level can fall by tens of feet per hour and, during off-peak times, water is pumped back into the lake for the next peak period. Because of the dramatic changes in water level due to these uses, boating and swimming are prohibited in this reservoir.

Oconee County is in the [[Savannah River]] basin.

===National protected areas===
* [[Ellicott Rock Wilderness]] (part)
* [[Sumter National Forest]] (part)

===State and local protected areas/sites===
{{See also|Category:Protected areas of Oconee County, South Carolina}}
* [[Brasstown Creek Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands">{{Cite web |title=SCDNR Public Lands |url=https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/County |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www2.dnr.sc.gov}}</ref>
* [[Buzzard Roost Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Chau Ram County Park]]
* [[Devils Fork State Park]]
* [[High Falls County Park]]
* [[Horsepasture River]]
* [[Lake Hartwell State Recreation Area]]
* [[Oconee State Park]]
* [[Oconee Station State Historic Site]]
* [[Piedmont Forestry Center]]
* [[List of South Carolina state forests|Poe Creek State Forest]] (part)
* [[South Cove County Park]]
* [[Stumphouse Mountain Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Sumter National Forest - Andrew Pickens Ranger District]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[W.P. Anderson City Park]]
* [[Yellow Branch Falls Recreation Area]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Chattooga River]]
* [[Keowee River]]
* [[Lake Hartwell]]
* [[Lake Jocassee]]
* [[Lake Keowee]]
* [[Little River (Oconee County, South Carolina)|Little River]]
* [[Savannah River]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Jackson County, North Carolina]] – north
* [[Transylvania County, North Carolina]] – northeast
* [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens County]] – east
* [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson County]] – southeast
* [[Hart County, Georgia]] – south
* [[Franklin County, Georgia]] – south
* [[Stephens County, Georgia]] – southwest
* [[Habersham County, Georgia]] – west
* [[Rabun County, Georgia]] – west
* [[Macon County, North Carolina]] – northwest
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|85}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|76}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|123}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|11}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|24}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|28}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|59}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|107}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|130}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|182}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|183}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|188}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|243}}
{{div col end}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Oconee County Regional Airport]]