Most People Don’t Realize South Carolina Has An Inland Sea And It’s Truly Beautiful

When it comes to outdoor recreation, South Carolina pretty much has it all. In under four hours you can four-wheel your way off a mountain in the upstate and be on a beach somewhere on the other side of the state. But did you know the Palmetto State has an “inland sea?” If not, then don’t feel bad, because you’re not alone.

It may not be as large as Lake Superior, or Lake Huron, or Lake Michigan, but South Carolina's Lake Marion is indeed known as the "inland sea."

And with a little more than 171 square miles, it's a fitting moniker for this massive and truly stunning body of water.

The "inland sea" was created in 1941 when the Santee River was dammed to create a hydro electric facility.

But the dam was closed off before the lake was finished being cleared.

This resulted in many stumps and trees just under the surface. Some, especially cypress, actually thrive in the lake waters, making this "inland sea" even more stunning.

And the fishermen? They love all the natural habitats provided by the erroneously early flooding that occurred here nearly 75 years ago when the earthen Santee Dam was closed off too soon.

According to Wikipedia, the largest Large Mouth Bass in the state (16.2lbs) was tamed here at Lake Marion.

An enormous body of water, Lake Marion touches five of South Carolina's 46 counties.

Santee State Park is a great place to start your exploration of South Carolina's "inland sea."

The park has a great campground right on the lake, plus affordable cabin rentals.

South Carolina has an infinite number of stunning places to explore.

For more information about Santee State Park or the programs offered at the park, click here.

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Robin Jarvis

Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.