Wheeler Lake, Alabama June, 1996 A large portion of Wheeler Lake can be seen traversing the image from the top center to the left center in this near-vertical view. Wheeler Lake is a part of a chain of lakes and reservoirs built by the Tennessee Valley Authority to control flooding, increase river traffic, generate electric power, and provide water-oriented recreation. The Wheeler Lake Dam was constructed in 1936. The lake is nearly 74 miles (119 km) long. The land on either side of the lake is a cotton, corn, and poultry-farming area, with deposits of coal, limestone, and asphalt. The gently rolling hills and dense forest of the William B. Bankhead National Forest covers most of the lower right portion of the image. The city of Decater, Alabama is located at the top center of the image