Land Between the Lakes Facts

Land Between The Lakes is located near I-24, about 90 miles north of Nashville. As a designated national recreation area under the management of the USDA Forest Service, LBL is maintained for the public's enjoyment and safety.

When the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers were impounded to create Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, an inland peninsula was formed. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy designated the peninsula Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in an effort to demonstrate how an area with limited timber, agricultural and industrial resources could be converted into a recreation asset that would stimulate economic growth in the region. Today, LBL remains the country's only such demonstration site and is the cornerstone of the region's $600 million tourism industry.

Land Between The Lakes offers all the outdoor recreation "basics", with some unique opportunities for environmental education and historic interpretation. Nestled in western Kentucky and Tennessee, LBL hosts an average of two million visitors each year who come from all over the nation and more than 30 foreign countries. With more than 170,000 acres and 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline, you'll discover a wide range of opportunities in LBL to create memories that will last a lifetime.

LBL is the largest inland peninsula in the United States. It is the second largest contiguous block of forested public land east of the Mississippi. Located in Western Kentucky and Tennessee, the area draws approximately 2 million visitors annually. Visitors come from all 50 states and over 30 foreign countries.

LBL and the surrounding lakes are the focal point of a $600 million tourism industry. There are 22 lake access areas with boat ramps, 5 courtesy docks, 4 fishing piers, and 6 beaches. LBL contains 420 miles of roads, more than 90 bridges, and 5 dams. During the day, visitors can enjoy LBL facilities, including: a nature center, living history farm, planetarium and observatory, horseback riding campground, public horse stable, off-highway vehicle area, Elk & Bison Prairie, interpretive site (iron industry), 5 gift shops, and 3 visitor information centers.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

There are over 200 miles of hiking and biking trails and approximately 100 miles of horse and wagon trails. Campers can choose from 985 campsites in four developed campgrounds; five lake access areas with primitive camping; and virtually unlimited backcountry camping.

HISTORY

LBL has three sites on the National Register of Historic Places: Fort Henry, site of a major Civil War battle; the Center Furnace; and the Great Western Iron Furnace. The region was primarily an iron production center during the mid-19th century. Seventeen iron furnaces operated within what is now LBL. The ruins of two of these are accessible to visitors.

WILDLIFE & PLANTS

LBL has the largest publicly owned bison herd east of the Mississippi River. LBL has more than 1,300 plant species, over 240 bird species, and 53 different mammal species. LBL is an active participant in the nation's efforts to re-establish the eagle population in Western Kentucky and Tennessee. A hacking program was designed in 1980.

Hacking is a traditional falconers' term meaning the gradual return of raptors to the wild without human imprinting. Between 1980-1988, 44 Bald Eagles were reintroduced to the shorelines of LBL. Currently, LBL is home to a wintering eagle population of more than 100 birds, and there are between 12-16 active nesting sites.

In February 1996, after a 150-year absence in the region, LBL reintroduced elk into a 700-acre Elk & Bison Prairie. In February 2001, 25 elk from LBL's Elk & Bison Prairie were transported to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in an experimental reintroduction program. Since 1991, LBL has maintained a captive breeding pair of Red Wolves as part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Recovery effort.

For more information, see   http://www.lbl.org/    or    http://www.lbl.org/Sitemap.html

Other information:

http://www.friendsoflbl.org/

http://www.kentuckylake.com/lbl/index.htm

http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/lbl/

http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/