Getting to Know Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier is a man-made reservoir located in the northern Georgia counties of Hall, Forsyth, Dawson, Gwinnett, and Lumpkin counties. Lanier was created in 1956 with the completion of the Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the purpose of providing flood control, hydroelectric power, and water supply. . Named after Georgia poet Sidney Lanier, the lake spans over 38,000 acres, features nearly 700 miles of shoreline, reaches a maximum depth of 160 feet, and is surrounded by more than 50 parks managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local governments It's not wonder Lake Lanier has become a major recreation destination with millions of visitors each year.
