Facts About Lake Lanier Retirement

Lake Sidney Lanier is one of the largest reservoirs in the Eastern U.S. Located in northern Georgia, the Lake was created when the Buford Dam backed up the Chattahoochee River in 1956. The coastline is 692 miles long. The lake is named for a poet, Sidney Lanier, and is operated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Since the lake was constructed it has become a popular retirement destination.

Lake Lanier covers parts of 5 counties in northern Georgia, thanks to its unusual shape with multiple fingers extending away from a narrow but long center. Georgia, Alabama, and Florida all get major amounts of water from Lake Lanier. A major drought in 2007 was a serious problem, particularly for the water normally released to the Apalachicola River.

Recreation is an important reason why many people think about retiring to the Lake Lanier area. The canoeing and kayaking events of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics were held here. AquaLand Marina is one of the largest freshwater marinas in the world. There are several major resorts on the Lake – Emerald Pointe and Pine Isle. The major town around Lake Lanier is Gainesville, Georgia.


 
 
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