page_title: Lake Lanier
section_title: Recreation
hierarchical_section_title: Lake Lanier / Recreation
caption_attribution_description: English: Lake Lanier at River Forks Park in Gainesville, Georgia
context_page_description: Lake Lanier is a reservoir in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created by the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River in 1956, and is also fed by the waters of the Chestatee River. The lake encompasses 38,000 acres or 59 square miles of water, and 692 miles of shoreline at normal level, a "full pool" of 1,071 feet above mean sea level and the exact shoreline varies by resolution according to the coastline paradox. Named for American poet Sidney Lanier, it was built and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and water supplies. It is patrolled by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as well as local law enforcement.
  The states of Georgia, Alabama and Florida all have rights to the water of the reservoir, as it feeds rivers going through those areas. The Corps of Engineers has responsibilities to regulate flow for flood control and water use. In addition, it has to ensure that water is available to fulfill such federal mandates as under the Endangered Species Act, to support downstream species.
context_section_description: The lake is popular with boaters, houseboats, jetskiers and others, particularly around the summer holidays.  Over 10 million people visit the lake annually, including its marinas and the Lake Lanier Islands waterpark. The rowing and sprint canoeing events during the 1996 Summer Olympics were held on the north end of the lake. It has since hosted many international events such as the 2003 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, 2016 Pan American Sprint Canoe/Kayak Championships and the 2018 ICF Dragon boat World Championships. The Venue is host to many other events such as Food Truck Friday, ACRA Championships and the Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon boat Festival.
  Lake Lanier has over 90 Corps, State, County and City parks spread around its 680 miles of shoreline, 23 of which provide swim beaches. All of these parks are accessible by land and some by water and most have other amenities such as picnic areas, restrooms, boat ramps and playgrounds. There are also dozens of beaches on Lake Lanier that are on islands located all over Lake Lanier.
  One resort hotel sits on the lake: Legacy Lodge (Formerly Emerald Pointe Hotel).  A second hotel, Pine Isle was demolished in 2008.  Both were sold by CNL Hotels & Resorts, a hotel investment firm in Florida, to Georgia businessman Virgil Williams.  In 2017-2018 Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffett fame) was announced to take over Lanier Islands Park. Both assets sit on a ground lease from the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority which in turn leases the land from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  Lake Lanier was the site of the 1997 Bilderberg conference.
  Every year from mid-November through January, Lake Lanier Islands are decorated with over 6 miles (9.7 km) of Christmas lights, the largest animated light show in the southeast and one of the world's largest light shows. Magical Nights of Lights is an animated drive-through display that ends with a Christmas village, carnival rides, bonfire, Santa Shop, live nativity, etc.
caption: Lake Lanier at River Forks Park in Gainesville.
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