Lake Lanier was named after 19th century poet Sidney Clopton Lanier. Lake Sidney Lanier, located just north of Atlanta, GA is the most visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operated lake in the country.

It covers 38,000 acres, has 540 miles of shoreline and nearly 9,000 private boat docks. Full pool is 1071 feet.

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Lake Lanier is fed by the Chattahoochee River which starts as a small spring just above Helen, GA. The lake is held back by Buford Dam which was constructed in 1951.

The lake touches seven counties - Dawson, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Habersham, White and Lumpkin.
Lake Lanier was the site of the 1996 Rowing/Canoe/Kayak competitions.

It also supplies drinking water for 55% of all Georgia residents, including 75% of Atlanta and North Georgia.

Residential housing around lake lanier is vast and lakefront properties range in price from mid $200's to the millions. The Corp of Engineers controls the development around the lake and grants dock rights to home owners. Homeowners use their lake homes for second homes, vacation rentals and full time residences. The home values are higher on the south end of the lake due to the proximity to jobs and metro Atlanta. Many people live on Lake Lanier and commute to work.