The MAB Program United States of America
Biosphere Reserve Information - General Description
Land Between The Lakes
General Description
Situated between western
Kentucky and Tennessee, the Land Between the Lakes Biosphere Reserve is bounded
on the east by Lake Barkley, an impoundment of the Cumberland River, and on the
west by Kentucky Lake, an impoundment of the Tennessee River.
The majority of the land is forested; however the area also represents a variety
of open land types such as row cropped fields, hay fields and managed prairie
areas. The area is intensively used for hunting, fishing, trapping,
tree-cutting, berry and mushroom picking, and nut gathering. Off-highway vehicle
use is permitted in a designated area. The primary challenge of this multiple
use area is to achieve sustainable development while conserving the cultural and
economic values and traditions of the area.
The economy of the region is built upon tourism, light industry and agriculture.
It is visited by more than 2,2 million visitors annually (1994) that benefit
from a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including camping, hunting,
fishing, swimming, hiking, bicycling, and sightseeing. Other attractions are a
living history farm, an enclosure with American bison and the Woodlands Nature
Center. The area has a long history of research, primarily by local
universities.
Last updated: 06/27/2005