When the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers were impounded to create Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, an inland peninsula was formed. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy designated the peninsula Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in an effort to demonstrate how an area with limited timber, agricultural, and industrial resources could be converted into a recreation asset that would stimulate economic growth in the region. Today, LBL remains the country's only such demonstration site and is the centerpiece of the region's tourism industry. Land Between The Lakes offers all the outdoor recreation "basics," with some unique opportunities for environmental education and historic interpretation. Nestled in western Kentucky and Tennessee, LBL hosts visitors from all over the nation and from more than 30 foreign countries. With more than 170,000 acres and 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline, you'll discover a wide range of opportunities in LBL to create memories that will last a lifetime. LBL is maintained by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with "Friends of LBL" for the public's enjoyment and safety.