Home to more than 50,000 miles of rivers and streams and over 500,000 acres of lakes and marshes, Tennessee offers boaters, fishermen and fresh water lovers ample space to play year-round.
In Nashville, millions of visitors enjoy fishing, camping, swimming, horseback riding, boating, hiking and more along the more than 600 miles of combined shoreline at Percy Priest and Old Hickory lakes each year.
But just how deep are two of Nashville's great lakes? Let's break it down.
Percy Priest Lake
Percy Priest Lake stretches about 14,400 square acres, with 213 miles of shoreline 10 miles east of Nashville.
Nestled on the shores of Percy Priest Lake, Nashville Shores features more than 1 million gallons of water rushing down 10 water slides, lazy river, wave pool, Kowabunga Beach and more.
A mere 15 minute drive from Downtown, visitors can expect to find a wide variety of recreational activities and fish including Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Hybrid Striped Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bass and Channel Catfish.
According to Tennessee Lakes and Rivers, the lake reaches a maximum depth of 160 ft near the dam at the northeastern end of the lake, near Bells Bend Park.
At an average depth of 50 ft, some areas may reach depths up to twice that size.
Old Hickory Lake
A host to year-round regional and national championship bass fishing tournaments, Old Hickory Lake is a 22,500-acre impoundment on the Cumberland River.
Dozens of Nashville stars have called the lake home over the years including the likes of Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and celebrity couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, The Tennessean reported.
Located about half an hour northeast of Nashville, millions of visitors enjoy recreational activities along the lake’s more than 400 miles of shoreline each year.
Eight fishing piers are available to the public and provide fishing opportunities for Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Striped Bass, Sauger, White Bass and Channel Catfish, according to tn.gov.
Reports of maximum depths have been recorded up to 95 ft, according to usa.fishermap.org.
How to stay safe on the water
Millions of people flock to Tennessee's lakes, rivers and reservoirs each year to enjoy water sports like boating, canoeing, kayaking and swimming.
And while these activities can be a fun way to beat the summer heat, they can also lead to incidents of unintentional injury or drowning.
Drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. About 10 people die from accidental drowning each day on average.
An inability to swim, lack of fencing around pools, proper supervision and life jacket use, proximity to bodies of water, use of alcohol and seizure disorders influence a person's risk of drowning, the TDOH says.
But there are steps you can take to prevent accidental drownings and stay safe on the water.
Check out these tips by the Tennessee Department of Health:
- Never go on the water alone
- Know the basics of swimming and how to give CPR
- Supervise children in or nearby water
- Fence off pools with secure, self-closing gates
- Wear a life jacket
- Take a course on boating safety
- Avoid drinking alcohol while participating in water sports
- Monitor for dangerous changes in weather
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.
Most Popular
Comments / 0