Lake Martin

Lake Martin is located in Tallapoosa, Elmore and Coosa counties in Alabama, USA. It is a 44,000-acre (178 km²) lake with over 750 miles (1,200 km) of wooded shoreline. An artificial reservoir, Lake Martin was formed by the construction of Martin Dam on the Tallapoosa River. The Martin Dam powerhouse is used to generate hydroelectric power for the Alabama Power Company. Construction on Martin Dam began in 1923 and was completed in 1926, creating what was at that time the largest man-made body of water in the world. Originally known as Cherokee Bluffs for the geological formation upon which it was built (which recognized the historic indigenous people of the area), the dam was renamed in 1936 in honor of Thomas Martin, the then-president of Alabama Power Company. Alabama Power and Russell Lands own the majority of the shoreline.

One of the largest man made lakes in the United States, Lake Martin is a popular recreation area for swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing, camping, and golfing. Many waterfront neighborhoods and luxury homes are located on Lake Martin. The cities of Alexander City, Dadeville, and Eclectic are located nearby.

Lake Martin hosts many events throughout the year, including fishing tournaments and a giant fireworks show on the Fourth of July to celebrate Independence Day. Also included is the Alexander City Jazz Festival which has hosted such acts as Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Los Lonely Boys, and Amanda Shaw. This yearly event is hosted every June in downtown Alexander City as well as on Lake Martin at the Lake Martin Amphitheatre.

Lake Martin includes many popular attractions, including eagles nest, natural sand beaches, restaurants, camping areas and popular islands. The lake has several landmarks, such as the Kowaliga Bridge, and several marinas, but perhaps the most recognized landmark on the lake is Chimney Rock, a large rock formation that resembles a chimney. Chimney Rock is located several hundred yards away; the formation which most people call Chimney Rock is Acapulco Rock. The area was the Tallapoosa River gorge before Martin Dam was built, and the water is more than 150 feet (46 m) deep. The spot is visited by thousands of boaters yearly, who park in front of "The Rock" to watch people climb up 60 feet (18 m) and jump off into the water. While many have enjoyed the thrill of jumping from these rock formations, a few jumpers have been seriously injured, paralyzed, or killed after jumping. In July 2006, a teenager died after his jump from the rock.

Lake Martin has become a weekend getaway for many of Birmingham, Montgomery and even Atlanta's elite. Many exclusive multi-million dollar residences are located on the lake; among the most well-known is that of Richard M. Scrushy, the founder and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HealthSouth Corporation. Built in 1998, together with a guest/boathouse, the residence contains over 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2). HealthSouth bought the home in late 2009 for $7.4 million as part of a $2.8 billion civil judgement against Scrushy for his fraudulent practices at HealthSouth from 1997 until 2003. Many other CEO's from Birmingham and Atlanta have homes on the lake.

Alabama has a lake of a similar name, the Logan Martin Lake on the Coosa River, but Lake Martin and Logan Martin Lake are not part of the same river system.