Daniel Boone National Forest | |
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Location | Kentucky, USA |
Coordinates | 37°17′17″N 83°52′31″W / 37.28806°N 83.87528°W |
Area | 2,100,000 acres (8,500 km2)(proclamation boundary); 706,000 acres (286,000 ha) (Forest Service) |
Established | February 23, 1937[1] |
Named for | Daniel Boone |
Visitors | 2,507,000 (in 2004) |
Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Website | Daniel Boone National Forest |
The Daniel Boone National Forest (originally the Cumberland National Forest) is a national forest in Kentucky. Established in 1937, it includes 708,000 acres (287,000 ha) of federally owned land within a 2,100,000-acre (850,000 ha) proclamation boundary. The name of the forest was changed in 1966 in honor of the explorer Daniel Boone.
The terrain of the forest is generally rugged, and includes multiple prominent water features. It is home to a range of plant and animal species, although many areas still bear evidence of industrial logging and other practices which took place mostly prior to federal protection. It is a popular recreational and tourist destination which serves a million or more visitors a year, and contains several widely recognized areas which are protected in their own right, including state parks, trails, wilderness areas, and landmarks.