A pocosin cypress swamp right in the middle of the Alapaha River Water Trail: Banks Lake.

• WWALS at Banks Lake.
• Banks Lake Outpost should be reopening soon, and we hope it will act as an outfitter for boat rental for the entire Alapaha River Water Trail.
  1099 W Main St, Lakeland, GA 31635.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge

  Banks Lake is natural pocosin or sink of ancient geologic origin.

  The refuge contains a variety of habitat types including 1,000 acres of marsh, 1,644 acres of cypress swamp, 900 acres of open water, and 15 acres of uplands.

  Facilities at Banks Lake NWR include restrooms, boat ramp, short walking trail, boardwalk and platform, and accessible fishing dock.

• Georgia Tourism and Travel: Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Trails.com: Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge Lakeland Georgia Places to Fish

  Fantastic fishing for big bass and bream, Banks Lake is a natural “Carolina Bay” of ancient origin. Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge is part of a much larger blackwater system.

• Exploresouthernhistory.com: Ancient Sink in South Georgia

  Scientists believe that what is now Banks Lake, the key feature of the refuge, formed as a natural pocosin or sink. Basically a giant, shallow bowl, the site of the lake was probably created by tidal action thousands of years ago when the ocean covered parts of South Georgia.

  Over the years, the shallow area became saturated with ground water and a vast wetland formed. Cypress forests grew and wildlife flocked to the area. Ancient Native American hunters and gatherers made heavy use of the swamps and wet prairies, seeking game and edible plants.

• DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, BANKS LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, Lanier County, Georgia, U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Atlanta, Georgia, May 2009
• Lanier County
• Published on May 6, 2012 Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge ,Georgia 03.May 2012. filmed by Mr.T.