Richard B. Russell Lake spans 26,650 acres across Elbert and Hart counties in northeast Georgia, offering residents direct access to boating, fishing, and water skiing on its 500 miles of shoreline. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains several public boat ramps and day-use areas around the lake, while adjacent Hartwell and Elberton provide grocery stores, medical facilities, and highway connections to Athens and Greenville. Surrounding pine and hardwood forests create a wooded backdrop that frames the water and supports local wildlife viewing from shoreline properties.