Bisecting Alabama's Black Prairie Belt, the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir encompasses 105 miles of the Alabama River. Dannelly Reservoir boasts an area of about 27 square miles and a shoreline of more than 500 miles. Since opening in 1974, the lake and its surrounding parks have become a recreational center, offering excellent fishing, skiing, boating and hunting. With its great appeal to sportsmen, birders, naturalists and those who just want to "get away from it all," it's little wonder that almost 3 million people visit Dannelly each year.