Chattahoochee National Forest

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Fall in the Chattahoochee National Forest
Location	Georgia, United States
Nearest city	Athens, GA
Coordinates	34°45′49″N 84°06′56″W / 34.763611°N 84.115556°W / 34.763611; -84.115556Coordinates: 34°45′49″N 84°06′56″W / 34.763611°N 84.115556°W / 34.763611; -84.115556
Area	866,468 acres (3,506.47 km2)
Established	July 9, 1936
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in northern Georgia comprises two United States National Forests, the Oconee National Forest and Chattahoochee National Forest. The combined total area of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is 866,468 acres (3,506 km²), of which the Chattahoochee National Forest comprises 750,145 acres (3,036 km²) and the Oconee National Forest comprises 116,232 acres (470 km²). The county with the largest portion of the forest is Rabun County, Georgia, which has 148,684 acres (601.7 km²) within its boundaries.

Numerous animals can be found in this forest including birds such as species of hawk, species of owl, blackbirds, ducks, eagles, sparrows, hummingbirds, geese, and cardinals. Mammalian species that roam in the forest are shrew, coyote, a variety of bats, squirrel, beaver, river otter, bobcat, deer, weasel, mice, and foxes. Many species of fish and amphibians swim in the streams. Various species of reptile also inhabit the forest.

The Chattahoochee National Forest takes its name from the Chattahoochee River whose headwaters begin in the North Georgia mountains. The River and the area were given the name by the English settlers who took the name from the Indians living here. The Cherokee and Creek Indians inhabited North Georgia. In one dialect of the Muskogean languages, Chatta means stone; ho chee, marked or flowered. These marked or flowered stones were in the Chattahoochee River at a settlement near Columbus, Georgia.