One of the fascinating things about Austin is that you never have to travel far in order to access the most beautiful natural attraction sites. Lady Bird Lake, a beautiful reservoir of water in the Colorado River, lies just in the center of the city of Austin. It is a major recreation site that is bounded by the Lady Bird Hike and Bike Trail and many other hotels, apartment places and businesses. It also lies adjacent to the downtown Zilker Park and Barton Springs which is a major attraction for family gathering, picnicking and swimming. Because of the accessibility of the place, it makes it very attractive not only for local people but also for tourists coming to the city.
The Lady Bird Lake features a landscaped surrounding which can be credited to its famous benefactor, the former first lady, Lady Bird Johnson. The lake can be enjoyed by pursuing recreational water sports such as kayaking, canoeing and dragon boating. On the shoreline area, swimming can be undertaken in the Deep Eddy and Barton Springs Pools.
Recreational fishing can also be done in the lake as it is stocked with numerous species of fish. In 1990, however, consuming the fish caught in the lake was banned because there was chlordane toxicity in the water. Chlordane is a pesticide which is no longer produced since 1988. However, the after effects of this can be quite strong as it sticks to soil surfaces requiring many years before they can be completely eradicated. In 1999, the ban on fish consumption was finally lifted.