The Cherokee people have long told a legend of a hidden lake located in the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee, known as Ataga’hi. Two young Cherokees, named Utani and Netani, are said to have wandered deep into the mountains to find a beautiful, blue lake hidden behind trees.
Legend says that if you should ever find yourself near this mysterious location, you will hear the sounds of birds and ducks, but if you follow the sounds, all you will see is a pit of mud. The lake is hidden from human eyes because it’s a sacred place for the creatures of the Great Smoky Mountains. Bears and other animals bathe in the blue waters to cure their wounds and sickness.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.