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The Hancock Biological Station (HBS) on Kentucky Lake is a year-round facility providing scientists with a base of operation for a wide variety of field research and presenting students with opportunities for field-oriented classes, individualized instruction, independent research, and close interactions with researchers and faculty. HBS is the Field Facility for the Watershed Studies Institute and for the Ecological Consortium of Mid-America (ecoma). HBS is located on the shores of Kentucky Lake in southwestern Kentucky, sixteen miles from Murray, Kentucky, and within three hours drive of a number of major metropolitan areas including St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis, and Louisville. The region is diverse in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Southwestern Kentucky has one of the largest densities of major rivers and reservoirs of any region in the world. Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, ponds and streams are in close proximity. Kentucky Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States (187 miles long) and is joined by a canal to Lake Barkley; together they have 3700 miles of shoreline and 250,000 surface acres. Additional nearby areas for aquatic study include the Cumberland River, Tennessee River, Ohio River, Mississippi River, Reelfoot Lake and the cypress swamps of Murphy's Pond.