Copper was discovered around Ducktown in 1843. This discovery would impact the lives of Copper Basin residents for generations. Population growth, land speculation, numerous mine openings and other related activities led to the boom of the area by the early 1850’s. However, no one knew that the state-of-the-art technology being used at that time to process copper would have devastating effects on the environment. In fact, the devastation was so great the Copper Basin was once considered the largest man-made biological desert in the nation. Over 50 square miles (32,000 acres) was stripped of vegetation resulting in mounds of soil being washed away with each rainfall. Sulfuric acid fumes filled the bowl-like topography and led to the nation’s first look at the long-term effects of acid rain.