What’s the Largest Manmade Lake in Kentucky?

Covering 160,309 acres of southwestern Kentucky and northwestern Tennessee, Kentucky Lake is not just the largest manmade lake in Kentucky. It is the largest lake in the state, period. It is also the largest manmade lake in the eastern United States and the 25th largest lake in the nation overall.

Kentucky Lake’s Origins

Kentucky Lake began taking shape in the 1930s when the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built a series of dams on the Tennessee River. The dams were largely for flood control and to provide hydroelectric power for residents from Paducah, Kentucky, to Knoxville, Tennessee.

The construction of the Kentucky Dam was the final and largest of these dams. Engineers took six years to build it, and they finally completed it in 1944. The dam itself measured 206 feet high and 8,422 feet long upon completion. The project had a total cost of $118 million, which would be more than $1.7 billion today. However, constructing the dam sparked controversy as people lost homes, farms, and even entire towns. Engineers had to move these people before the Tennessee River was dammed and flooded to create Kentucky Lake. One such town was Birmingham, Kentucky, in Marshall County, which was abandoned to the depths of the newly created lake. We may never know why Birmingham was not relocated.

Where Is Kentucky Lake Located on a Map?

Kentucky Lake is located to the northwest of Nashville, 125 miles away. You can reach it following a 2-hour-17-minute drive.

A Second Dam

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers constructed another dam 20 years after the completion of the Kentucky Dam. Barkley Dam was built for flood control and to help with navigation along the Tennessee River. This dam created Lake Barkley, which sits just to the east of Kentucky Lake. Lake Barkley continues to provide hydroelectric power to thousands of residential and commercial consumers, as well as many recreational opportunities.

The creation of these two lakes also created a peninsula that separates the two. The peninsula is now the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This 170,000-acre area comprises forests, wetlands, and open lands in western Kentucky and Tennessee. Camping is available in this National Recreation Area, along with trails for hiking, horseback riding, and ATVs.

The Lake Today

Today, Kentucky Lake is 184 miles long with more than 2,300 miles of shoreline. It is a center of boating and fishing activity. Kenlake State Resort Park sits on the west shore of the lake, and Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park is near the dam at the northern end of the lake.

The lake is a major sport fishery in the area, with large stocks of largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, and a variety of other species. Kentucky state records for white bass and yellow perch were both caught there.

There is no shortage of places to stay on Kentucky Lake, with multiple hotels in the area. In addition, cabins and cottages sit on the lakeshore, as do several campgrounds. 

Whatever type of getaway “floats your boat,” you can find it at Kentucky Lake!

What Is the Largest Man-Made Lake in the World?

The things that humankind can create never cease to amaze. Reservoirs–man-made lakes–are multi-functional creations. They help to control floodwaters, aid in the watering of crops, create sources to draw from for drinking water, and can be places for recreational activities like fishing, boating, and swimming.

So which reservoir breaks the record as the largest ever created by man? The world’s largest man-made lake is Lake Kariba on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Africa. It was created with the construction of the Kariba Dam, and between the years of 1958-1963, it was filled with water, resulting in the flooding of the Kariba Gorge on the Zambezi River. This massive reservoir spans 5,400 square kilometers (2,150 sq miles), is 223 km (139 m) long, and 40 km (25 m) wide. Its maximum depth is 97 meters (318 feet).

Its primary purpose is to provide hydroelectric power for both of the nations it borders. However, the lake’s size and location in a dry region have made it a hot spot for wildlife like crocodiles and hippos, elephants, leopards, and more.

The lake is also a popular destination for tourists, and best suited to activities like boating, fishing, seeing beautiful scenery, and viewing wildlife. Swimming in the lake, especially alone, is dangerous due to the crocs and hippos.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Kent Raney