Kentucky Lake is an artificially created lake in western Kentucky and Tennessee. The lake serves as a reservoir. It was formed by the Kentucky Dam, which was built across the Tennessee River. The dam was completed in 1944.
Kentucky Lake is about 185 miles (298 kilometers) long and 21/2 miles (4 kilometers) wide at its widest point. It covers 247 square miles (640 square kilometers). It is the largest Tennessee River reservoir. About 40 miles (64 kilometers) of the lake are located in Kentucky.
Kentucky Dam lies in Kentucky, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Paducah. It is the largest of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) dams. It is 206 feet (63 meters) high and 8,422 feet (2,567 meters) long. The gravity-type concrete dam has a hydroelectric power plant that provides electric power to the surrounding area. The dam also has a lock that permits barges to move up and down the river. A canal near the dam connects Kentucky Lake with Lake Barkley, a reservoir on the Cumberland River about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) to the east. Between the two lakes lies a recreation area called the Land Between the Lakes. This area is owned and operated by the TVA.
