Clover Fork (Cumberland River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clover Fork |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | 1,158 ft (353 m) |
| Length | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Cumberland—Ohio—Mississippi |
| Basin size | 222 sq mi (570 km2) |
The Clover Fork is a river in Kentucky, United States. It's about 30 miles (48 km) long. This river is a special part of the Cumberland River. It flows through Harlan County in the southeastern part of the state.
The Clover Fork is important because it helps form the Cumberland River. When the Clover Fork meets another river called the Martin's Fork, that's where the Cumberland River officially begins! This meeting point is near the town of Harlan.
Why the Clover Fork is Special
The Clover Fork is more than just a river. It has a cool story about how people changed its path to protect a town.
Protecting Harlan from Floods
Long ago, the Clover Fork used to flow right through the middle of Harlan. It would meet the Martin's Fork on the west side of town. But this caused a big problem: floods! The river would often overflow its banks and damage homes and businesses in Harlan.
The River Diversion Project
To stop the floods, a special group called the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers came up with a clever plan. They decided to move the river's path! Instead of flowing through Harlan, they would make it go around the city.
This huge project involved building four long tunnels. Each tunnel was about 1,936 feet (590 meters) long. The tunnels were dug to carry the river's water safely past the city to the north. This amazing engineering project was finished in 1989. Thanks to these tunnels, Harlan is much safer from floods today!
