Dale Hollow Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dale Hollow Reservoir |
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Dam and Lake
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 Dale Hollow Reservoir
Location in Tennessee
Dale Hollow Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kentucky / Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 36°32′16″N 85°27′05″W / 36.537847°N 85.451317°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
The Dale Hollow Reservoir is a large lake located right on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee. This lake was created by building a dam across the Obey River. It's one of four main lakes that help control floods in the Cumberland River area. You can also find Dale Hollow Lake State Park on the Kentucky side of the lake.
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Where is Dale Hollow Lake?
Dale Hollow Reservoir is mostly in northern Tennessee. It covers parts of Clay, Pickett, and Overton Counties. Some parts of the lake also reach north into Kentucky, touching Cumberland and Clinton Counties. The entire project includes about 27,700 acres of water and 24,842 acres of land around the lake.
How Dale Hollow Lake Was Made
Dale Hollow Dam and Lake were planned to help control floods. The United States Army Corps of Engineers finished building the dam in 1943. Later, machines were added to make electricity from the water. These machines started working in 1948, 1949, and 1953. The Corps of Engineers designed the project, and private companies built it under their watch. Today, the dam, power plant, and lake are managed by the Nashville District of the Corps.
When the lake was created, a small town called Willow Grove was covered by the water. In 1942, the government bought the town, and its residents had to move. Former residents of Willow Grove still meet every year on Labor Day weekend.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
Dale Hollow Lake is a popular spot for many fun activities. Water sports like water skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing are very common. But the most popular activity is fishing.
Dale Hollow is famous for smallmouth bass fishing. It even holds the world record for the biggest smallmouth bass ever caught, weighing 11 pounds, 15 ounces! A famous smallmouth angler named Billy Westmoreland was closely linked to this lake. Besides smallmouth bass, you can also find other fish species here, such as largemouth bass, crappie, muskellunge, walleye, catfish, gar, and trout.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife manage the lake's waters in their own states. They have a special agreement that lets fishermen with a license from either state fish in certain parts of the lake. If you fish outside these areas, you need a license from the state that manages that part of the lake.
Geiger Island
Geiger Island is an island in Dale Hollow Lake. The United States Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake, has set it aside as a place for primitive camping. This means it's a basic campsite without many facilities. The island is very popular in the summer. For many years, it was a traditional camping spot for Boy Scout troops in the area. Henry Geiger, who started Cedar Lake Camp (a Christian youth camp nearby), was the first person to camp on the island. The island is named after him.
