Grayson Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grayson Lake |
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Lake and Dam
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 Grayson Lake
Location in Kentucky
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| Location | Carter / Elliott counties, Kentucky, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°15′5.5″N 82°59′1.88″W / 38.251528°N 82.9838556°W |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Little Sandy River |
| Primary outflows | Little Sandy River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) |
| Max. depth | 60 feet (18 m) |
Grayson Lake is a beautiful, large lake in Kentucky, covering about 1,500 acres (6.1 km2). It's located in both Carter and Elliott counties. This isn't a natural lake; it's a special type of artificial lake built to help manage water and provide fun activities for people.
Discover Grayson Lake
Grayson Lake was created in 1968 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. They are a group that builds and manages many important projects, like dams and waterways, to help communities. To make Grayson Lake, they built a huge structure called the Grayson Dam across the Little Sandy River.
How the Lake Was Made
The Grayson Dam is an earthen structure, meaning it's made mostly of earth and rock. It stands 120 feet (about 36 meters) tall! When the dam was finished, it held back the river's water, forming the large lake we see today. This created a huge amount of water storage, about 118,990 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot.
Because the lake is so big, some parts of Kentucky Route 7 had to be moved. Now, this highway goes around the park and even crosses over the dam itself.
Fun at the Lake
Grayson Lake is the main attraction of Grayson Lake State Park. This means it's a super popular spot for people to visit and enjoy the outdoors. Visitors can go boating, fishing, swimming, and explore the beautiful natural surroundings.
