Lake Barkley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Barkley |
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Aerial view of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Lake Barkley is on the right. The canal connecting Lake Barkley to Kentucky Lake is visible at left-center.
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 Lake Barkley
Location in Kentucky
Lake Barkley
Location in the United States
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| Location | Livingston County, Lyon County and Trigg County in Kentucky; Stewart County and Houston County in Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 37°01′15″N 88°13′22″W / 37.02083°N 88.22278°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 216 km (134 mi) |
| Surface area | 234 km2 (90 sq mi) |
| Water volume | Maximum: 2,082,000 acre⋅ft (2.568 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 109 m (358 ft) |
Lake Barkley is a huge lake, covering about 58,000 acres (234 square kilometers). It stretches across Livingston, Lyon, and Trigg counties in Kentucky. It also reaches into Stewart and Houston counties in Tennessee.
This large lake was created in 1966 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They finished building the Barkley Dam that year. Both the lake and the dam are named after Alben Barkley. He was a Vice President of the United States and came from Kentucky.
The dam holds back the Cumberland River near Grand Rivers, Kentucky. This spot is about 38 miles (61 km) upstream from where the Cumberland River flows into the Ohio River. Just 1 mile (1.6 km) above the dam, a canal connects Lake Barkley with Kentucky Lake. This connection forms one of the best freshwater recreation areas in the country.
These two lakes run side-by-side for more than 50 miles (80 km). The famous Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area is located right between them.
Lake Barkley is 134 miles (216 km) long. Its shoreline stretches for an amazing 1,004 miles (1,616 km). The lake's water level changes throughout the year. This helps with flood control. The highest level, called "summer pool," is normally reached by May 1. This level is about 359 feet (109 m) above sea level.
The water level starts to drop slowly on July 1. It reaches its lowest point, "winter pool," by December 1. This level is about 354 feet (108 m) above sea level. The water level then begins to rise again around April 1. Because of these changes, the lake's surface area varies. It is about 57,920 acres (234 km2) in summer and 45,210 acres (183 km2) in winter.
Lake Barkley's History
Just like when Kentucky Lake was formed, some towns were flooded in the 1960s to build Lake Barkley. Locals often talk about "Old Eddyville" and "Old Kuttawa." These were parts of the original towns that remained above water after the flooding. Now, these old areas are right on the lakefront.
The current cities of Eddyville and Kuttawa were built on new sites nearby. If you visit during winter when the water is low, you can still see old foundations and streets that were once underwater. Even major roads like US 68 and US 62 had to be moved. Smaller roads and the Illinois Central Railroad were also relocated. You can sometimes see the old railroad path underwater from an airplane.
In December 2021, a very strong tornado caused a lot of damage in the area. The lodges at the State Park helped by offering shelter to local residents whose homes were destroyed.
Fun Activities at Lake Barkley
Lake Barkley State Resort Park is a great place to visit. It is located on the eastern side of the lake.
If you like fishing, Lake Barkley is a good spot. The biggest yellow bass ever caught in Kentucky was found here. It weighed 1 pound, 1 ounce!
In 2019, officials started working to control Asian carp in Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. These fish are an invasive species. The state is using special methods like electro-shock fishing and sonic devices. They hope to remove 5 million pounds of these fish each year.
