Lake Cumberland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Cumberland
Lake Cumberland as viewed at Wolf Creek Dam
Lake Cumberland Location in Kentucky
Location	Clinton, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, and Wayne Counties, Kentucky
Coordinates	36°53′20″N 85°3′0″W / 36.88889°N 85.05000°W / 36.88889; -85.05000
Primary inflows	Cumberland River
Primary outflows	Cumberland River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	265.2 km2 (102.4 sq mi) (area at full pool)
Average depth	27.4 metres (90 ft)
Max. depth	60 metres (197 ft)
Surface elevation	220 metres (722 ft)

Lake Cumberland is a huge reservoir (a man-made lake) located in several counties in Kentucky. It was built mainly for two important reasons: to help control floods and to create hydroelectric power (electricity from water).

This amazing lake has a shoreline that stretches for 1,255 miles (2,020 km)! That's longer than the entire coast of Florida! At its fullest, the lake covers about 65,530 acres (265.2 km²). It's so big that it ranks as the 9th largest reservoir in the United States. The main part of the lake is 101 miles (163 km) long and over a mile (1.6 km) wide at its widest point.

Lake Cumberland is a very popular spot for tourists and helps the economy in south-central Kentucky. For a while, the lake's water level was lower because of leaks in the dam. But don't worry, repairs were finished in 2013, and by 2015, the lake was back to its normal, full level, ready for everyone to enjoy!

Building the Lake: A Look at History

Lake Cumberland was created from the Cumberland River. This happened when the United States Army Corps of Engineers built the Wolf Creek Dam in 1952.

Wolf Creek Dam is one of the largest dams in the United States. It cost $15 million to build originally. Even though it had some early problems that needed more money to fix, the dam has been a huge success. It has prevented over $500 million in flood damage since it was built, protecting many homes and towns downstream.

Fixing the Dam

In 1967, a leak was discovered at the Wolf Creek Dam. Repairs were made in the late 1970s.

Later, in 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began to lower the lake's water level. This was because they were worried about a possible break in the dam. Water had been seeping into the limestone under the dam, which could have caused a huge flood.

By 2011, the lake was about 43 feet (13 m) lower than usual. This made things tough for the local tourism businesses, as marinas had to adjust their docks for the lower water. However, a big project costing $594 million was started to build a new, stronger wall inside the dam. This project was completed by early 2013.

Since the spring of 2014, Lake Cumberland's water levels have returned to normal. This means the lake is once again a fantastic place for visitors and locals alike!

How We Use Lake Cumberland

Making Power

The Wolf Creek Dam has six giant turbines. These turbines can generate 270 megawatts of electricity. That's enough power to supply an average city with a population of about 375,000 people! The dam needs the lake's water level to be above 673 feet (205 m) to make electricity.

Fun and Recreation

Lake Cumberland is a super popular place for outdoor fun! In 1999, nearly 5 million visitors came to the lake. These visitors added over $152.4 million to the local economy.

The lake is one of the most visited spots among all the lakes managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. You can see over 1,500 houseboats floating on Lake Cumberland. Many power boats also zip across its waters, making it a lively place!

Lake Cumberland is also home to two Kentucky state parks:

• Lake Cumberland State Resort Park is right on its shore.
• General Burnside Island State Park is located on an island in the middle of the lake.

If you love fishing, Lake Cumberland is a great spot! Some of Kentucky's biggest fish have been caught here, including:

• Brown trout (21 lb)
• Lake trout (5 lb 5 oz)
• Rainbow trout (14 lb 6 oz)
• Sauger (7 lb 7 oz)
• Striped bass (58 lb 4 oz)
• Sturgeon (36 lb 8 oz)
• Walleye (21 lb 8 oz)

Lake Facts and Figures

• The lake's normal summer level is around 723 feet (220 m) above sea level.
• The average depth of the lake at its summer level is 90 feet (27 m).
• The deepest part of the lake is 200 feet (60 m) deep, near the Wolf Creek Dam.