Kentucky  - Our Place in the World    
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What's the difference between a pond and a lake? Not much. A lake is a body of water surrounded by land. So is a pond. But smaller "lakes" we call ponds. A reservoir is also a pond or a lake, but this term is generally used to indicate an artificial lake, or impounded waterbody.

Kentucky has hundreds of lakes, the larger ones all being artificial impoundments of running rivers and streams. Our largest natural lake, Swan Lake, is located in Ballard County, in far western Kentucky. It covers an area of approximately 300 acres. Compared to Kentucky Lake, also in the western part of the state, which encompasses over 160,000 acres, Swan Lake is quite small.

Approximately 51,000 acres of Kentucky Lake lie within the boundaries of our state. The majority of the waterbody is part of the state of Tennessee.

Kentucky Lake holds the distinction in the United States, of being the largest artificial reservoir east of the Mississippi River. The lake was formed by the impoundment of the Tennessee River at Kentucky Dam, 22 miles upstream from its confluence with the Ohio River and is a major source of hydroelectric power.

A canal connects Kentucky Lake with Lake Barkley, (shown in the aerial photo at right), another large man-made reservoir created by a dam on the Cumberland River near Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Barkley Dam was built approximately 38 miles upstream from where the Cumberland runs into the Ohio River. Lake Barkley runs parallel with Kentucky Lake for 50 miles, creating the eastern water boundary of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This man-made wonder attracts thousands and thousands of tourists each year to the beautiful area known nationwide for its outdoor activities.

Photo courtesy of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Photographer: George Green.

Other dams on the waters of the Cumberland River create Lake Cumberland in south central Kentucky, and Old Hickory Lake, east of Nashville, Tennessee.

Lake Cumberland, meandering through parts of Clinton, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, and Wayne counties in south central Kentucky, is the largest lake entirely within the boundaries of Kentucky. Its 50,000 plus acres, (at normal pool), attracts an average of a quarter of a million visitors each month and brings over $150 million into the economy of the surrounding area each year.

Kentucky's oldest impoundment, Dix Dam, built on the Dix River in the 1920's, created Herrington Lake in Boyle, Mercer, and Garrard counties. Close by in neighboring Lincoln County, is Cedar Creek Lake, Kentucky's newest reservoir. This approximately 800 acre lake, which finished filling in 2003, is owned and operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Another interesting waterbody, Reelfoot Lake was created by the New Madrid Earthquake of 1812, and lies mainly within the state of Tennessee. A small portion of the lake extends northward into Fulton County, Kentucky. The lake is a popular stopping place for migrating waterfowl and a winter nesting spot for the American Bald Eagle.

Waterbodies in Kentucky, as listed in the US Geological Survey include:
Allens Lake - Grayson County
Anglin Pond - Carter County
Arrowhead Lake - Boyd County
Axe Lake - Ballard County
Bakers Lake - Ohio County
Barnett Lake - Crittenden County
Barren River Lake - Allen, Barren and Monroe counties
Bartleys Lake - Bell County
Barton Lake - Nelson County
Baxter Lake - Henry County
Bayles Pond - Green County
Beaver Lake - Anderson County
Beaverdam Lake - Ballard County
Beaverhouse Hole - Green County
Bennett Lake - Bullitt County
Bennett Lake - Crittenden County
Beulah Lake - Jackson County
Big Horn Lake - Jefferson County
Big Pond - Henderson County
Bills Lake - Bullitt County
Black Lake - Carlisle County
Blizzard Ponds - McCracken County
Blue Pond - Fulton County
Bolz Lake - Grant County
Bonita Lake - Boyd County
Boom Hole - Green County
Boone Lake - Boone County
Boyd Lake - Christian County
Bridge Lake - Muhlenberg County
Briggs Lake - Logan County
Brooksville Reservoir - Bracken County
Brown Pond - Greenup County
Brownlee Hole - Green County
Browns Lake - Hopkins County
Browns Pond - Clinton County
Brush Pond - Carlisle County
Brushy Pond - Ballard County
Brushy Pond - Crittenden County
Buck Lake - Ballard County
Buck Pond - Christian County
Buckhorn Lake - Leslie and Perry counties
Buffalo Lake - Hardin County
Bullock Pen Lake - Grant County
Buntin Lake - Christian County
Burbanks Lakes - Henderson County
Burnt Pond - Ballard County
Burnt Slough Lake - Ballard County
Butler Lake - Ballard County
Campbell County Lake - Campbell County
Campton Lake - Wolfe County
Caneyville Reservoir - Grayson County
Cannon Creek Lake - Bell County
Cannon Lake - Knox County
Cap Mauzy Lake - Union County
Cardinal Hill Reservoir - Jefferson County
Carpenters Lake - Daviess County
Carr Fork Lake - Knott County
Castor Lake - Ballard County
Cave Run Lake - Bath, Menifee, Morgan, and Rowan counties
Cedar Creek Lake - Lincoln County
Cedar Lakes - Bullitt County
Cedarmore Lake - Shelby County
Chenoa Lake - Bell County
Cherry Lake - Butler County
Chestnut Lake - Livingston County
Chloe Lake - Pike County
Circle Dart Lake - Oldham County
City Lake - Crittenden County
City Lake - Webster County
Clear Creek Lake - Bath County
Clear Lake - Ballard County
Clear Pond - Ballard County
Clear Pond - Larue County
Clear Pond - Marshall County
Clifton Road Lake - Woodford County
Codell Lake - Clark County
Coffmans Lake - Hardin County
Colvin Lake - Ballard County
Combs Lake - Clay County
Connelly Lake - Butler County
Cooke Lake - Woodford County
Coon Range Lake - Logan County
Cordell Hull Reservoir - Monroe County
Corinth Lake - Grant County
Cornwall Pond - Fulton County
County Lake - Metcalfe County
Cow Lake - Jefferson County
Cox Hole - Green County
Crawford Lake - Crittenden County
Crawford Lake - McCracken County
Creacy Lake - Hart County
Crofton Reservoir - Christian County
Crooked Lake - Carlisle County
Crooked Pond - Ohio County
Crystal Lake - Jefferson County
Crystal Lake - Oldham County
Curtis Crum Reservoir - Martin County
Dale Hollow Lake - Clinton and Cumberland counties, Kentucky and Clay County, Tennessee
David Pond - Fulton County
Daylight Lake - Hopkins County
Deep Pond - Green County
Dewey Lake - Floyd County
Dickerson Lake - Hardin County
Dietz Lake - Campbell County
Dixon Pond - Union County
Dobson Pond - Green County
Doolin Lake - Butler County
Double Pond - Trigg County
Doyels Big Pond - Edmonson County
Dozier Lake - Hopkins County
Dranes - Hardin County
Dreamland Lake - Jefferson County
Dry Lake - Hickman County
Duck Lake - Bullitt County
Dunham Lake - Metcalfe County
Duvall Pond - Clinton County
Eagle Lake - Nelson County
Elk Pond - Letcher County
Elkhorn Lake - Letcher County
Elmo Lake - Bullitt County
Eminence Lake - Henry County
Energy Lake - Trigg County
Everback Lake - Bullitt County
Ewing Lake - Christian County
Fern Lake - Bell County, Kentucky and Claiborne County, Tennessee
Ferrill Reservoir - Taylor County
First Creek Lake - Edmonson County
First Lake - Ballard County
Fish and Game Farm Lake - Daviess County
Fish Lake - Ballard County
Fish Lake - Carlisle County
Fish Pond - Fulton County
Fishing Creek Pond - Lincoln County
Fishpond Lake - Letcher County
Fishtrap Lake - Pike County
Flat Lake - Ballard County
Flat Pond - Carlisle County
Forked Lake - Carlisle County
Foster Pond - Graves County
Fraley Pond - Carter County
Freeman Lake - Hardin County
Froman Lake - Bullitt County
Geiger Lake - Union County
Giant Canada Goose Pond - Rowan County
Glass Pond - Franklin County
Golden Pond - Trigg County
Goose Pond - Ballard County
Goose Pond - Carlisle County
Goud Lake - Warren County
Graham Lake - Muhlenberg County
Grandview Lake - Boyd County
Grant Lake - Mason County
Grassy Lake - Ballard County
Gray Slough - Lyon County
Grayson Lake - Carter and Elliott counties
Green River Lake - Adair, Casey, and Taylor counties
Greenbo Lake - Greenup County
Greenbrier Creek Reservoir - Montgomery County
Greer Lake - Hardin County
Grenwells Pond - Bullitt County
Guist Creek Lake - Shelby County
Halfmoon Pond - Fulton County
Hall Ponds - Greenup County
Hamby Pond - Fulton County
Hammond Lake - Trigg County
Hardy Slough Pond - Henderson County
Hawkins Lake - Lyon County
Hawkins Pond - Bath County
Hematite Lake - Trigg County
Henry County Rod and Gun Club Lake - Henry County
Herrington Lake - Boyle, Garrard, and Mercer counties
Hickory Hill Lake - Franklin County
Hicks Lake - Hardin County
Homestead Lake - Hopkins County
Honey Locust Lake - Breckinridge County
Honker Lake - Lyon County
Hopson Lake - Caldwell County
Horseshoe Lake - Greenup County
Horseshoe Pond - Graves County
Horseshoe Pond - Grayson County
Hudic Lake - Bullitt County
Hundred Acre Pond - Hart County
Hunters Pond - Ballard County
Hurricane Hills Lake - Nelson County
Indian Camp Lake - Carlisle County
Indian Lake - Hancock County
Jackpot Lake - Mason County
Jacobs Lake - McCracken County
James Lake - Livingston County
James Lake - Logan County
Johnson Lake - Nelson County
Kentucky Lake - Calloway, Lyon, Marshall, and Trigg counties in Kentucky; and Stewart County, Tennessee
Kingfisher Lakes - Daviess County
Kington Lake - Hopkins County
Kirkwood Lake - Muhlenberg County
L and N Lake - Oldham County
La Clara Lakes - Jefferson County
Lake Barkley - Caldwell, Livingston, and Trigg counties
Lake Beshear - Caldwell and Christian counties
Lake Blythe - Christian County
Lake Boxley - Christian County
Lake Breckinridge - Breckinridge County
Lake Charles - Mason County
Lake Cumberland - Clinton, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell and Wayne counties
Lake Genevieve - McCracken County
Lake Inferior - Campbell County
Lake Jeanclia - Boone County
Lake Jericho - Henry County
Lake Joann - Pike County
Lake Lewman - Rowan County
Lake Linville - Rockcastle County
Lake Lotawata - Oldham County
Lake Louisvilla - Oldham County
Lake Malone - Logan, Muhlenberg, and Todd counties
Lake Morris - Christian County
Lake Nevin - Bullitt County
Lake Number 1 - Grayson County
Lake Number 13 - Grayson County
Lake Number 6 - Grayson County
Lake Number 9 - Fulton County
Lake Peewee - Hopkins County
Lake Polliwog - Grant County
Lake Reba - Madison County
Lake Tandy - Christian County
Lake Tom - Letcher County
Lakeside Pool - Jefferson County
Laurel Creek Reservoir - McCreary County
Laurel Lakes - Bell County
Laurel River Lake - Laurel and Whitley counties
Lexington Reservoir Number 4 - Fayette County
Lighthouse Lake - Jefferson County
Limestone Lake - Warren County
Little Bluff Lake - Butler County
Little Brushy Pond - Ballard County
Little Colvin Lake - Ballard County
Little Ditch Lake - Union County
Little Martin Lake - Butler County
Little Turner Lake - Ballard County
Loch Mary Reservoir - Hopkins County
Long Hole - McCracken County
Long Pond - Ballard County
Long Pond - Christian County
Long Pond - Fulton County
Long Pond - Hopkins County
Long Pond - Union County
Lost Pond - Carlisle County
Lowe Lake - Graves County
Lower Douglas Lake - Hardin County
Luzerne Lake - Muhlenberg County
Magic Lake - Hopkins County
Maple Lake - Crittenden County
Maple Leaf Lake - Ohio County
Marcum Lake - Bullitt County
Martha Fish Pond - Lawrence County
Martin County Lake - Martin County
Martin Lake - Butler County
Martin Pond - Greenup County
Mary Carol Lake - Boyd County
Matthews Lake - Woodford County
McNeely Lake - Jefferson County
Metropolis Lake - McCracken County
Middle Lake - Butler County
Milburn Lake - Campbell County
Mill Creek Lake - Wolfe County
Mill Pond - Henderson County
Miller Lake - Daviess County
Minor Lake - Ballard County
Mirror Lakes - Jefferson County
Mitchell Lake - Ballard County
Mitchell Lake - Lewis County
Moffit Lake - Union County
Mortons Lake - Union County
Mosley Pond - Logan County
Mud Lake - Crittenden County
Muddy Pond - Union County
Mullin Pond - Union County
Murphy Pond - Hickman County
New Alexandria Reservoir - Campbell County
New Pond - Henry County
Newport Reservoir - Campbell County
Nichols Lake - Grayson County
Nolin Lake - Edmonson, Grayson, and Hart counties
Nortonville Lake - Hopkins County
Number 4 Lake - Carlisle County
Oak Lake - Ballard County
Oakland Lake - Taylor County
Oakwood Lake - Bullitt County
Ohio River Pool - McCracken County
Old Alexandria Reservoir - Campbell County
Olive Hill Reservoir - Carter County
Open Pond - Fulton County
Otter Pond - Caldwell County
Paddy Hole - Green County
Paintsville Lake - Johnson and Morgan counties
Panbowl Lake - Breathitt County
Paradise Lake - Hardin County
Park Lake - Fleming County
Pearl Pond - Bullitt County
Pennyrile Lake - Christian County
Pine Knob Lake - Grayson County
Pine Mountain Lake - Bell County
Pleasant View Lake - Hopkins County
Porter Reservoir - Taylor County
Powells Lake - Union County
Poynters Lake - Barren County
Prairie Lake - Ballard County
Prewitts Lake - Hardin County
Price Hole - Green County
Priester Lake - McCracken County
Prisoners Lake - Kenton County
Providence City Lake - Webster County
Providence City Lake - Webster County
Puckett Lake - Estill County
Putneys Pond - Jefferson County
Rabbit Lake - Caldwell County
Railroad Lake - Caldwell County
Railroad Lake - Grant County County
Raymer Lake - Edmonson County
Reformatory Lake - Oldham County
Reservoir Number 1 - Fayette County
Reservoir Number 2 - Fayette County
Reservoir Number 3 - Fayette County
Reynolds Circle Lake - Laurel County
Rieber Lake - Jefferson County
Riggs Lake - Jefferson County
Rock Lake - Greenup County
Rockhouse Hole - Green County
Rose Lake - Carter County
Rough River Lake - Breckinridge, Grayson and Hardin counties
Sander Spring Lake - Hardin County
Sanders Spring Reservoir - Hardin County
Sawyers Pond - Clinton County
Scenic Lake - Henderson County
Second Lake - Ballard County
Shady Lake - Edmonson County
Shamrock Lake - Webster County
Shanty Hollow - Lake Warren County
Shelby Lake - Ballard County
Shelby Lake - Shelby County
Shotgun Lake - Graves County
Sibley Lake - Henry County
Sid Calk Lake - Jessamine County
Silver Lake - Franklin County
Silver Lake - Jefferson County
Sinking Rock Hole - Green County
Slaughters Lake - Hopkins County
Sleepy Hollow Lake - Oldham County
Smith Lake - Caldwell County
Smoky Valley Lake - Carter County
Snedegar Pond - Bath County
Snell Lake - Carroll County
Spillmans Hole - Green County
Sportsman Club Lake - Taylor County
Sportsman Club Lake - Woodford County
Sportsman Lake - Hardin County
Sportsman Lake - Henderson County
Sportsman Lake - Larue County
Spring Grove Lakes - Bath County
Spring Lake - Hopkins County
Springfield Reservoir - Washington County
Spruce Pine Lake - Leslie County
Stanford Reservoir - Lincoln County
State Lake - Union County
Stephens Lake - Hickman County
Stephensburg Lake - Hardin County
Stevens Lake - Carter County
Stonewall Lake - Fulton County
Subletts Lake - Butler County
Sulphur Spring Pond - Union County
Sunnys Lake - Hancock County
Sunset Lake - Graves County
Sunset Lake - Hardin County
Sutherlin Lake - Graves County
Swallow Spring Pond - Christian County
Swan Pond - Ballard County
Swan Pond - Knox County
Sycamore Lake - Fleming County
Sycamore Lake - Woodford County
Sympson Lake - Nelson County
Tailings Pond - Martin County
Tank Pond - Boyle County
Taylor Fork Lake - Madison County
Taylor Lake - Butler County
Taylor Pond - Marshall County
Taylorsville Lake - Anderson, Nelson, and Spencer counties
Ten Acre Pond - Christian County
Thelma Lake - Johnson County
Thorn Hill Lake - Kenton County
Three Ponds - Hickman County
Tobacco Leaf Lake - Hardin County
Tom Wallace Lake - Jefferson County
Town Lake - Butler County
Tucker Lake - Jefferson County
Tupelo Pond - Ballard County
Turkey Lake - Ballard County
Turner Lake - Ballard County
Twin Lake - Ballard County
Twin Lakes - Hopkins and Hardin counties
Twin Pond - Carlisle County
Twin Ponds - Ballard County
Upper Douglas Lake - Hardin County
Upton Lake - Warren County
Valley Creek Reservoir - Hardin County
Waggners Lake - Jefferson County
Walker Lake - Webster County
Walker Lakes - Crittenden County
Washpan Lake - Fulton County
Watson Lake - Fulton County
Whayne Lake - Hickman County
White Springs Hole - Green County
Wilcox Lake - Bullitt County
Wilcox Number 3 Lake - Bullitt County
Wildwood Lake - Boyd County
Williamstown Lake - Grant County
Willisburg Lake - Washington County
Willow Pond - Fulton County
Wilton Lake - Knox County
Winchester Reservoir - Clark County
Windy Hollow Lakes - Daviess County
Winford Pond - Carlisle County
Wolking Lake - (historical) Kenton County
Wood Creek Lake - Laurel County
Woods Lake - Bullitt County
Wyman Lake - McLean County
Zazios Pond - Bullitt County