According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 4,467,673, Kentucky is the 26th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and KY is the two letter abbreviation for Kentucky. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of Kentucky.
Rivers in Kentucky
Rivers have a unique meaning for the state of Kentucky. There are approximately 140,000 km of rivers in Kentucky, which is a record in the United States. Kentucky is also the only state that is bordered on three sides by rivers. The western end of Kentucky is formed by the Mississippi River, the northern by the Ohio and to the east by the Big Sandy River and the Tug Fork.
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a 1,106 km long tributary of the Ohio River. The river runs in the US states of Kentucky and Tennessee. The river is created by the confluence of the Poor Fork and Clover Fork in southeastern Kentucky near the city of Cumberland near the Virginia border. The Cumberland River runs basically west and flows into the Ohio River at Smithland. About half of the Cumberland River is navigable.
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is 1,049 km long and is the longest tributary of the Ohio River. The Tennessee River flows in the US states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama. The former name of the river was the Cherokee River. The Tennessee River is formed by the confluence of the Holston River and French Broad River in eastern Tennessee. The river initially flows in a southwesterly direction until it turns north on the border between Tennessee and Mississippi. The Tennessee River flows through the cities of Chattanooga, Deactur, Florence, Huntsville, Knoxville and Paducah. The Tennessee River flows into the Ohio River from the city of Paducah in Kentucky.
Kentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River with a length of approx. 417 km. The Kentucky River runs exclusively in the state of Kentucky and drains much of the state, especially the eastern part. The river is created by the confluence of the North Fork Kentucky River and the South Fork Kentucky River at Beattyville in central eastern Kentucky. The upper reaches of the river run through the coal mining areas of the Cumberland Mountains and the lower reaches through the so-called bluegrass region in the central northern part. The Kentucky River is navigable along its entire length due to congestion projects. In principle, the river runs northeast until it joins the Ohio River at Carrollton.
Big Sandy River
The Big Sandy River is a tributary of the Ohio River and has a length of only 43 km. Nevertheless, it is of great importance because it forms part of the border between the states of Kentucky and West Virginia. Since the entire length of the river is navigable, it is used in the region to transport coal from the mines in the Appalachian Mountains. The Big Sandy River is formed by the confluence of the Tug Fork and Levisa Fork and flows into the Ohio River at Catlettsburg.
- COUNTRYAAH: Alphabetical list of all cities, towns and villages in Kentucky, including biggest cities by population and capital city in the state of Kentucky.
Mountains in Kentucky
Cumberland Mountains
In the southeastern part of the Appalachian Mountains lies the mountain range of the Cumberland Mountains, which are spread over the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its highest peak is the 1287m High Knob, which is located near Norton, Virginia. The entire Cumberland Mountains is approximately 210 km long and 31 km wide. Kentucky’s highest mountain, the Black Mountain, is also located here.
Black Mountain
The Black Mountain is the highest elevation within the state at approximately 1,263 m. Black Mountain is located in the far southeast of Kentucky near the border with the State of Virginia. The Black Mountain lies within the Appalachian Mountains. In contrast to its surroundings, the summit of Black Mountain only has a prominence of approx. 150 m. At the top of the mountain, which can be reached by car or on foot, there is a lookout tower for forest fire monitoring, but this is unfortunately no longer in operation.
Lakes and Reservoirs in Kentucky
Lake Cumberland Lake Cumberland
Reservoir is located in southern Kentucky. Lake Cumberland covers an area of approx. 265 km² and the Cumberland River has been dammed here since 1952. Lake Cumberland is a very popular destination and around 5 million visitors flock to it every year. There is a considerable number of houseboats on the lake. Overall, there are two state parks on and in the lake, Lake Cumberland State Resort Park and General Burnside State Park.
Kentucky Lake
Kentucky Lake is an approx. 649 km² reservoir that stretches across the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. Kentucky Lake is the largest reservoir in the United States east of the Mississippi River. The lake has been dammed by the Kentucky Dam since 1944 due to the Tennessee River being dammed. The Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area is located between Kentucky Lake and nearby Lake Barkley, which underlines the high value of the lake as a recreation area.
Lake Barkley
Lake Barkley is an approximately 234 km² reservoir that spans the states of Kentucky and Tennessee extends. The lake has been dammed by the Barkley Dam since 1966 due to the Cumberland River being dammed. Between the Kentucky Lake and the nearby Lake Barkley is the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, which underlines the high value of the lake as a recreation area.