Geography of Kentucky

Land Between the Lakes

A United States National Recreation Area in southwestern Kentucky that extends into Tennessee. Situated in between two reservoirs, Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, and was made a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1991. As a canal was built between the two lakes at the northern end of this area, it has become the largest inland peninsula in the United States.

Ohio River

A major tributary of the Mississippi River. It flows along the borders of many states in the Midwest, and has played a major part in the history of Native Americans who used as a trading and transportation route. This river makes up the Kentucky's entire border with Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois before reaching the Mississippi at the tri-point between Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri.

Louisville

Largest city in Kentucky, located in the northern part of the state on the border with Indiana. Situated on the Ohio River near the Falls of the Ohio. Home to Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby.

Mississippi River

Longest river in the United States. Along with its tributaries, it drains more than half of the country while flowing from Minnesota to Mississippi along the borders of many states including Kentucky. Its banks and their fertile agricultural terrain have been the home to many people for centuries, going back to Native American Mound Builder societies.

Lexington

Second largest city in Kentucky. Situated on several small creeks that flow into the Kentucky River, and is known as the "Horse Capital of the World". Home to the University of Kentucky.

Mammoth Cave

This is a cave in central Kentucky that makes up the longest cave system in the world. It is located in a national park that is centered on the Green River, and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

Kentucky Lake

This is a large reservoir in southwestern Kentucky that is created by a dam of the same name on the Tennessee River. It extends into Tennessee, and along with another lake to its east, it makes the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This lake is the largest reservoir east of the Mississippi River by surface area.

Cumberland Mountains

This is a mountain range in eastern Kentucky that makes up the border with Virginia and extends south into Tennessee. It lies between a plateau of the same name and the larger Appalachian Mountains to the west, and contains the highest mountain in Kentucky, Black Mountain.

Cumberland Plateau

This is a plateau that covers much of eastern Kentucky and extends south into Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. It is on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains, and it contains the sources of the Cumberland and Kentucky Rivers.

Lake Barkley

This is a reservoir in southwestern Kentucky that is created by a dam of the same name on the Cumberland River. It extends into Tennessee, and along with another lake to its west, it makes the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

Cumberland River

This is a river that flows through much of southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee. From its source in a plateau of the same name in the southeastern part of the state, the river curves north and then south where a reservoir of the same name as the river has been created. Then, the river flows through Tennessee for some time before coming back into the southwestern part of Kentucky and creating Lake Barkley. After exiting the lake, this river drains into the Ohio River.

Kentucky River

This is a tributary of the Ohio River. It flows from its source in the Cumberland Plateau through much of eastern central Kentucky, and supplies drinking water to about one sixth of the state. This river passes through the major cities of Lexington and the capital of Frankfort.

Frankfort

This is the capital of Kentucky, located in the northeast central part of the state. It is situated on the Kentucky River, and is home to several major distilleries of bourbon.

Black Mountain

This is the highest mountain in Kentucky, at 4,145 feet. It is located in the eastern part of the state, almost on the border with Virginia, and is in the Cumberland Mountains. This mountain is around 500 feet higher than any other in the state of Kentucky.

Bluegrass State

This is the state nickname of Kentucky.

Tennessee River

This river is formed when the Holston and French Broad rivers join, then flows through Kentucky to join the Ohio River. Which river was dammed to create Kentucky Lake?