A vast lake in the southeastern United States is known for tournament fishing, boating, and 2,300 miles of shoreline, but until the middle of the 20th century, it didn't exist. Stretching 184 miles across southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee, Kentucky Lake was created by a federal utility company in 1944, and it is now the biggest artificial lake in the eastern U.S. With abundant fish species and 250 square miles of water, Kentucky Lake is a beautiful destination for fishers and boaters, and welcomes millions of visitors each year. Kentucky Lake was formed by the construction of Kentucky Dam, built between 1938 and 1944 by the Tennessee Valley Authority to manage repeated flooding in the Tennessee River Valley and provide electricity to area residents. The project required the relocation of farms, families, roads, and cemeteries, and the remains of former towns are still at the bottom of the lake. Today, the region is a popular spot for weekend water warriors, and visitors gush over the water's beauty and the peaceful surroundings.