It rises in Christian County southwest of Hopkinsville and flows northwest past Cadiz before emptying into Lake Barkley.

Taking six years to build (1884-1890), the massive stone prison structure towers over Lake Barkley, and is sometimes called "The Castle on the Cumberland."

Some residents of Birmingham had to relocate a second time due to the creation of Lake Barkley.

Lake Barkley is 134 miles (216 km) long with a shoreline measuring 1,004 miles (1,616 km).

As with the formation of Kentucky Lake, communities were flooded in the 1960s to build Lake Barkley.

Facilities map of Lake Barkley (Kentucky side)

The Cumberland River was dammed in the 1960s; this area is currently referred to as Lake Barkley.

In addition, these inmates are given additional privileges, including fishing in Lake Barkley in their spare time.

Lake Barkley was formed in the early 1960s when a dam was constructed on the Cumberland at Grand Rivers.

Now, these two towns literally run through Lake Barkley.