Kentucky has within its borders many small tributaries, including the Kentucky River, for which the state is named. Then there are the two "biggies"--the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which in part define the geographical boundaries of the Bluegrass State. In Kentucky, all these watercourses not only provide much needed habitat for an assortment of birds, fish, reptiles, mammals and crustaceans, but also they provide many locales where outdoor enthusiasts can go boating, fishing, swimming or hiking through the riverside landscape.
Fishing the Ohio River
By far the most important river to the state of Kentucky is the Ohio, which follows a long, meandering route that determines the northern boundary of the state. Since the Ohio connects up with the Mississippi in the western portion of the state, this river has great importance as a transportation route. Fishing on the Ohio often consists of carefully plying the wide expanse of slow-moving water for warm water species such as catfish, walleye, crappie, small and largemouth bass and perch. Compatibility of these two activities, transportation and sport fishing, is always a struggle regardless of where the river is located.
Kentucky River
The word "Kentucky" is believed to be of Iroquoian origin, meaning "on the meadow," and refers to the river from which the state is named. However, not all portions of this historic river can be considered to be "on the meadow." For about 100 miles, the Kentucky River flows through a region of 100-foot limestone cliffs and deep gorges. Many trails wind through the region including the Kentucky Palisades Trail. Another popular river region for hiking is in eastern Kentucky near the Cumberland Falls on the Cumberland River.
Green River
The Green River has earned the title of "Kentucky's longest river" because for 370 miles this watercourse cuts across Kentucky without passing through any other states. The river is important to scientist because of its rich diversity of aquatic life found within the waters. All total, 150 different species of fish and more than 70 kinds of mussels exist in this river, thus making the Green River one of the places with the most biodiversity. Today, biologists and conservationists are challenged with task of improving the water quality of the Green to preserve this rich assortment of biological life forms.
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a historic waterway, which begins in eastern Kentucky, passes through Tennessee before joining the Ohio River at Smithland, Kentucky. Once an important pioneer route, today the Cumberland is classified as a Wild and Scenic River. As a result the watercourse hosts a handful of outdoor activities typical of wilderness areas. Come here for fly fishing, rafting, hiking, backpacking or birdwatching. There is even a section of the TransAmerica Bike Trail that passes over the Cumberland Plateau in the vicinity of the river. Overall, this coast to coast bike path traverses Kentucky for about 600 miles.
Kentucky Bend
One of the strangest places in the whole state is the Kentucky Bend, which forms the westernmost portion of the state. Created by the the New Madrid Fault during the 1812 earthquake, this small spot of land came to be located in Kentucky when the Mississippi ran backward and formed an additional oxbow. Inside this oxbow is a small peninsula of land that today is accessed by road from Tennessee only. Once a prominent place for growing cotton, as of 2010 this area is inhabited by approximately 17 people.
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