Kentucky Lake

[2] The 160,309-acre (649 km2) lake is the largest artificial lake by surface area in the United States east of the Mississippi River, with 2,064 miles (3,322 km) of shoreline.

[2] Asian carp are a type of invasive species that have started to accumulate in the waterways throughout Kentucky.

They pose a major threat to the environmental stability of the lake because of their competition with native fish species.

Their numbers have since increased greatly; they now can be found throughout both lakes and are exhibiting extremely fast growth.

[4] Some restaurants in Kentucky and across the country have added carp to their menus, noting its clean taste, white meat, low mercury content, and affordable cost.

Aerial view of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Kentucky Lake is on the left. The canal connecting Lake Barkley to Kentucky Lake is visible at left-center.