Editing Letcher County, Kentucky (section)

==Geography==
Letcher County is located in the far southeast of Kentucky. Most of its border is defined by mountains. The 125-mile long [[Pine Mountain (Appalachian Mountains)|Pine Mountain]] divides the county, and defines part of the county's border with [[Harlan County, Kentucky|Harlan County]] and [[Virginia]]. To the south, [[Black Mountain (Kentucky)|Black Mountain]] marks its border with Virginia.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Letcher |url=https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/SPRS%20Maps/Letcher.pdf |access-date=May 8, 2024 |website=Kentucky.gov}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}</ref>

The county's terrain is defined by rugged mountains and blanketed by forests. [[George Washington and Jefferson National Forests|Jefferson National Forest]] covers a significant portion of the county. The county's highest point is Black Mountain, located in the southeastern corner of the county, with an elevation of 3,700 feet.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Groundwater Resources of Letcher County, Kentucky |url=https://www.uky.edu/KGS/water/library/gwatlas/Letcher/Topography.htm#:~:text=The%20highest%20elevation%20in%20Letcher,southeastern%20corner%20of%20the%20county. |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.uky.edu}}</ref>
[[File:North Fork Kentucky River in Whitesburg, Kentucky.jpg|thumb|North Fork of the Kentucky River flowing through Whitesburg, Kentucky]]
The northern part of the county is drained by Rockhouse Creek, which empties into the [[North Fork Kentucky River]] near [[Blackey, Kentucky]]. The central portion of the county is drained by the North Fork Kentucky River, which flows from its start at the Kentucky–Virginia border, to where it meets the [[South Fork Kentucky River]] in [[Lee County, Kentucky]], to form the [[Kentucky River]]. The southern part of the county is drained by the [[Poor Fork (Cumberland River tributary)|Poor Fork]], which flows from its start on [[Pine Mountain (Appalachian Mountains)|Pine Mountain]], to [[Baxter, Kentucky|Baxter]] in [[Harlan County, Kentucky]], where it meets [[Martin's Fork (Cumberland River tributary)|Martin's Fork]] to form the [[Cumberland River]]. The western portion of the county is drained by Elkhorn Creek, which flows from its start near [[Jenkins, Kentucky]], to its confluence with [[Russell Fork]] in [[Pike County, Kentucky]].<ref name=":6" />

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|339|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|338|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 17, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt |archive-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref>

=== Fishpond Lake ===
Fishpond Lake is a {{Convert|28.8|acre|ha}}<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Fisheries {{!}} KDFWR |url=https://app.fw.ky.gov/fisheries/waterbodydetail.aspx?wid=127 |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=app.fw.ky.gov}}</ref> man-made body of water near Jenkins, in [[Payne Gap, Kentucky]].<ref name=":6" /> It was formed in 1961 by the impoundment of Fishpond Branch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore {{!}} Fish Pond Lake |url=https://www.kentuckytourism.com/explore/fish-pond-lake-6985 |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=Kentucky Tourism |language=en}}</ref> At its deepest it is 79 feet and averages around 33 feet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fishpond Lake, Kentucky {{!}} Lake, Fishing & Travel Info |url=https://www.lake-link.com/kentucky-lakes/letcher/fishpond-lake/45564/#:~:text=Fishpond%20Lake%20is%20approximately%2079,33%20feet%20(10.1%20m). |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=Lake-Link |language=en}}</ref> The lake is home to several species of fish including [[rainbow trout]], [[channel catfish]], and [[flathead catfish]]. It is the only large body of water (other than rivers) in Letcher County.<ref name=":7" />

===Pioneer Horse Trail controversy===
In an effort to bring tourists to Letcher County and to revitalize the local economy, the Pioneer Horse Trail was constructed on [[Pine Mountain (ridge)|Pine Mountain]].<ref name="H-L1">{{cite news |last=Mead |first=Andy |date=December 26, 2008 |title=Horse trail in trouble from start |url=http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/638149.html |access-date=December 26, 2008 |newspaper=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]]}}</ref> The trail, part of an "adventure tourism" initiative spearheaded by then Governor [[Steve Beshear]], Beshear's wife [[Jane Beshear|Jane]], and [[Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Daniel Mongiardo]], was completed in 2009.<ref name="H-L1" />[[File:View from Pine Mountain (Kentucky).jpg|right|thumb|
200px|View from [[Pine Mountain (ridge)|Pine Mountain]] near [[Whitesburg, Kentucky]].]]However, controversy arose about whether the environment would be harmed during construction. In the summer of 2008, the Letcher County [[Fiscal Court]] had signed an agreement with state officials stating that the county would do an environmental impact study before construction would begin.<ref name="H-L1" /> Documents obtained by the ''[[Lexington Herald-Leader]]'' under Kentucky's Open Records Act showed that construction actually began before the study was to take place. County-owned bulldozers started clearing trees in part of a wildlife management area in which heavy equipment was not permitted.<ref name="H-L1" /> Environmental groups asked the [[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]] to determine if any species on the threatened or endangered list were harmed.<ref name="H-L1" />

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Knott County, Kentucky|Knott County]]  (northwest)
* [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike County]]  (northeast)
* [[Wise County, Virginia]]  (southeast)
* [[Harlan County, Kentucky|Harlan County]]  (south)
* [[Perry County, Kentucky|Perry County]]  (southwest)

===National protected area===
* [[Jefferson National Forest]] (part)
[[File:Bad Branch Falls in Kentucky.jpg|thumb|Bad Branch Falls]]

===State protected area===
* [[Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve]]
* [[Lilley Cornett Woods]] Experiment Station ([[Eastern Kentucky University]])

===State Parks===
* [[Kingdom Come State Park]] (part)
* [[Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail|Pine Mountain Trail State Scenic Trail]] (part)