Tennessee's geography is defined by the Appalachian mountain range and the Cumberland Plateau which descend to the Gulf Coastal Plain. The state features rivers and streams that run throughout the region's highlands, valleys and agricultural areas. The Tennessee Valley watershed averages more than 50 inches of annual rainfall. Flooding was a tremendous problem in Tennessee until the early 20th century, when the Tennessee Valley Authority built dozens of dams to control the state's waterways.
The Tennessee River is more than 650 miles long, winding through the Tennessee Valley, which is bounded to the west by the Cumberland Plateau and to the east by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian range. It originates at the confluence of the Holston and French Broad rivers near Knoxville and flows to Chattanooga. The Tennessee River charts a course across the Cumberland Plateau, carving a massive canyon called the Tennessee River Gorge. Throughout the 20th century, the TVA built more than 30 dams on the river that simultaneously prevents floods and harnessed electrical power for much of the state. By the century's end, environmental activists stopped dam building due to pollution and environmental concerns. Today, the Tennessee River now attracts anglers, paddlers and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
A tributary of the Cumberland River, the Big South Fork is a designated "national river" for its scenic wilderness and historical significance. Located within the Daniel Boone National Forest in the northern part of the state, the park protects the watershed and the area's scenic wilderness, which includes river-carved gorges and sandstone arches. The river supports a variety of flora and fauna, such as deer, black bear, bobcats, birds and many other species that live within the area's dense hardwood forests. It is also home to thousands of archeological sites, such as rock homes built by nomads more than 10,000 years ago. The park draws paddlers, campers, hikers and fishermen. Although the Park Service has built recreation areas, such as hiking or ATV trails, much of the park remains a true wilderness without roads or man made conveniences.
The Buffalo River, located within an hour of Nashville, is a small watershed that is a a large tributary of the Tennessee and Duck Rivers. It flows through Perry, Lawrence, Lewis and Wayne counties through central Tennessee. Large portions of the Buffalo River are protected by the Tennessee Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and it is a designated "State Scenic River." Kayakers and canoeists enjoy the river's sporadic, but challenging whitewater rapids. The Buffalo is also rich in aquatic life and is home to the very large alligator snapping turtle, a species that can weigh up to 50 pounds. Anglers fish for catfish, bass, bream and crappie at several locations.
