Tennessee River Gorge

TheTennessee River Gorgeis a 26-mile (42 km)canyonformed by theTennessee Riverknown locally asCash Canyon.It is the fourth largest rivergorgein theEastern United States.The gorge is cut into theCumberland Plateauas the river winds its way intoAlabamafromTennessee.The Tennessee River Gorge was also known asWalden Gorge.Walden Ridgeoriginally extended across the present path of the Tennessee River at the gorge toSand Mountain.

View of the gorge from Snoopers Rock

Map of the hazards in the river prior to the closing of the locks of Hales Bar Dam in 1913

Ecology

The Tennessee River Gorge is home to endangered species like themountain skullcap.

History

Many archaeological sites have been discovered in the gorge that show that people have been dwelling in the canyon for at least 10,000 years.

Prior to the completion ofHales Bar Damin 1913 and the subsequent raising of the water level, the stretch of the Tennessee River flowing through the gorge was notorious for its navigational hazards, whirlpools, eddies, shoals, and one huge rock. Beginning with Williams' Island and the sandbars on either side of it, these obstructions included Tumbling Shoals, the Holston Rock, the Kettle, the Suck Shoals, the Deadman's Eddy, the Pot, the Skillet, the Pan, and, finally, the ten-mile Narrows, ending with Hale's Bar.

As of 2018, 17,000 acres of land in the gorge out of 27,000 acres sought for preservation have been purchased or otherwise secured for conservation by theTennessee River Gorge Trust,a non-profit conservation trust founded in 1981. The trust also does scientific studies, develops trails, and conducts education efforts.Prentice Cooper State Forest is on the northern edge of the gorge.

Image gallery

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  View from Signal Point, looking east
• 
  View from Signal Point, looking west
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  Elder Mountain

External links

• Tennessee River Gorge Trust
• Tennessee River Blueway