The Tennessee River is a 652 mi (1,049 km) long river located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. Flowing through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, it begins at the confluence of French Broad and Holston rivers at Knoxville, and drains into the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky.

Jan 19, 2025 · Tennessee River, central component of one of the world’s greatest irrigation and hydropower systems and a major waterway of the southeastern United States. It is formed by the confluence of the Holston and French Broad rivers, just east of Knoxville, Tennessee, and flows south-southwest to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Oct 10, 2021 · The Tennessee River is a 1,049-kilometer river in Tennessee Valley, in the southeastern United States. Originally known as the Cherokee River, the Tennessee River is a …

The 688-mile-long river drains through southern Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. View maps below to learn more about the Cumberland and Tennessee River watersheds.

The Tennessee River begins upstream of Knoxville, Tennessee. The river flows 652 miles south then west across northern Alabama and a small portion of northern Mississippi before turning north to Kentucky where the river discharges into the Ohio River only miles upstream from the Mississippi River.

From Knoxville, TN, to Paducah, KY, the Tennessee River stretches 652 miles and touches four states: Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. Its 41,000 square mile watershed is home to more than 4.5 million residents, over half of which live in communities along its banks.

The Tennessee River is unique geologically as the river begins its journey southward but then turns northward away from the ocean. It continues its northerly route until it reaches Paducah, Kentucky where it empties into the Ohio River.

Oct 8, 2017 · The Tennessee River system covers 41,000 square miles, draining portions of sixty Tennessee counties and seven states. The Tennessee River is the largest tributary to the Ohio River and is its equal in water volume.

At approximately 652 miles long, the Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. Formed where the Holston and French Broad rivers meet, the river flows from Knoxville, TN southwest toward the Chattanooga before it loops through …

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles (1049 km) long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley.