Tennessee Valley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Tennessee Valley is the large valley of East Tennessee and North Alabama created by the Tennessee River.
The Tennessee Valley region of Tennessee lies in the Eastern 3rd of the State of Tennessee. The wide valley of roughly 40 miles wide and 150 miles long in East Tennessee defines This section of Tennessee. Bound by the Appalachian Mountains (including the Unaka, Unicoi, and Great Smoky Mountains) and the Cumberland Plateau (including the Cumberland Mountains and Crab Orchard Mountains). The Tennessee Valley then terminates into The Tennessee River Gorge before opening back up to a valley in Northern Alabama.
The Tennessee Valley region of Alabama occupies the northern fifth of the state. The Tennessee River, its dams and corresponding lakes, and surrounding mountains, hills, and valleys dominate the landscape. The River then flows back North, into Tennessee. Eventually reaching the Mississippi River, via the Ohio River.
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Geography
Created by the Tennessee River. The Great Tennessee Valley Begins in Upper East Tennessee, and travels Southwest into Northern Alabama. The roughly 150 mile stretch within Tennessee is bound on the east by the Appalachian Mountains( including The Great Smoky Mountains )on the west by the Cumberland Plateau, and Cumberland Mountains. Near Chattanooga the Tennessee River cuts though the Cumberland Plateau creating a canyon called the Tennessee River Gorge before it enters northern Alabama. The near 100 mile Alabama stretch of The valley and Tennessee River Runs mainly east, west before turning back north, and re-entering Tennessee. In Alabama, the Valley is bound on the North by the Southern end of the Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains. On the South by the Southern end of the Appalachians.
The Tennessee Valley continues in a less dramatic form back north into Tennessee. Creating the dividing line between Middle and West Tennessee. Eventually Reaching the Ohio River.
Geologically the Tennessee Valley Consists of many small valleys and ridges within a Great Valley. The Region in geologic terms is often called the Ridge and Valley Province.
Important Tennessee Valley Cities
- Knoxville, Tennessee the first Large city the Tennessee River passes through. Here, the Tennessee Valley is sometimes called the Volunteer Valley.
- Chattanooga, Tennessee Nicknamed The Scenic City for its amazing vistas of the Tennessee Valley from atop the many mountaintops that surround the city. Including the American Civil War Battle of Chattanooga on Lookout Mountain.
- Decatur Historically dominated the economic landscape of North Alabama. Its mixture of river transport and rail access made it the hub of business, commerce, and manufacturing.
- Huntsville has risen to be the center of North Alabama economic activity. Its aerospace and military technology centers of Redstone Arsenal, Cummings Research Park(CRP), and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center define the high tech landscape for the entire state of Alabama.
Other Important Cities
- Athens, Tennessee
- Cleveland, Tennessee
- Dayton, Tennessee
- Florence, Alabama
- Guntersville, Alabama
- Lenoir City, Tennessee
- Loudon, Tennessee
- Madison, Alabama
- Madisonville, Tennessee
- Muscle Shoals, Alabama
- Scottsboro, Alabama
- Sheffield, Alabama
- Tuscumbia, Alabama
Vehicle Transportation
- Interstate 40 Runs East-West across the Tennessee portion, of the Tennessee Valley. Connecting Nashville, Tennessee with Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina
- Interstate 65 is the main North-South road in the area, connecting Dectaur and Huntsville with Birmingham and Nashville.
- Interstate 75 Runs down the middle of the Valley of East Tennessee. Connecting Atlanta, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Airports
- Huntsville International Airport, Huntsville, Alabama
- Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- McGhee Tyson Airport, Alcoa, Tennessee (serves the Knoxville metropolitan area
