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Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
 
 
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The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (popularly known as the Tenn-Tom) is a 234-mile (377 km) artificial waterway that provides a connecting link between the Tennessee
Tennessee River

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the Southern United States in the Tennessee Valley....
 and Tombigbee
Tombigbee River

The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 400 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico....
 rivers. The waterway begins at Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake

Pickwick Lake is the reservoir created by Pickwick Landing Dam as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The lake stretches from Pickwick Landing Dam to Wilson Dam ....
 on the Tennessee River, then flows southward through northeast Mississippi
Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
 and west Alabama
Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the Southern United States of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west....
, finally connecting with the established Warrior
Black Warrior River

The Black Warrior River is a tributary of the Tombigbee River, approximately 178 mi long, in west central Alabama in the United States. It drains an area of 6,275 sq mi with its upper watershed encompassing a forested area of high bluffs at the extreme southern end of the Appalachian Mountains north and west of the city of Birmingham, Alaba...
-Tombigbee navigation system at Demopolis, Alabama
Demopolis, Alabama

Demopolis is the largest city in Marengo County, Alabama, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,540....
.

After 12 years of construction, the waterway and its seventeen public ports and terminals opened to commercial traffic in January 1985.






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Tenn Tom
The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (popularly known as the Tenn-Tom) is a 234-mile (377 km) artificial waterway that provides a connecting link between the Tennessee
Tennessee River

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the Southern United States in the Tennessee Valley....
 and Tombigbee
Tombigbee River

The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 400 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico....
 rivers. The waterway begins at Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake

Pickwick Lake is the reservoir created by Pickwick Landing Dam as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The lake stretches from Pickwick Landing Dam to Wilson Dam ....
 on the Tennessee River, then flows southward through northeast Mississippi
Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
 and west Alabama
Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the Southern United States of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west....
, finally connecting with the established Warrior
Black Warrior River

The Black Warrior River is a tributary of the Tombigbee River, approximately 178 mi long, in west central Alabama in the United States. It drains an area of 6,275 sq mi with its upper watershed encompassing a forested area of high bluffs at the extreme southern end of the Appalachian Mountains north and west of the city of Birmingham, Alaba...
-Tombigbee navigation system at Demopolis, Alabama
Demopolis, Alabama

Demopolis is the largest city in Marengo County, Alabama, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,540....
.

After 12 years of construction, the waterway and its seventeen public ports and terminals opened to commercial traffic in January 1985. In addition to the original 110,000 acres (445 km2) of land acquired for the construction and operation of the project, another 88,000 acres (356 km2) have been purchased and managed by the two state conservation agencies for wildlife habitat preservation and mixed use including hunting and parks.

The elevation change between the two ends of the waterway is 341 feet (104 m), for a drop of .

Divide cut

Divhol1
The divide cut is a 29 mile (47 km) artificial canal that makes the connection to the Tennessee River
Tennessee River

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the Southern United States in the Tennessee Valley....
. It connects Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake

Pickwick Lake is the reservoir created by Pickwick Landing Dam as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The lake stretches from Pickwick Landing Dam to Wilson Dam ....
 on the Tennessee to Bay Springs Lake
Bay Springs Lake

Bay Springs Lake is a Reservoir on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterwayin the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is impounded by the Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam....
 at Mississippi Highway 30.

It is a popular location for boaters on Pickwick Lake to waterski and wakeboard.

Locks

Amory Lock 20050910
The waterway is composed of ten locks (listed below from north to south along the waterway):
  • Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam
    Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam

    The Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway . It is located at in south Tishomingo County, Mississippi, close to the Prentiss County, Mississippi line....
     (named for Jamie L. Whitten
    Jamie L. Whitten

    Jamie Lloyd Whitten was a United States United States House of Representatives from Mississippi. He is the List of United States Congressmen by longevity of service#House Time and the List of United States Congressmen by longevity of service#House and Senate Time....
    ); formerly named Bay Springs Lock and Dam - impounds Bay Springs Lake
    Bay Springs Lake

    Bay Springs Lake is a Reservoir on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterwayin the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is impounded by the Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam....
  • G. V. Montgomery Lock
    G. V. Montgomery Lock

    The Gillespie V. Montgomery Lock is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway . It is located in north Itawamba County, Mississippi, close to the Prentiss County, Mississippi line....
     (named for Sonny Montgomery); formerly named Lock E
  • John Rankin Lock
    John Rankin Lock

    The John Rankin Lock is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway . It is located in Itawamba County, Mississippi, approximately north of Fulton, Mississippi....
     (named for John E. Rankin
    John E. Rankin

    John Elliott Rankin was a congressman from the U.S. State of Mississippi....
    ); formerly named Lock D
  • Fulton Lock
    Fulton Lock

    The Fulton Lock is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located close to Fulton, Mississippi....
     (Fulton, Mississippi
    Fulton, Mississippi

    Fulton is a city in Itawamba County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Itawamba County, Mississippi....
    ); formerly named Lock C
  • Glover Wilkins Lock
    Glover Wilkins Lock

    The Glover Wilkins Lock is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located close to Smithville, Mississippi....
     (located in Smithville, Mississippi
    Smithville, Mississippi

    Smithville is a town in Monroe County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States. The population was 882 at the 2000 census. Smithville was the birthplace of Rod Brasfield, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame....
    ; named for Glover Wilkins
    Glover Wilkins

    Glover Wilkins was a long-time administrator of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.External links...
    ); formerly named Lock B
  • Amory Lock
    Amory Lock

    The Amory Lock is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located close to Amory, Mississippi....
     (Amory, Mississippi
    Amory, Mississippi

    Amory is a city in Monroe County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States. The population is 6,956 at the 2000 census.History...
    ); formerly named Lock A
  • Aberdeen Lock and Dam
    Aberdeen Lock and Dam

    The Aberdeen Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It impounds Aberdeen Lake .Aberdeen Lock and Dam is located east of Aberdeen, Mississippi in Monroe County, Mississippi....
     (Aberdeen, Mississippi
    Aberdeen, Mississippi

    Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County, Mississippi in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County, Mississippi....
    ) - impounds Aberdeen Lake
    Aberdeen Lake (Mississippi)

    Aberdeen Lake is a lake in northeast Mississippi on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Close to Aberdeen, Mississippi, it is impounded by the Aberdeen Lock and Dam....
  • John C. Stennis Lock and Dam
    John C. Stennis Lock and Dam

    The John C. Stennis Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located close to Columbus, Mississippi, and it impounds Columbus Lake ....
     (named for John C. Stennis
    John C. Stennis

    John Cornelius Stennis was a United States Senate from the state of Mississippi. He was a United States Democratic Party who served in the Senate for over 41 years, becoming its Dean of the United States Senate by his retirement....
    ); formerly named Columbus
    Columbus, Mississippi

    Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States on the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, MS, north of Meridian, MS, south of Tupelo, Mississippi, and west of Birmingham, AL ....
     Lock and Dam - impounds Columbus Lake
    Columbus Lake (Mississippi)

    Columbus Lake is a lake in northeast Mississippi on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Close to Columbus, Mississippi, it is impounded by the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam. Many people come there for the great recreational opportunities....
  • Tom Bevill Lock and Dam
    Tom Bevill Lock and Dam

    The Tom Bevill Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located close to Aliceville, Alabama, and it impounds Aliceville Lake....
     (named for Tom Bevill
    Tom Bevill

    Tom Bevill , a United States Democratic Party, was a fifteen-term United States House of Representatives representing Alabama's 4th Congressional District ....
    ); formerly named Aliceville
    Aliceville, Alabama

    Aliceville is a city in Pickens County, Alabama, Alabama, United States. At the United States Census 2000 the population was 2,567. According to the 2005 U.S....
     Lock and Dam - impounds Aliceville Lake
    Aliceville Lake

    Aliceville Lake is a lake in northwest Alabama on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Close to Aliceville, Alabama, it is impounded by the Tom Bevill Lock and Dam....
  • Howell Heflin Lock and Dam
    Howell Heflin Lock and Dam

    The Howell Heflin Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located close to Gainesville, Alabama, and it impounds Gainesville Lake ....
     (named for Howell Heflin
    Howell Heflin

    Howell Thomas Heflin was a United States Senate from Alabama, and a member of the United States Democratic Party....
    ); formerly named Gainesville
    Gainesville, Alabama

    Gainesville is a town in Sumter County, Alabama, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 220....
     Lock and Dam - impounds Gainesville Lake
    Gainesville Lake (Alabama)

    Gainesville Lake is a lake in northwest Alabama on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Close to Gainesville, Alabama, it is impounded by the Howell Heflin Lock and Dam....


External links