Tugaloo River
Encyclopedia
The Tugaloo River is a 45.9 miles (73.9 km) river
bordering the U.S. state
s of Georgia
and South Carolina
. It is fed by the Tallulah River
and the Chattooga River
, which each form an arm of Lake Tugalo
, on the edge of Georgia's Tallulah Gorge State Park
. The Tugaloo then flows out of the lake via Tugaloo Dam, passing into Lake Yonah
and through Yonah Dam. The river then ends as an arm of Lake Hartwell
, as does South Carolina's Seneca River. After flowing out of Lake Hartwell
, it is called the Savannah River
.
Territorial claims to the river and its islands were settled with the Treaty of Beaufort
in 1787, as interpreted in the two Georgia v. South Carolina
cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1922 and 1989.
The river's watershed is home to some of the most challenging whitewater
in the Southeast
, luring sport kayak
ers and canoe
ists from all over the country.
The name of the river comes from Tugaloo, a Cherokee
town that was located on the river near the mouth of Toccoa Creek.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
bordering the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It is fed by the Tallulah River
Tallulah River
The Tallulah River is a river in Georgia and North Carolina. It begins in Clay County, North Carolina, near Standing Indian Mountain in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness and flows south into Georgia, crossing the state line into Towns County. The river then travels through Rabun County and ends in...
and the Chattooga River
Chattooga River
The Chattooga River is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina, and it stretches to where it has its confluence with the Tallulah River within Lake Tugalo, held back by the Tugalo Dam...
, which each form an arm of Lake Tugalo
Lake Tugalo
Lake Tugalo is a reservoir with of shoreline located in the northeastern Georgia in Habersham and Rabun counties, but also lies partially in Oconee County, South Carolina. It is the fifth lake in a six-lake series created by hydroelectric dams operated by Georgia Power that follows the original...
, on the edge of Georgia's Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park is a Georgia state park adjacent to Tallulah Falls, Georgia along the county line between Rabun and Habersham Counties. The park surrounds Tallulah Gorge, a deep gorge formed by the action of the Tallulah River, which runs along the floor of the gorge...
. The Tugaloo then flows out of the lake via Tugaloo Dam, passing into Lake Yonah
Lake Yonah
Lake Yonah is a lake on the Tugaloo River, separating Georgia and South Carolina. The lake is created by the Yonah Dam, which is owned by Georgia Power. Lake Yonah is a residential lake with about seventy-two vacation and permanent homes...
and through Yonah Dam. The river then ends as an arm of Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell is a reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah...
, as does South Carolina's Seneca River. After flowing out of Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell is a reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah...
, it is called the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
.
Territorial claims to the river and its islands were settled with the Treaty of Beaufort
Treaty of Beaufort
The Treaty of Beaufort, also called the Beaufort Convention, is the treaty that originally set the all-river boundary between the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina...
in 1787, as interpreted in the two Georgia v. South Carolina
Georgia v. South Carolina
Georgia v. South Carolina, is one of a long series of U.S. Supreme Court cases determining the borders of the state of Georgia. In this case, the Court decided the exact border within the Savannah River and whether islands should be a part of Georgia or South Carolina...
cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1922 and 1989.
The river's watershed is home to some of the most challenging whitewater
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
in the Southeast
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
, luring sport kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ers and canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ists from all over the country.
The name of the river comes from Tugaloo, a Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
town that was located on the river near the mouth of Toccoa Creek.