Ebbing and Flowing Spring facts for kids

The Ebbing and Flowing Spring is a special natural spring found in Hawkins County, Tennessee, close to the town of Rogersville. What makes this spring unique is that it acts like the ocean's tides! It's one of only two springs in the entire world known to do this.

The spring is located about two miles from downtown Rogersville.

What Makes This Spring Special?

The Ebbing and Flowing Spring is truly one-of-a-kind. It's one of only two known springs in the world that shows "tidal" behavior. This means its water flow changes in a regular, predictable way, much like ocean tides.

Over a period of 2 hours and 47 minutes, the spring's flow changes a lot. It goes from being a tiny trickle to gushing out about 500 gallons of water every minute! Even with these big changes in flow, the water in the spring stays at a constant temperature of 34 degrees Fahrenheit (about 1 degree Celsius).

A Bit of History

This interesting spring sits on land that used to belong to Colonel Thomas Amis. He was the father-in-law of Joseph Rogers, who founded Rogersville. The spring was even called "Sinking Spring" in an old document given to Amis for his help during the American Revolution. Colonel Amis moved to this area around 1780. His strong, fort-like house, called the Amis House, is just a short distance from the spring.

Local Legends and Stories

People from nearby Rogersville used to believe the spring had special powers, especially when it came to love! They said that if a couple drank from the spring when its water flow was at its highest, they would get married within a year.

One popular story suggests that Joseph Rogers himself discovered this power. The legend says he drank from the spring with his sweetheart, Mary Amis. Soon after, Mary became his wife, even though her father wasn't happy about it at first.

Visiting the Spring

The Ebbing and Flowing Spring is owned by the family descendants of Thomas Amis. However, it is open for the public to visit and enjoy. Local tourism groups often provide directions and brochures about how to find this unique natural wonder. The property is currently owned by Orphia Gibbs.