Holston River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holston River |
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The North Fork of the Holston River near Weber City, Virginia.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia, Tennessee |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | North Fork Holston River Bland County, Virginia 2,880 ft (880 m) 37°03′51″N 81°16′15″W / 37.06417°N 81.27083°W |
| 2nd source | South Fork Holston River Smyth County, Virginia 2,900 ft (880 m) 36°46′11″N 81°22′04″W / 36.76972°N 81.36778°W |
| 3rd source | Kingsport, Tennessee 1,158 ft (353 m) 36°32′51″N 82°36′44″W / 36.54750°N 82.61222°W |
| River mouth | Tennessee River Knoxville, Tennessee 814 ft (248 m) 35°57′33″N 83°51′0″W / 35.95917°N 83.85000°W |
| Length | 136 mi (219 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Tennessee → Ohio → Mississippi |
| Basin size | 3,776 sq mi (9,780 km2) |
The Holston River is a 136-mile (219 km) long river in the United States. It flows from Kingsport, Tennessee, to Knoxville, Tennessee. This important river system includes three main branches: the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork. These branches drain a large area in northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and northwestern North Carolina. The Holston River joins the French Broad River near Knoxville. This meeting point is where the famous Tennessee River begins!
The North Fork of the Holston River flows 138 miles (222 km) southwest from Sharon Springs in Bland County, Virginia. The Middle Fork flows 56.5 miles (91 km) from near the western border of Wythe County, Virginia. It joins the South Fork in Washington County, Virginia, southeast of Abingdon. The South Fork starts near Sugar Grove in Smyth County. It flows 112 miles (180 km) southwest to meet the North Fork at Kingsport. The Watauga River, which is a branch of the South Fork Holston, flows 78.5 miles (126 km) westward from Watauga County, North Carolina.
The main part of the Holston River has a large dam called Cherokee Dam. This dam was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a special government agency. Five other dams, also managed by TVA, are on the smaller streams that feed the Holston. These include Watauga Dam and Wilbur Dam on the Watauga River. Also, Boone Dam, Fort Patrick Henry Dam, and South Holston Dam are on the South Fork Holston River.
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Generating Power from the River
The Holston River valley is very important for making electricity. This happens in two main ways: using hydroelectric dams and coal-fired power plants. Hydroelectric dams use the power of flowing water to create electricity.
Some of these power plants in the upper parts of the river are owned by private companies. However, the ones further downstream are owned by the U.S. Government. These are managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which is a government agency.
Lakes and Their Names
Many dams and lakes have been built on the South Fork Holston River. Boone Dam and Boone Lake are named after the famous explorer Daniel Boone. Fort Patrick Henry Dam and Fort Patrick Henry Lake are named after a hero from the American Revolutionary War. You can also find South Holston Dam and South Holston Lake here.
Cherokee Dam on the Holston River creates Cherokee Lake. This lake is named after the historic Cherokee people. They lived in large areas along the Holston River when European settlers first arrived. Later, in the 1830s, the U.S. government forced the Cherokee and other Native American groups to leave their homes. They had to move to a new area called Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) west of the Mississippi River. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears.
How the River Got Its Name
Old maps made by early French explorers in this area called the Holston River the "Cherokee River." They named it after the Cherokee tribe they met there. An early historian from Tennessee, John Haywood, wrote in his 1823 book that French maps had already named it the "Cherokee River."
Later, British colonists gave the river its current name, Holston River. They named it after a pioneer named Stephen Holstein. He was a European-American settler who built a cabin on the upper part of the river in 1746. Similarly, Holston Mountain was also named after the Holston River.
Fun Things to Do
All three forks of the river in Virginia, South Holston Lake, and the Holston River in Tennessee offer many fun activities. It's easy to get to these places for recreation.
The North Fork in Virginia is known for its excellent smallmouth bass fishing. However, due to mercury in the water, fish caught below Saltville, Virginia should not be eaten. Both the South Fork in Virginia and the first 20 miles (32 km) of the Holston in Tennessee are great for catching brown trout and rainbow trout. The Holston River is wide and open, which makes it perfect for fly fishing.
South Holston Lake also offers a variety of fishing opportunities. You can find smallmouth bass, common carp, walleye, pike, sunfish, crappie, and even some trout there.
See also
In Spanish: Río Holston para niños
