Obion River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Obion River |
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The Obion River near Obion
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| Country | US |
| State | Tennessee |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Mississippi River on the border of Dyer and Lauderdale counties. 230 ft (70 m) 35°54′27″N 89°38′20″W / 35.90750°N 89.63889°W |
The Obion River is a major river system in northwestern Tennessee, United States. It acts as the main natural drainage system for this region, collecting water from many smaller streams and eventually flowing into the huge Mississippi River.
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Exploring the Obion River's Path
The Obion River isn't just one single stream. It's made up of four main branches, which are like its "fingers." These are the North Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork, and Rutherford Fork. The Rutherford Fork is named after the town of Rutherford.
For most of their journey, these forks flow separately. They only join together a few miles before the Obion River empties into the Mississippi River.
Changes to the River Over Time
In the middle of the 1900s, a lot of the Obion River system was changed. This was done to help with farming. Engineers straightened parts of the river and dug deeper channels. This process is called "channelization."
While it was meant to help, channelization caused some problems. It led to more land erosion, meaning the soil was washed away more easily. It also destroyed homes for wildlife and sometimes caused more flooding further downstream.
However, in the 2000s, people started working to fix these issues. They began restoring wetlands along the river. Wetlands are like natural sponges that can soak up water and help the environment. This work has helped stop the damage and even started to reverse it in some areas.
The Mystery Behind the Name
The exact origin of the name "Obion" is a bit of a mystery! Some people believe it comes from a word used by Native American tribes who lived in the area long ago.
Others think the name might have come from an Irish fur trapper. His name might have been O'Bion or O'Brien, and over time, the river's name became "Obion."
The county of Obion County, Tennessee, is actually named after this very river.
Davy Crockett's Connection
After 1818, when the Chickasaw people gave up their land in West Tennessee, a famous explorer named Davy Crockett moved to the area. He settled near the South Fork of the Obion River. Later, he moved to Texas.
