Elk River (Tennessee River tributary)

The Elk River is a 195-mile-long (314 km) river located in southern Tennessee and northern Alabama in the United States. It is a major tributary of the Tennessee River.

The river rises in Grundy County, Tennessee, on the northwestern slopes of the Cumberland Plateau. From there, it flows southwest across the plateau before descending into the Elk River Valley. It continues its course through Franklin County, Tennessee, and then enters Alabama, flowing through Limestone and Lauderdale counties.

The Elk River is impounded by several dams, forming Tims Ford Lake in Tennessee and Wheeler Lake in Alabama. These lakes are popular recreational areas, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming.

The Elk River watershed encompasses a diverse landscape, including forested mountains, agricultural lands, and urban areas. The river provides habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife, and it is an important source of water for irrigation, industry, and municipal use. Several towns and cities, including Fayetteville, Tennessee, and Ardmore, Tennessee, are located along its banks.