Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a major waterway of the Southern United States. The 688-mile-long (1,107 km) river drains almost 18,000 square miles (47,000 km2) of southern Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. The river flows generally west from a source in the Appalachian Mountains to its confluence with the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky, and the mouth of the Tennessee River. Major tributaries include the Obey, Caney Fork, Stones, and Red Rivers.
| Cumberland River | |
|---|---|
Canoers on the Cumberland River upstream from Cumberland Falls | |
Cumberland River watershed (Interactive map) | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky, Tennessee |
| Cities | Barbourville, KY Williamsburg, KY Burkesville, KY Carthage, TN Nashville, TN Clarksville, TN Dover, TN |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of the Poor Fork, Clover Fork and Martins Fork |
| • location | Harlan, Kentucky |
| • coordinates | 36°50′42″N 83°19′26″W |
| • elevation | 1,158 ft (353 m) |
| Mouth | Ohio River |
• location | Livingston County, Kentucky |
• coordinates | 37°08′36″N 88°24′27″W |
• elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Length | 688 mi (1,107 km) |
| Basin size | 17,728 sq mi (45,920 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | below Barkley Dam, about 31 mi (50 km) from the mouth |
| • average | 37,250 cu ft/s (1,055 m3/s) |
| • minimum | 6,085 cu ft/s (172.3 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 209,000 cu ft/s (5,900 m3/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Martins Fork, Clear Fork, Big South Fork, Obey River, Caney Fork River, Stones River, Harpeth River |
| • right | Clover Fork, Poor Fork, Laurel River, Rockcastle River, Red River, Little River |
Although the Cumberland River basin is predominantly rural, there are also some large cities on the river, including Nashville and Clarksville, both in Tennessee.
The river system has been extensively altered for flood control. Major dams impound areas of both the main stem and many of its important tributaries.