Nantahala River
Nantahala River, river rising in the Nantahala Mountains southwest of Asheville, North Carolina, U.S., near the border between Georgia and North Carolina. It flows 40 miles (64 km) north through Nantahala National Forest. Nantahala Dam (1942) impounds Nantahala Lake, sometimes called Aquone Lake. Farther north, the river cuts a scenic gorge 8 miles (13 km) long with sides up to 2,000 feet (600 metres) high. Nantahala Gorge is the subject of many Cherokee legends; its name is derived from a term meaning βthe place where only the noonday sun can shine.β The river empties into Fontana Lake on the Little Tennessee River.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Nantahala River
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
30 January 2015
Access Date:
November 14, 2026