Holston

River flowing through northeastern Tennessee, USA; length 185 km/115 mi. It is formed by the confluence of the North Fork and the South Fork near Kingsport, and joins the French Broad River near Knoxville to form the Tennessee River.

Course The North Fork (190 km/120 mi long) rises in Bland County, southwest Virginia, and flows southwest through Washington and Scott counties into northeastern Tennessee. The South Fork (180 km/110 m long) rises in southern Smyth County, Virginia, and flows southwest into Tennessee. There it is dammed near Emmett, Sullivan County, to form South Holston Lake, which backs up into Virginia. It continues through Boone Lake, formed by a dam at Spurgeon. The South Fork receives the Middle Fork in southern Washington County, Virginia, at the head of the lake. From Kingsport, the Holston flows southwest into Cherokee Lake, formed by the Cherokee Dam. It continues southwest to join the French Broad River.